Happily Never After Read Online Free PDF Page A

men who were too pushy and arrogant for her taste.
    Sophisticated professionals were more her speed. She dated quiet men. They were more inclined to let a woman make her own decisions. A quiet, tame accountant didn’t yell at you for working sixteen-hour days on a hard case.
    Bode was a tall man, around six two, so she’d still needed to tilt her head up to meet his direct gaze. He wasn’t what most woman would define as handsome. A five o’clock shadow covering his granite-like jaw lent him a serious appearance. Sure, he was ripped with narrow hips and a rugged maleness to him, but the intensity and testosterone radiating from him made her a little uneasy.
    She settled deeper into the water. Bode asked if she’d run to California. His comment made it sound like a carefree decision. When in reality, this would be more like a last Hail Mary for saving her career. A job she’d spent years perfecting. From knowing every law or precedent to wearing the right clothes, she knew what it took to win the big cases.
    Tears stung the back of her eyes and her lids closed to hold them back. She’d cried enough for a lifetime. It was time to toughen up and glue the pieces of her life back together.
    The memory of returning to her office still embarrassed her. Showing up, day after day, just to leave again. She never knew what would trigger a panic attack. A sound, smell or even a person’s voice could begin the meltdown. Once the anxiety began to build, it consumed her until she scampered home.
    Everywhere she went someone wanted to rehash the shooting in detail. How did it make you feel when Warren shot you? Idiots.
    Sighing, she came back to the present. The warmth and the aspirin were taking the edge off, so she lowered herself further down into the tepid water. She used one foot to flip the hot water back on and let it run again.
    Brown eyes and thick black hair floated behind her closed lids. Lord, why can’t I stop thinking about this man. He probably left the hotel to go home to a wife.
    A flutter in her stomach made her hand move to her chest. It had been so long since someone merely held her in comfort, much less a passionate embrace. She rubbed the rough scar tissue. With another deep breath, she reached for a towel. Time to get out of the pool and send the pity party down the drain.
    She entered the bedroom and changed into her favorite cotton pajamas. The lights on low, she crawled into bed and dragged the covers over her. Drugs the doctors prescribed lay untouched on the bathroom counter. They helped her relax but made her too groggy in case she needed to react in the middle of the night.
    “Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, and breathe out.” She hummed the ABC’s as sleep began to overtake her.
    Three weeks until Christmas, the crowded sidewalks hampered their progress as they maneuvered past slower window shoppers. Her boss, Martin grunted as someone pushed him from behind. “What the—” He fell and landed hard on the pavement.
    A strong arm snaked around her throat and yanked her back. Hot breath tickled her cheek. “I’m not going to let you do this to me. I can’t go to prison.”
    The steel barrel of a .45 dug into her temple as the attacker snarled. “Get Back! I swear to God, I’ll shoot.”
    Pure terror congealed the blood in her veins. “Please don’t do this. I can help you.”
    “Help me? Bitch, you’re trying to ruin my life.” His laugh resembled a sob. “You don’t know who I am, do you?” He pressed the cold barrel deeper into her skin with each word.
    Her thin heel wedged in a crack, and she lost her balance. The unexpected shifting of her body weight caused them both to stumble. The movement to the side caught her attention as an officer raised his weapon.
    Time stopped. A loud blast sounded, and Otis’ body jolted against her. She tried to throw herself sideways, but he grabbed her wrist and spun her around. Their eyes met and held. Otis swayed, his expression held a sad