Hard Days Knight: Under-Cover Knights, Book 1 by Livia Quinn Read Free Book Online Page A

rose and hopped down the bleachers.
    Monette kissed Hogwart and carried her back to Abby, then she turned to Del. “Wanna see something?” she whispered. Her eyes held a mischievous glint as she pulled a paperback novel from her bag and held it where just she and Del could view it.
    The book was entitled, The Billionaire Shiek and His Secret Mistress and starring in the role of Billionaire Sheik was none other than their own Luc Larue. He was tanned, his muscles primed; his powerful chest gave way to that can’t-pinch-an-inch eight-pack. The veins that cut across his biceps made Del’s mouth water. His Mistress was seated below him, her cheek in his big hand and he looked down at her sultrily. It wasn’t Mercy Love.
    “Oh, my! He does make a fine sheik, doesn’t he?” Del asked Monette, “How many people here know about Mr. Larue’s job?”
    Monette looked thoughtful. “I think most of the kids know ‘cause we’ve kinda talked about it, but I don’t think the adults do.”
    Delilah would bet her cruiser Leanne and Abby had run across a romance cover or two. “Well, let’s keep his “secret” until he’s ready to come completely out of the cover man closet, okay?”
    Monette’s mouth thinned briefly but she agreed. “Okay.” She placed the book back in her tote and waved goodbye.
    “Bye, Mr. Larue. Come on, Reuben. Let’s go down to the library. I signed us up for two computers at 3:30.” The shorter Reuben clomped over to her. Monette swung the long strapped purse over her shoulder and they walked out together.

Chapter 8
    “ W ell , it wasn’t a perfect BE day but it could have been a lot worse.” Luc held his breath waiting to hear what Delilah thought.
    “Luc, I don’t know how it usually goes but I was impressed with everyone involved. Those young people are remarkably invested in this community you’ve built. I was surprised I didn’t face more general antagonism.”
    Del’s intelligence and concern for the people she served made Luc want to know everything about her. When she talked about the kids or her job, her eyes glinted, and she didn’t wait to see what he thought before giving him her opinion. Intelligence, confidence, opinionated were traits the women in his life all shared. He’d dated women who’d lacked those qualities thinking it would be more relaxing, but he’d been wrong. Here was proof, standing right in front of him. Being around her lit the fire in his belly, unlike any woman he’d met before. He wanted her. Wanted to know everything about her. And he wanted her as a regular at the center, for Monette and Tia and the rest of his kids.
    “They don’t blame law enforcement for their situations as much as social services and their absent or abusive families.”
    She handed him the folded tablecloths and he pulled a cabinet open and tucked them inside. Her face was just inches from his shoulder. With the building deserted, the silence created an intimacy in the storeroom.
    “I’m sorry about Tom. That must have been hard.”
    “It was.” She looked down, absently wiping the already clean counter. “People usually assume that because he’s in a wheelchair he couldn’t have sex anymore, so he decided to become a priest. But Tommy took the collar before the shooting, and he says that just reaffirmed his determination to make a difference in the community.”
    She paused, took a breath. “Something I didn’t mention because I didn’t want to negatively influence the group, was that I had my own goal when I took off for the police academy. I wanted revenge. I intended to catch those responsible for Tom’s assault. I still do.”
    He laid his hand on her shoulder and tilted her face up. His eyes were compassionate and kind. “I think you want justice, Del. You may think so, but I doubt you’re capable of revenge. I know Tom.”
    She smiled. “Don’t tell me—Father Tom is a mentor.”
    He laughed. “A regular.”
    “That figures.” She looked up and said