Finding Forever (Smoky Mountain Lawmen Book 1) by Ashley Quinn Read Free Book Online Page A

was a
brute.
    As
he watched Davidson interact with the therapist an idea formed.  Maybe there
was another way…
    He’d
need to get some supplies first.
     

Chapter 6
     
    Gemma
tried to relax as she sat down across from Ben in the booth at the Mexican
restaurant they’d chosen.  Like it or not, she was going to see a lot of him
until this case was either solved or it went cold.  She didn’t want to live on
eggshells until that point.  She’d go nuts.
    Just
don’t think about that night.  Don’t think about how hard his chest was or the
way his hips felt pressed to— Gemma quickly cut off
that train of thought.  That wasn’t going to help.  He was her brother’s former
CO, she reminded herself.  He’s too old for you.  He doesn’t live here.
    She
repeated that mantra several more times until she could look at him without
remembering what his body felt like and how his clear blue-green eyes had
darkened to the color of the turbulent ocean when aroused.
    Aagh ! 
She was thinking about it again.  Gemma picked up her menu and hid behind it. 
She stayed there until the waiter came to take their orders.  Then she had to
face Mr. Tall-dark-and-gorgeous.
    She
cleared her throat.  Maybe conversation would distract her.  At least it would
make her focus on something other than those broad shoulders that filled his
side of the booth.  “So, where are you from, Ben?  You have a drawl.”  Gemma
had noticed the southern lilt to his voice the first time he’d spoken.
    “Virginia,”
he answered.  “I was born and raised just outside of Richmond.”
    “Where
do you live now?  You’re investigating this case, so I’m assuming you’re close.”
    He
nodded.  “I work out of the Richmond field office.  I got lucky.  When I got
out of the academy there was an opening there and I applied for it.  It made my
mother very happy to have me home after so many years.”
    She
noted the fondness in his voice when he spoke of the woman.  “You’re close with
your family?”
    “Yeah,
mostly.  My brother and I don’t always see eye to eye, but we get along.”
    “How
many siblings do you have?”
    “Two. 
I have a sister as well.  I’m the oldest.”
    The
waiter came with their drinks.  Gemma took a hearty gulp of hers, savoring the
coolness.  It had been hot again today.  The barn and arena were air
conditioned, but it was such a large space that it was always just a touch warm
in the summer.
    “So
how did you end up sharing a house with your brother?” Ben asked.
    Gemma
smiled.  “When he came back after his stint in the Army he was on the Asheville
police department, but he had always wanted to be in Marshall.  When a
detective position opened with the county he applied.  It was about the same
time I finished up my degrees and took the job at the center.  Our parents
decided that they wanted to travel the country and offered us the use of the
house.  It didn’t seem logical for Tristan and me to rent apartments or buy our
own houses while our parents’ house sat empty.  We’d still have to do the
upkeep on it while they were away.”
    “So
your parents are off gallivanting around the US?”
    Gemma
nodded.  “They bought a fancy RV and go where they feel like.  Right now,
they’re in Arizona exploring the Grand Canyon.  They come home for holidays and
our birthdays then they head out again.”
    The
waiter appeared again, this time with their meals.  Gemma finally felt herself
relax and they fell into easy conversation as they ate.  When they finally left
the restaurant, Gemma was surprised to see how low the sun had sunk in the sky. 
She didn’t realize they had sat and talked so long.
    Ben
drove them back to the equestrian center so Gemma could get her car.  He pulled
up next to her Wrangler and Gemma climbed out.  Ben came around the vehicle.
    “Thank
you for dinner,” Gemma said as she craned her neck to look up at him.  She
wasn’t short at five-foot-seven, but he