Read Online Queen of Hearts: (Family Stone #6 Shelley) (Family Stone Romantic Suspense) by Lisa Hughey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lisa Hughey
Tags: romantic suspense
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musings again.
Ric thought of all the things they would do if they were really dating. His cock started to rise as he imagined he and Shelley exploring this white hot attraction further.
“But Ric.” Jack clapped a heavy hand on Ric’s shoulder. “One more thing.”
“What’s that?” Ric asked absently, his mind on all the ways he could ‘cover’ Shelley.
“No more touching, Shelley.” Jack laid down the law.
“What?”
“She’s vulnerable.” Jack countered. “I don’t want her hurt.”
“Shouldn’t that be her decision?” Ric asked evenly.
“Maybe. But I’m asking you, as a friend, to take care of her, not bone her.”
Ric pressed his mouth together. He would try, but he wasn’t making any promises. “I understand your position. But Shelley is a grown ass woman. She can make her own decisions. And if she decides she wants me….” Ric thought back to that three years. She’d been right there with him in his hotel room last night. Jack was thinking about Shelley as a mother not as a woman. “I’m not going to refuse.”
On the other hand, what the hell was he thinking? One day ago he would have said he wasn’t interested in getting involved with anyone, especially someone with lots of strings attached. A relationship with Shelley had strings written all over it. So, yeah, maybe Jack had the right idea.
Not to mention, getting involved with a principal was really a bad idea.
Jack said, “Let me tell you about the notes she’s been getting.”
Ric help up his palm. “What about Shelley?”
Jack raised a dark brow.
“She needs to be in on this discussion.”
“I was trying to protect her.”
“You don’t need to withhold things from her.” Ric pulled out his phone. “Let’s all meet in my suite.”
“Fine. I’m going to call Con in.” Jack studied the picture of Shelley’s intruder. “I don’t want whoever is behind this to know where Shelley is.”
Ric knew Jack would have a better pulse on the situation. “Do you think she’s in physical danger?”
“The evidence of the pro would indicate this is more about scaring her, showing her they could get to her whenever and where ever they want.” Jack studied the pictures. “And so far the threats have all been fairly innocuous.”
A possessive, primitive need to protect her rose in Ric. “They must know enough about her to know you run a security company.”
Jack nodded.
“Yet, they still chose to make a move against her.” Ric contemplated that fact. “That indicates a level of arrogance that makes me uneasy.”
Jack replied, “Maybe they’re under the assumption that I wouldn’t care if something happened to her.”
“Are we sure the threat is really about Shelley?” Ric’s gut clenched with an unnamed emotion. Though they’d just met, he didn’t want anything to happen to her. “Could it be aimed at you?”
“It’s possible.” Jack tapped his finger on his lips. “John is investigating a lead on the missing girls. Ava’s friends.”
“I thought the asshole was awaiting trial.”
“He is, but we found a connection to a strip club here in Las Vegas.”
“So this could just be to distract you?” Ric thought out loud.
“Except, I’m staying away from John’s investigation so they don’t connect it to my family.” Jack mused. “At least not right away.”
“Then maybe the focus on Shelley is a back end way to get to Stone Consulting.”
“It isn’t like I haven’t made some enemies lately.” Jack propped his hand on his hips.
Ric snorted. “Lately?”
Seven
There was a knock on the suite door despite the ‘Do Not Disturb’ placard on the handle.
Shelley sighed and headed for the door.
“Uh, mom. You don’t answer the door until this is over.” Jess’s hand on her arm stopped her. “Let me.”
Shelley moped, and shuffled to the sofa. She dropped onto the L-shaped sectional. The sweats which before seemed soft and comfortable now chafed. She wanted her own
Ric thought of all the things they would do if they were really dating. His cock started to rise as he imagined he and Shelley exploring this white hot attraction further.
“But Ric.” Jack clapped a heavy hand on Ric’s shoulder. “One more thing.”
“What’s that?” Ric asked absently, his mind on all the ways he could ‘cover’ Shelley.
“No more touching, Shelley.” Jack laid down the law.
“What?”
“She’s vulnerable.” Jack countered. “I don’t want her hurt.”
“Shouldn’t that be her decision?” Ric asked evenly.
“Maybe. But I’m asking you, as a friend, to take care of her, not bone her.”
Ric pressed his mouth together. He would try, but he wasn’t making any promises. “I understand your position. But Shelley is a grown ass woman. She can make her own decisions. And if she decides she wants me….” Ric thought back to that three years. She’d been right there with him in his hotel room last night. Jack was thinking about Shelley as a mother not as a woman. “I’m not going to refuse.”
On the other hand, what the hell was he thinking? One day ago he would have said he wasn’t interested in getting involved with anyone, especially someone with lots of strings attached. A relationship with Shelley had strings written all over it. So, yeah, maybe Jack had the right idea.
Not to mention, getting involved with a principal was really a bad idea.
Jack said, “Let me tell you about the notes she’s been getting.”
Ric help up his palm. “What about Shelley?”
Jack raised a dark brow.
“She needs to be in on this discussion.”
“I was trying to protect her.”
“You don’t need to withhold things from her.” Ric pulled out his phone. “Let’s all meet in my suite.”
“Fine. I’m going to call Con in.” Jack studied the picture of Shelley’s intruder. “I don’t want whoever is behind this to know where Shelley is.”
Ric knew Jack would have a better pulse on the situation. “Do you think she’s in physical danger?”
“The evidence of the pro would indicate this is more about scaring her, showing her they could get to her whenever and where ever they want.” Jack studied the pictures. “And so far the threats have all been fairly innocuous.”
A possessive, primitive need to protect her rose in Ric. “They must know enough about her to know you run a security company.”
Jack nodded.
“Yet, they still chose to make a move against her.” Ric contemplated that fact. “That indicates a level of arrogance that makes me uneasy.”
Jack replied, “Maybe they’re under the assumption that I wouldn’t care if something happened to her.”
“Are we sure the threat is really about Shelley?” Ric’s gut clenched with an unnamed emotion. Though they’d just met, he didn’t want anything to happen to her. “Could it be aimed at you?”
“It’s possible.” Jack tapped his finger on his lips. “John is investigating a lead on the missing girls. Ava’s friends.”
“I thought the asshole was awaiting trial.”
“He is, but we found a connection to a strip club here in Las Vegas.”
“So this could just be to distract you?” Ric thought out loud.
“Except, I’m staying away from John’s investigation so they don’t connect it to my family.” Jack mused. “At least not right away.”
“Then maybe the focus on Shelley is a back end way to get to Stone Consulting.”
“It isn’t like I haven’t made some enemies lately.” Jack propped his hand on his hips.
Ric snorted. “Lately?”
Seven
There was a knock on the suite door despite the ‘Do Not Disturb’ placard on the handle.
Shelley sighed and headed for the door.
“Uh, mom. You don’t answer the door until this is over.” Jess’s hand on her arm stopped her. “Let me.”
Shelley moped, and shuffled to the sofa. She dropped onto the L-shaped sectional. The sweats which before seemed soft and comfortable now chafed. She wanted her own
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