Read Online Lost But Not Forgotten by Roz Denny Fox - Free Book Online

Trooper. Bet you’d like company, wouldn’t you?”
    Ethan untied the dog and gave him a couple of treats he pulled from his jacket. Propping a shoulder against the tree, he methodically coiled the leash.
    “What’s the problem, Ethan?” Mitch asked. “Do we play twenty questions or you gonna spit out what’s bugging you? You need my input on a case? Which one?”
    “I lied about wanting to discuss a case. This probably won’t win me any points, but here goes. You’re what’s bugging me, Mitch.”
    “Me?” After his initial start, Mitch laughed on seeing Ethan’s grim expression. He relaxed enough so that Taz almost knocked him over. “Jeez! And here I moved out of your house so I wouldn’t get on your nerves.”
    “Knock it off. I’m trying to be serious and you’re clowning around.”
    Mitch straightened, dusting dog hair from his hands. “You’re so transparent, Ethan.” He puckered his lips. “I can take care of myself, so save the lecture. We’re not blood kin, and you’re no longer my senior partner.” Mitch let it stand at that, even though he wanted to say more.
    “I am your friend.” Ethan’s sudden, tense stillness dared Mitch to disagree. “What’s more, I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for you. You took bullets meant for me. I had no defense against DeSalvo when you drew his fire. That damn well bonds us, whether you like it or not, Valetti.”
    “Quit it, Ethan. You’re the closest thing I have to a brother. You’d have done the same for me if our roles were reversed. But dammit, man, that still doesn’t give you the right to mess in my personal life.”
    “It does if you insist on acting like a fool.”
    “Give me a break. Half the department thought you were crazy to get involved with Regan Grant. Did I ever stick my nose in and try to warn you off?”
    “No. You tried to steal her away from me right in front of my house. Remember how thick you laid on the Italian charm?”
    “Hell, Ethan, if you couldn’t see that I was trying to help you make up your mind…”
    “So, is that why you’re flirting with Christy Jones? If it is, her husband isn’t buying your act. She is still married, you know.”
    “Christy? Dammit, you oughta know that’s strictly business. And she said you told her I was open to doing contract investigative work.”
    “Okay, okay. I did. It was a mistake, okay? Maybe you should think twice about accepting her offer. Bert says Royce is on a tear. We’ve both seen good cops go bad. Royce has never been rational when it comes to Christy.” He squinted at Mitch. “Sort of like how you aren’t firing on all cylinders where Bert’s new waitress is concerned.”
    “Ah. Finally we’re getting to the crux of this conversation.”
    A guilty expression flashed across Ethan’s face.
    “Oh, don’t tighten the reins now, Ethan. Let’s take this at a gallop. What’s your problem with Gillian Stevens?”
    Ethan released a pent-up breath. His gaze didn’t waver. “It’s a gut feeling. How often in the years we worked together did we go with one of my gut reactions and been glad we did?”
    Breaking the eye lock Ethan had on him, Mitch massaged the back of his neck. “A lot. I never kept track. There were a couple of times you were wrong, though.”
    “A couple out of six years?” Ethan sounded scornful.
    “Closer to seven,” Mitch mumbled. “Dammit, Ethan. I haven’t asked the woman to marry me, I only asked her for a date. She turned me down,” he admitted quietly, ramming his hands in his back pockets while he scuffed the pointed toe of his boot in the dirt.
    “She did? What the hell’s wrong with her?”
    His head snapped up at Ethan’s outburst. Laughing, Mitch reached over and slapped Ethan’s shoulder. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
    “Yeah, well…” Ethan glanced away. “Maybe we should trust my gut this time. A couple of uniforms from the day shift said the Stevens woman asked some not-so-subtle