by V. K. Powell
Table of Contents
Synopsis
Praise for VK Powell
By the Author
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Epilogue
About the Author
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
Captain’s Choice
Newly promoted police captain Bennett Carlyle considers being project manager for the new district substation the way to prove her worth in the male-dominated upper ranks of the department. But when the first girl she loved returns as the architect with little understanding of the operational needs of a police station, Bennett’s career and her heart could face permanent damage.
Architect Kerstin Anthony believes the new police substation will be the springboard to her own firm and the necessary resources to care for her mother. When she confronts the girl she kissed in high school, now a tantalizing police officer with unrealistic expectations about the new facility, Kerstin’s path to success becomes littered with unexpected hurdles. Along with tight deadlines, budget restraints, and architectural challenges, she has to battle both past and present feelings for the woman she was torn away from years ago.
Praise for VK Powell
Side Effects
“[A] touching contemporary tale of two wounded souls hoping to find lasting love and redemption together…Powell ably plots a plausible and suspenseful story, leading readers to fall in love with the characters she’s created.”—Publishers Weekly
To Protect and Serve
“If you like cop novels, or even television cop shows with women as full partners with male officers…this is the book for you. It’s got drama, excitement, conflict, and even some fairly hot lesbian sex. The writer is a retired cop, so she really writes from a place of authenticity. As a result, you have a realistic quality to the writing that puts me in mind of early Joseph Wambaugh.”—Teresa DeCrescenzo, Lesbian News
“To Protect and Serve drew me in from the very first page with characters that captivated in their complexity. Powell writes with authority using the lingo and capturing the thoughts of the law enforcers who make the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against crime. What’s more impressive is the command this debut author has of portraying a full gamut of emotion, from angst to elation, through dialogue and narrative. The images are vivid, the action is believable, and the police procedurals are authentic…VK Powell had me invested in the story of these women, heart, mind, body and soul. Along with danger and tension, Powell’s well-developed erotic scenes sizzle and sate.”—Story Circle Book Reviews
Suspect Passions
“From the first chapter of Suspect Passions Powell builds erotic scenes which sear the page. She definitely takes her readers for a walk on the wild side! Her characters, however, are also women we care about. They are bright, witty, and strong. The combination of great sex and great characters make Suspect Passions a must read.”—Just About Write
Fever
“VK Powell has given her fans an exciting read. The plot of Fever is filled with twists, turns, and ‘seat of your pants’ danger…Fever gives readers both great characters and erotic scenes along with insight into life in the African bush.”—Just About Write
Justifiable Risk
“This story takes some unusual twists and at one point, I was convinced that I knew ‘who did it’ only to find out that I was wrong. VK Powell knows crime drama, she kept me guessing until the end, and I was not disappointed at the outcome. And that’s not to slight VK Powell’s knack for romance…Readers who appreciate mysteries with a touch of drama and intense erotic moments will enjoy Justifiable Risk.”—Queer Magazine
Exit Wounds
“Powell’s prose is no-nonsense and all business. It gets in and gets the job done, a few well-placed phrases sparkling in your memory and some trenchant observations about life in general and a cop’s life in particular sticking to your psyche long after they’ve gone. After five books, Powell knows what her audience wants, and she delivers those goods with solid assurance. But be careful you don’t get hooked. You only get six hits, then the supply’s gone, and you’ll be jonesin’ for the next installment. It never pays to be at the mercy of a cop.”—Out in Print
“Fascinating and complicated characters materialize, morph, and sometimes disappear testing the passionate yet nascent love of the book’s focal pair. I was so totally glued to and amazed by the intricate layers that continued to materialize like an active volcano…dangerous and deadly until the last mystery is revealed. This book goes into my super special category. Please don’t miss it.”—Rainbow Book Reviews
About Face
“Powell excels at depicting complex, emotionally vulnerable characters who connect in a believable fashion and enjoy some genuinely hot erotic moments.”—Publishers Weekly
Captain’s Choice
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Captain’s Choice
© 2017 By VK Powell. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13:978-1-62639-998-3
This Electronic Original is published by
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: December 2017
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Shelley Thrasher
Production Design: Stacia Seaman
Cover Design by Sheri ([email protected])
By the Author
To Protect and Serve
Suspect Passions
Fever
Justifiable Risk
Haunting Whispers
Exit Wounds
About Face
Side Effects
Deception
Lone Ranger
Captain’s Choice
Acknowledgments
I’ve been blessed to pursue two careers that brought me great satisfaction. The first allowed me to help people and promote advancement for women in a profession that often overlooked them. In the second, I parlayed that career into stories of survival, the struggle to balance love and livelihood, and the fight between good and evil. To Len Barot and all the wonderful folks at Bold Strokes Books—thank you for giving me the chance to tell my stories.
My deepest gratitude and admiration to Dr. Shelley Thrasher for your guidance, suggestions, and kindness. Working with you is a learning experience and a pleasure. I’m so proud of our collaborations an
d of your success as a Bold Strokes author.
For BSB sister author, D. Jackson Leigh, and friends Jenny Harmon and Mary Margret Daughtridge—thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to provide priceless feedback. This book is so much better for your efforts. I am truly grateful.
To all the readers who support and encourage my writing, thank you for buying my work, sending emails, and showing up for events. You make my “job” so much fun!
Chapter One
Kerstin Anthony paused beside the bronze sculpture of police officer and boy outside the Melvin Municipal Office Building in downtown Greensboro and pulled her suit jacket tighter against the brisk fall breeze. She’d been here often—over seventeen years ago—with a friend in high school, whose father was a cop. She shivered from a pang of unexpected sadness, a reminder that period of her life hadn’t been entirely pleasant. She pushed the unwanted memories aside and focused on her purpose.
She’d taken over the architectural project for the first Greensboro Police substation from a coworker who’d been removed under embarrassing circumstances. Her boss was counting on her to redeem the firm’s reputation, but more importantly, she needed this project to secure her own future and her mother’s. If she was honest, her ego was also wrapped up in showing Leonard Parrish she could handle any messed-up assignment he shuffled her way. She climbed the stairs of the entrance and followed the hallway to the chief’s complex.
The chief had obviously not asked his admin to come in for the emergency Sunday meeting, so she waited in the small conference room adjacent to his office. She rolled her architectural plans out on the large conference table and smoothed the front of her favorite red power suit. The butterflies in her stomach accompanied every meeting in which she had to sell herself, actually any situation in which she was not totally in charge. Taking on someone else’s project, fraught with pitfalls and problems not of her making, could become a nightmare. But she’d reviewed the drawings and was prepared. She’d simply offer a brief overview to a police officer who knew nothing about architecture, get his signature on the contract, and carry on with the work she loved. The meeting was only a formality. Raised voices from the chief’s office, one male and one female, returned her attention to the present.
“Are you kidding, Chief? I’m a street cop. The manager’s office should oversee a project this size.”
Kerstin considered stepping out of the room, or at least making her presence known, but instead eased closer to the door, curiosity winning out. The disagreement was probably about her project, and she hated being left in the dark about anything.
“This is your first assignment. Comes with the promotion. Take it or leave it, Captain.” The voices quieted, and a few seconds later the door connecting the chief’s office and the conference room swung open.
Kerstin inhaled sharply as a tall, lean woman with observant whiskey-brown eyes and plump lips that evoked memories walked toward her. Kerstin backed away as if distance would change the situation.
“Kerstin Anthony?” the woman asked.
She pressed her fingertips on the tabletop to steady herself. “Ben…Bennett Carlyle?”
“Hi, Kerst.” Bennett openly stared her up and down with no hint of subtlety before settling on her lips. “What are you doing here?”
The last time she’d seen Bennett, her eyes and intentions were full of mischief and teenage rebellion, and Kerstin had been terrified. “It’s Kerstin.” Formality and structure kept her grounded and in control, and right now she needed those traits desperately.
“Okay, Kerstin.” Bennett offered a slight smile, and the dimples on either side of her mouth blossomed. “How have you been? Where have you been? What are you doing in Greensboro? At the police station? That didn’t sound right. You’re just…unexpected.”
The sociable Bennett, who’d been so popular in school, babbled nervously, and Kerstin just wanted to escape. She couldn’t pretend they were old friends picking up where they’d left off. Too much had happened. Her face heated, and the strong coffee she’d had for breakfast churned in her stomach. She gathered her drawings, willing her hands to steady. Sliding the plans to the edge of the table, she reached for her bag, but the pages fell and scattered across the floor.
“I’ll get them.” Bennett stooped beside her, and Kerstin inhaled the vivid musk scent she’d always associated with Bennett.
Kerstin stood quickly, pulling for a breath not filled with Bennett’s scent and the past. “I won’t waste your time or mine. This isn’t going to work.” Her carefully constructed façade quivered. Her life was already complicated enough.
Bennett rolled the drawings and offered them to her. “What’s not going to work?”
“The project. Us. Together.” She was a professional and worked with a variety of difficult and challenging people on assignments. She could handle the situation, if she wanted. The question tumbled over and over in her mind. Did she want to? Any person or thing from years ago controlling any aspect of her life rankled.
Bennett’s lips tightened slightly at the comment, and she glanced from Kerstin to the rolled pages she held. “You’re from the architectural firm?”
“Of course. Why else would I be here? And why is that so surprising?”
“I’m not surprised you’re an architect. You always had the smarts to be anything you wanted. I’m shocked you’re here.”
“Parrish Designs, the firm I work for, had the original contract. It makes sense, economically and design wise.” Kerstin reached for the plans Bennett held, careful to avoid touching her, but changed her mind. “Keep those.” She refused to explain anything about her life, past or present. “And you’re a cop. Didn’t see that one coming.”
A flicker of sadness crossed Bennett’s face, followed by a weighty silence. “It’s the family business, but you’re right.” She waved her hand down the front of the black uniform that hugged her body and added height to her already lanky figure. “Military dress, shiny synthetic shoes, and a twenty-pound utility belt. Not really me. Is it?”
“Certainly not the Bennett Carlyle I remember, but that was a long time ago.” And not a time she cared to remember. She schooled her expression and carefully delivered her next statement. “One of us should withdraw from the project. The job is massive, and a personality conflict will only complicate matters further.”
“I don’t have a personality conflict. As a matter of fact, I’ve been told I have a pretty decent personality.” Her full lips curved into a stunning smile, and dimples again flanked her mouth.
Of course, cool, confident Bennett Carlyle got along with everyone, so she was implying Kerstin obviously had the problem.
Bennett appraised her silently for several seconds. “And, in the interest of full disclosure, I’ll be overseeing the project. Can you say awkward?”
She was supposed to work with a woman she could barely make eye contact with and accept her daily scrutiny? This was so not happening. Her boss might fire her if she didn’t at least make an attempt, but right now she wanted out of this uncomfortable situation. She had other projects waiting for her expertise. “I’ll find a suitable replacement from the firm, someone I think you’ll get along with better.” She turned to leave.
“Wait. What? This job is a big deal, as you said, and I’d hate for you to miss out.” Bennett took two long strides and stopped, towering over her.
Kerstin had forgotten how tall Bennett was, and the difference, once comforting, made her uneasy. And Bennett stood so close, Kerstin smelled her distinctive fragrance again.
“Why don’t we go for a walk and catch up before you make a definite decision? We could cut through the parking lot to Green Bean.”
“No, thanks. I’m here for a business meeting, not a reunion. And trust me, Parrish Designs has other qualified architects who can handle the job.” She almost added that a walk and a cup of coffee wouldn’t come close to catching them up. If she were any other woman, Kerstin would jump at the offer because Bennett
was charming and totally hot. As it was, she couldn’t imagine spending more time with Bennett on purpose. Her energy was vibrant and compelling, which terrified and intrigued Kerstin, and she did not want to be intrigued by Bennett Carlyle.
“Okay. How about the canteen down the hall? Coffee’s not bad and a little socializing couldn’t hurt.”
“Again, thank you, but no.” Kerstin released the door handle and turned her head to breathe deeply and avoid those brown eyes. The pinnacle of her portfolio, the project to virtually guarantee the first contract in her own firm, was on the line, but she’d survive. “I need to go.”
“At least think about the job. Your coworker started the renovation, and we need everything to continue seamlessly. The department is in a time crunch.” Bennett’s tone was soft and obliging, the timbre of a woman negotiating for something important. Was she only concerned about her promotion? “I’m sure we can work together.”
“I’m not.” Bennett was probably right. They were professionals, so why did Kerstin want to run? She reached for the door handle again, but Bennett beat her to it.
“Let me.” She opened the door and waited for Kerstin to walk through. “Nice to see you again, Kerst—Kerstin. I wish you’d reconsider. This project could help both of us.”
Was Bennett waving a white flag about their past or speaking professionally? Either way, it didn’t matter. She’d simply ask her boss to assign another architect. After all, she’d taken over from Gilbert Early, who’d been pulled from the job without much explanation. Collaborating with Bennett Carlyle was not an option, even if it set back her future plans.