A Hero To Trust In Me

by Marteeka Karland

  A Hero to Trust in Me

  By

  Marteeka Karland

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. This is a work of fiction. All references to real places, people, or events are coincidental, and if not coincidental, are used fictitiously. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. eBooks are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving eBooks is a copyright infringement.

  © 2014 Marteeka Karland

  Editor: Katriena Knights

  Cover Art: Shara Azod

  Books are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving eBooks is a copyright infringement.

  When Laura Meadows discovers her husband's indiscretions with her best friend, her world seems to come crashing down around her. Thankfully, an alert state trooper saves her from herself -- and her husband from an untimely death.

  Rick Carver never suspects a routine traffic stop could change his life forever. Until he pulls over a distraught female one rainy night. At first, he only feels sympathy for Laura. No one should have to go through the pain she’s obviously experiencing. But, when he sees her again at her divorce hearing, he realizes there’s something special about the spunky, beautiful woman.

  But her now-ex husband isn't the type of man to give up something he believes is his. Now, Rick must keep Laura safe, as well as win her trust. And trust is something Laura might not have left to give.

  Contents

  Chapter One. 5

  Chapter Two. 10

  Chapter Three. 15

  Chapter Four. 19

  Chapter Five. 25

  Chapter Six. 29

  Chapter Seven. 34

  Chapter Eight 37

  Chapter Nine. 42

  Chapter Ten. 47

  Chapter Eleven. 52

  Chapter One

  For the first time in her life, murder crossed Laura Meadows’ mind. She swiped angrily at the tears still tracking down her face, reminding her of the way the windshield wipers swiped over her windshield. The rain pouring down, the lightning streaking across the sky mirrored her turbulent emotions. She could not fucking believe this was happening.

  The wet road made an awful glare when she met oncoming traffic on the rural highway, but Laura barely noticed. Luckily, the road was mainly straight so all she had to concentrate on was keeping the small SUV between the yellow and white lines on the road. Water in the center of her lane pooled under her tires from time to time, but she barely noticed she hydroplaned a couple of times at the speed she was going.

  An inch-thick stack of papers lay beside her on the passenger seat. It was hard to keep from glancing at it from time to time. That little stack of papers had turned her once-ordered life upside down. Even now, as she sped down the road, she wanted to think there was a logical explanation for it all, but any attempts to reason it out for herself were met by a mocking “yeah, right” from her inner voice. Especially in light of what she’d found to make her go digging in the first place.

  Laura was so lost in thought and hurt she didn’t notice the flashing blue lights coming up behind her until the car was close. She glanced in her rearview mirror. Well, shit. Could this day get any better?

  Putting on her emergency flashers, Laura eased the vehicle to the side of the road before reaching for her purse in the passenger seat next to the stack of papers she hated so much. She snapped on the map light to peer into her purse for her license. When the officer tapped on her window with the butt of his flashlight, Laura rolled it down even as she swiped tears from her face yet again.

  “License and registration, please.” There was no nonsense in his voice, as if he hadn’t noticed the tears still tracking down her face that she couldn’t seem to stop. Which made it all the more mortifying. Hell. If he could ignore it, so could she.

  With a sniff, Laura handed him the requested documents. Right before dissolving once again. Mortified, she turned her head away, trying desperately to get herself under control.

  There was a pause before he asked the obligatory question all cops asked when stopping someone for speeding. “Do you know how fast you were going, ma’am?”

  For some reason, that question made Laura cry all the harder. It was if the whole day had come down to this one lousy ticket. But she knew it was far from over. She still had to go home and face her soon-to-be-ex-husband.

  “I have no idea. Could you just give me the ticket so I can go home?”

  Again, there was a pause. “It’s just a traffic ticket, ma’am. Why are you so upset?”

  “I have a perfect driving record. This will ruin it.” Even to herself, it sounded worse than lame. It sounded sarcastic and disrespectful. It wasn’t this man’s fault her husband was a bastard. All the cop had done was save her from herself. At least for the time being.

  “I see,” he replied, clearly not buying it. “According to the database, you’ve had a couple speeding tickets in the past. I’m going to need you to explain why you’re so upset.”

  “It’s none of your business,” she snapped. “Just give me the fucking ticket so I can go!”

  With the flashlight shining her way, it was hard to see his expression, but she imagined him raising an eyebrow. Still, he was professional when he spoke again. “I really don’t want to ask you to get out of your car on a night like this, ma’am. But I can’t let you go until I know what’s got you so worked up. If there is a medical emergency, I’ll be glad to see you get there safely.”

  That was just too much. The man was too nice to take the brunt of her anger. Laura buried her face in her hands and sobbed like a baby for several long moments. A warm, if damp, hand on her shoulder finally coaxed her to look at the cop. Sharp, intelligent green eyes met hers. Instead of suspicion, concern glittered in their depths, causing a fresh flood of tears to leak from her own eyes. Damn it! She hated this!

  “Tell me,” he said softly.

  With a shuddering sigh, Laura handed him the thick stack of papers. “That’s my husband’s itemized phone bill. All the numbers highlighted in yellow all through that stack are my best friend’s number.

  Tucking the flashlight away, he held the offending documents just inside the car while he examined them, flipping through each page. More than half of each sheet was painted in yellow.

  “Damn,” he muttered. “Any chance there is a logical explanation?” Even this stranger sounded doubtful.

  “Given the other incriminating evidence I found, I’m not hopeful of it.”

  “I see,” he said, still flipping pages. After the thorough examination, he returned his attention back to her. “Do you have any weapons in the vehicle, ma’am?”

  The question caught her by surprise. She sucked in a little breath of air before shaking her head. “No. None.”

  “And do you have any weapons in your home?”

  Stunned, a little confused, she answered, “Yes, but they’re in a safe. I keep my sister’s kids and I don’t want any accidents.”

  He sighed. “I was afraid of that.” Looking skyward, as if checking to see if the rain were going to miraculously shut off, he reached for his flashlight again. “I’m going to have to ask you to come with me for a few minutes.”

  “What? Other than speeding, I haven't done anything wrong.”

  “I know, but I can’t let you go home until you’ve calmed down. Since I’m not partial to standing in the pouring-down rain, I’m going to need you to get in my car.”
<
br />   “You’re arresting me?” Oh, God! Would the tears not just stop? Just when she thought she was under control, they started again in earnest.

  “Roll up the window.” His voice was gentle, but he opened her door, brooking no argument. Laura did as the officer instructed, leaving her car running even as she exited the vehicle. Hastily, he guided her to his car and helped her into the front passenger side. Not the back seat. He then trotted to the driver’s side and got in, shaking the rain from his hat and coat.

  “I’m Rick Carver,” he said, finally introducing himself. “Sorry to meet you under such circumstances, but look on the bright side. I’m not giving you a ticket today.”

  Laura couldn’t help herself. A little bark of laughter, followed immediately by a sorrowful hiccup/cough escaped her throat.

  “Laura Meadows,” she said, extending her hand. The situation might not be conventional, but she was Southern with Southern manners.

  Rick took it with an engaging grin before saying, “Yeah. I got that from your license.”

  She rolled her eyes as she took the tissue he held out to her. “So, do you have to talk many hysterical females down from the proverbial ledge?”

  “No. And I’m not this time, either. I’m simply saving myself paperwork later.” At her questioning look he added. “Homicide, no matter how justifiable, carries with it a mountain of paperwork.”

  Laura did laugh then. A genuine laugh at his inappropriate humor. Somehow, laughing with her at her situation helped when nothing else could. If she found out nothing else about him, if she never met him again, Laura knew she liked Rick Carver.

  “So, Laura Meadows. What do you do for a living?” He’d flipped on the overhead light when he’d gotten into the car so she could make out his features. The only thing she really noticed, though, were piercing green eyes. They seemed to look into her soul whether she wanted him to or not. Laura imagined it would be hard for someone to lie to this man.

  “I’m an accountant. A tax accountant. I guess since you didn’t give me a ticket, I could offer to do your taxes for free.”

  It was his turn to chuckle then. “Yeah, I guess you could. You might wish you’d taken the speeding ticket by the time you get done with me, though. My tax stuff is all jacked up.”

  She grinned. “I guarantee I’ve seen worse.”

  “Not only do I have my income from the KSP, but my military benefits. And I’ve got a big ole shoebox full of receipts. Never bothered to organize them, though.”

  Laura groaned. “Unorganized receipts? Sounds like a nightmare.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya. They’re not stacked, either. Just tossed in there. Probably in semi-chronological order.” He shrugged.

  “Still not scared.” Laura raised her chin with a grin. “What branch of the military?”

  “Marines. My whole family is military or ex-military. Though I don’t claim my youngest brother. Chase was Air Force Pararescue. But then he always was a little wimpy. Probably suited him better than Navy or Marines.”

  “I wonder what he’d say about that?”

  “He’d try to kick my ass, is what he’d say about it.” Rick laughed. “I promise he’ll fail though. I’ve always been the toughest of the bunch.”

  “Is that why you became a state trooper?”

  He grinned, those green eyes sparkling with mischief. “Nope. I joined the KSP to talk hysterical females down from the proverbial ledge. Feeling better?”

  Surprisingly, she did. Oh, she was still hurt and angry, but she no longer wanted to kill anyone. Seriously maim, maybe, but not kill. Not only that, but she didn’t feel like she’d dissolve into another blubbering heap any time soon. She grinned. “Yeah, I guess I do. You’re pretty good at your job, Officer Carver.”

  “Rick. And don’t think I won’t take you up on your offer of doing my taxes. It might only be August, but I am certainly not looking forward to dealing with that mess.”

  “Gladly.”

  The rain had let up, leaving behind a clean, fresh scent and cool, crisp air. Was this a sign? Should she try to start over? She couldn’t stay with Carl. No way. Not after this. Strangely, it didn’t bother her as much as she’d first thought it did.

  As she climbed in her vehicle, she reached for her purse, digging for her business card. “Here,” she said, rolling down the window as he shut the door for her. “Drop by the office when you’re ready.”

  He grinned, but all she really registered was the sparkle of those amazing green eyes. “Count on it.”

  Chapter Two

  Six months later

  Homeless, friendless, but free. Laura inhaled deeply as she stepped out of the courtroom. No, she wasn’t outside where the clean, fresh air would no doubt improve her mood further, but she felt like she’d shaken free of a three-year-long life suck. As the divorce had proceeded, she’d learned things about her ex-husband and ex-best friend she wish she’d hadn’t. No amount of mind bleach was going to cure this. Her lawyer had pleaded with her to stay the course, fight the good fight, take the bastard for everything he’d ever made or ever would make, but the fact was, she just wanted free.

  “I can’t believe you agreed to those terms, Laura,” Balori McGavin hissed as she walked with Laura out of the courtroom. The woman had strenuously objected to Laura’s acceptance of Carl’s demands, going so far as to tell the judge her client was obviously suffering from mental anguish, setting them up to ask for a huge payout from Carl.

  The judge actually nodded, and Laura had been heartily tempted to keep her mouth closed, but, in the end, she hadn’t been able to. He’d bought the house before they’d gotten married. He’d bought everything but her car. Laura just couldn’t make herself let the judge give her anything. She just wanted out.

  “Did you really expect me to take stuff that wasn’t mine? I didn’t want that house. He and Linda probably did the hunka-chunka all over that place. I’ll get my own place where I know it’s clean.” She shivered. “I know at least one of those videos was in our bed. God! I probably slept on those sheets!”

  “Well, you ruined a great opportunity on my resume.”

  Laughing, Laura patted her lawyer and friend on the back. “No worries. I’ll be sure to offer references. I’ll let anyone asking know how you tried to get the judge to think I had lost my mind when I insisted on not taking the bastard for all he was worth.”

  “It would have been no less than he deserved. At least the judge gave you a generous alimony entitlement.”

  “More than generous. He’ll fight it and I won’t protest. I just want out. Thanks for helping me and for making it as painless as possible. I don’t know that I could have faced him every week over every single point in the divorce. Thanks for handling it.”

  Balori waved her off. “Just doing my job. I wasn’t exposing you to any more than I absolutely had to. And I’ll take care of any protests he makes and you will not let him out of that payment.” She turned to Laura offering her hand. “Congratulations. You’re now divorced. If you want to go back to your maiden name, let me know. I’ll get the paperwork together for the Social Security office and you’ll be all set.”

  “Hands where I can see them, Miss.” The deep, masculine voice sent a shiver of recognition sliding down her spine. Funny, the sound hadn’t registered before, but Laura knew she’d never forget the voice of the man who’d saved her sanity.

  Turning to face him, Laura found herself once again face to face with Rick Carver. “Don’t you have a speeding, hysterical woman to save or something?”

  The skin around his eyes crinkled in merriment. All she clearly remembered from that night was the intense green of his eyes. Having been in such distress, she hadn’t realized the man was so breathtakingly gorgeous. Now, she could appreciate his blatant masculine beauty. Chiseled cheeks, an aristocratic nose, and blue-black hair cut high and tight completed a large, fit frame Laura suspected was packed with muscle, if the way his shirt fit his broad chest and shoulders was any
indication.

  “Not today. I was helping out a friend with court duty today and noticed your name on the docket. Thought I’d check on you.”

  “Well, I didn’t kill anyone, if that’s what you’re worried about.” She was only half joking and she could tell Rick knew it. “You didn’t let an ax murderer go free when mayhem could have been prevented. No worries.” She grinned to take the bitterness out of her words.

  “Thank goodness. I’d hate to have been the one hauling your pretty butt to the state pen.”

  “But you’d do it. Wouldn’t you?” Laura smiled.

  “Well, I’d have gone to your defense first. I mean, I can appreciate the evidence you’d collected if not that particular possible outcome.”

  “Well, hello, gorgeous.” Balori extended her hand. The sleek lawyer was not only smart and a good attorney, but beautiful as well. Laura was surprised to find a sliver of jealousy trickling through her. “Who might you be?”

  Rick took her hand, nodding politely in acknowledgement. “Rick Carver, ma’am. Kentucky State Police.”

  “Rick here pulled me over for speeding the night everything blew up. He kept your divorce case from being a murder case.”

  “I see.” Balori narrowed her eyes, looking the man up and down. Rick, unflappable state trooper, merely grinned at her. “Did he give you a ticket?”

  “No. Even talked me down. Though he did scare me. He made me get in his car and kept me there for a long, long time.”

  Rick chuckled. “And here I had this fantasy you’d enjoyed my company so much you lost track of time.”

  “Not saying I didn’t,” Laura admitted. “I’m just saying, no offense, but the last place I wanted to be in that particular moment was in your car.”