Read Online Love Inspired Suspense October 2015 #1 by Lenora Worth, Hope White, Diane Burke - Free Book Online Page B

her father. “The detective is following up with some more questions for me, Papa.”
    â€œDetective Kent, does my daughter need a good lawyer?” Franco asked, his hands in the pockets of his expensive trousers, his frown etched in fatigue and overindulgence.
    Blain gave Rikki a questioning stare and then met her father’s disapproving frown. “Not yet, sir.”
    * * *
    Rikki wanted to drop off the face of the earth. Her father and the law—not good in one room together. And especially not good with this one. Blain had that I-won’t-back-down attitude perfected. The clinched fists, the daring solid wall of an expression and the buff body braced for action.
    Lots of action.
    She shouldn’t be attracted to a man who hated her family and had her on a suspect list. But there it was, plain and simple. Instead of wanting him to leave, Rikki just wanted to protect him from her father’s wrath.
    As if Blain Kent needed protecting.
    â€œIt’s okay, Papa,” she said to prove that point. “I can handle this.”
    â€œCan you, really?” her father asked. “You’ve brought danger to your sick mother’s door. After refusing to associate with this family for years, you decide to come home and bring murder with you. I’ll never understand you, Regina.”
    â€œThat’s enough,” Blain said.
    Rikki blinked away the raw pain that made her eyes swell with moisture and turned to find Blain standing by her side. “Your daughter is cooperating with us in every aspect of this investigation. Whoever did this also came after her last night. And regardless of how I feel, that’s why she’s staying here.” He glanced around and pointed a finger at Franco. “You have a fortress here so even I agree this is the best place for her right now. Unless you want something terrible to happen to her, too.”
    Rikki expected her father to tell Blain to get out of his house. Instead, he took a deep breath and stared over at Blain with puffy eyes and a deep, puckered brow. “Do you think the killer mistook Tessa to be my daughter?”
    â€œI do, sir,” Blain said, his arm brushing against Rikki’s like a warning caress. “But I can’t give you a conclusive comment on that yet. Rikki is going to put together a list of everyone she’s talked to or worked with over the last few weeks. And in the meantime, I’ll keep in touch with the Miami and Tallahassee authorities and see what we can come up with.”
    Franco moved into the big den, his power practically radiating off his body. “You will keep me informed.”
    Blain’s expression looked like jagged ice. “I don’t usually keep anyone outside the department informed on an active case, sir.”
    â€œBut you’ll make an exception.”
    Blain’s body went rigid again. He braced his legs apart and crossed his arms over his chest, the rustle of his leather jacket sending out “keep off” vibes. “I don’t make exceptions, Mr. Alvanetti.”
    Her father actually looked nonplussed and confused. Rikki seriously wanted to kiss Blain Kent. Nobody ever talked back to her father.
    Then she realized she wouldn’t mind kissing Blain Kent, regardless of her father. Which would only make things worse for both of them.
    Franco sank down in his favorite leather chair and uttered a tired sigh. “So we have a dead woman who was found at my daughter’s home. Her best friend, Tessa Jones, who just happens to resemble her. Interesting, isn’t it?”
    Did he even care? Rikki wondered.
    â€œVery interesting,” Blain said. “The whole town is buzzing with scenarios. Which is why I don’t want to release the details. Brings out a lot of wackos and wannabe-snitches.”
    Franco patted the cushy arms of the chair with his meaty hands. “I see.” He coughed and cleared his throat. “I will make sure my