Shattered Heart (Z series) by Jerri Drennen Read Free Book Online Page A

Lettie’s? What would he have to gain by it? As far as he knew the place was losing money.
    Maybe he wanted a key to get inside ?
    Perhaps she needed to take a look around the cafe. Maybe her husband hid something there, and that’s why Terran wanted to get access to the place. Then again, a man like him could just break in.
    This was something she needed to tell JT. Too bad she didn’t want to see him any more than Terran—not when he had her feeling things that even her husband hadn’t. That in itself made her want to stay as far from him as she could.
    Charlotte went about putting her groceries away. Hopefully now that JT had called in a friend, he’d stay away and allow this man to watch over her.
     
    * * *
     
    JT slapped Zackary Kyle on the back, happy to see his friend. Maybe with him here, he wouldn’t keep thinking about Charlotte all the time. He definitely wouldn’t have to spend the night with her.
    “What’s with the hair?” JT pointed to his friend’s head.
    “I got it cut. You like it?”
    JT shrugged. “Looks like you’re back in the service.”
    Zack shrugged.“So, what’s our plan of action. Why am I here?”
    “Terran has been wooing Shaun Delaney’s widow. No doubt trying to find what he had on him. I need you to stay at her place and watch for trouble while I try and find out where Shaun hid this evidence, while doing the job Terran hired me to do.”
    “What a sleaze-ball. Do you have any idea where to start looking?”
    JT dug the key out of his pocket and showed Zack. “I found this in a small envelope Charlotte was given with Shaun’s will. I think it’s important. I need to find what it opens.”
    Zack took the key and examined it. “It looks like a lockbox key to me.”
    “That’s what I thought. Now I just need to find the box.”
    “Could it be at the widow’s place?”
    “It could be. I really didn’t get a chance to look around much since I’m working for Terran now. Maybe while Charlotte’s at her cafe, you can search her house from top to bottom.”
    “So, we’re on a first name basis with the widow woman. How old is this lady anyway?”
    “Mid to late twenties. Why?”
    “No reason,” his friend said with a grin. “How pretty is she?”
    “Look, Zack, we’re not here to see how lucky we can get. We’re here to get Terran.” Reading Zack the riot act made him feel like a hypocrite. But he didn’t want his friend thinking he could sleep with her. He knew Zack—heard about his one-night-stand with Casey’s best friend, Chelsea, while he was helping Lynch in New Orleans. Over and over again.   JT didn’t want him thinking about doing the same with Charlotte.
    “I know, JT. I’ll do what you need me to. You can trust that I’ll stay at least six feet away from the widow Delaney. Clearly you’ve already taken claim to her.”
    “What the hell are you talking about?”
    “I’m not stupid. There’s a possessiveness in your eyes. I’ll keep her safe and look for this lockbox.”
    “You’re wrong. I just don’t want to see her get hurt. She’s still broken up about losing Shaun. Still wears her wedding ring. A guy would be a fool to get involved with a woman that much in love with her dead husband.” Was JT saying this for Zack’s benefit, or for his? He really wasn’t sure. An even better reason to steer clear of Charlotte.
    “All right, JT. Can you point me in this widow’s direction?” Zack’s question drew JT back to him.
    “I’ll take you over. I don’t want your rental sitting in front of her house. This is a small town—with small town mentality. We don’t want Charlotte’s neighbors talking.”
    “Okay. Whatever you say, boss.” Zack gave him a wry smile.
    Damn it all to hell. His friend could read him like a directional manual. Zack knew he cared about Charlotte, just by his concern for her reputation, and there wasn’t anything JT could do about that.

 
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    Charlotte stretched her arms above