"I don't understand why she was so desperate to have it go through. She was the primary investor, but. . .."
"Eleanor was broke," Joe said. "She sank everything she had into the development. She was desperate."
Despite her interest in the case, Helen yawned. "Sorry. Having a hard time staying awake."
"I have to go anyway. Need to get some sleep too. Got a big date with Annie tonight." His eyes twinkled when he said her name. "I think she's ready to talk marriage."
J.B. walked him to the door. Helen let her eyes drift closed. Things had worked out rather well, considering. Rosie had escaped unharmed and would be coming over after lunch. Eleanor wouldn't be getting her shopping center, but where she was going, she wouldn't need one.
Helen awoke the next morning to a ringing telephone. J.B. answered it. He listened intently, offering a couple of yeses and an agreement that he thought it would be a good idea. When he hung up, he went into the bathroom and closed the door.
"Not again." Helen groaned. She got up, shrugged into her bathrobe, and went downstairs. Did he have another assignment? Too tired to cook, she set juice, cereal, and milk on the table, then brought in the morning paper. The headlines reported the U.S. had just received word that while the president had been traveling through Jordan, there had been an attempt on his life. That attempt had been averted by special forces headed up by Central Intelligence. No names were listed, but Helen couldn't help but wonder if J.B. hadn't somehow, at some level, been involved. She smiled, proud and at the same time a little saddened. Though they sometimes got in each other's way, she rather enjoyed having him around.
J.B. came into the room, kissed her on the cheek, then picked up his paper and sat down. He gave the headlines a cursory glance and then looked up at her. "I'll be driving into Portland this morning," he said.
"And you're not going to tell me why."
He picked up the granola and poured some into his bowl. "Nope."
As hard as she tried to accept his answer, she couldn't. "J.B., I have just been through a terrible ordeal. I know I'm not much to look at right now, but couldn't it wait a few days? You just got home. Let someone else save the world for a change."
He gave her an odd look, then scooped up a spoonful of grains. "Did I say the call was work related?"
"No, but. .
He pulled out another section of the paper and began to read.
Helen opened her mouth to protest but decided what she wanted to say to J.B. deserved action, not just words. She calmly set down her juice, rose from the table, and walked over to his chair. Without a word, she picked up his bowl and turned it upside down on his head.
"Wha . . . ?" He flicked the dish off his head and grabbed her arm as the bowl toppled to the floor. "What was that all about?"
"You. I know the work you do is confidential, but you could at least be civil! You come down to breakfast and read your paper like I don't even exist."
"I've always read the paper with my breakfast."
"Well, I don't like it."
For a moment he looked as though he'd like nothing more than to flatten her still-swollen nose. Instead he started to laugh.
"What's so funny?"
Milk dripped from his cereal-laden hair into his eyelashes and onto his clean shirt. Despite her anger, a chuckle rose inside her and leaked out.
He loosened his grip on her arm and pulled her against him. Taking some of the goop from his head, he smeared it into her hair.
Helen struggled to get away.
He brought her even closer and silenced her with a soppy kiss. Serious now, he raised his head. "I don't know about you, but I could use another shower. I should make you shampoo my hair."
Helen couldn't think of anything she'd rather do.
Much later, while they were getting dressed, J.B. told her he had a confession to make. Helen sat on the edge of the bed and braced herself for what he might have to say.
"As I told you earlier, I'm going into Portland today. What I didn't tell you is that you're going with me."
"Really. Did you decide that before or after I dumped the cereal on your head?"
He came around to her side of the bed and knelt on the floor in front of her. Taking her hand in his, he said, "Before. I wanted to surprise you. Last night I called Kate and Jason. I made another call as well." He smiled. "Now, I won't accept any excuses. It's all arranged."
'What?"
"You and I are going to Portland, where we'll stay with Kate for a few days."
"Oh, J.B., I can't go anywhere looking like this."
"You can wear sunglasses."
"People will think you've been beating me up. Besides, no one wears sunglasses this time of year."
"Not here, but they do in Mexico."
"Mexico?" She grinned. "J.B., you sneak."
"We're taking a cruise. Then we'll go to Europe or wherever you'd like. For the next month you and I are going to do nothing but relax—together."
"It sounds wonderful, but. . ."
"No buts." He kissed her forehead as he rose, pulling her up with him. "I love you, Helen. You can't imagine how terrified I was the other night seeing you being carried out of that car." His Irish blue eyes filled with concern. "I don't want to lose you." He drew her into his arms and held her.
"You're not going to lose me, darling. I'm too tough."
"I know. We both are." He moved back and smiled. "What do you say? Are you with me, or do I have to make this trip by myself?"
She chuckled. "When do we leave?"
J.B. glanced at his watch. "Can you be ready in an hour?"
She was.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award-winning author and speaker Patricia H. Rushford has written over fifty books, including five mystery series including: The Helen Bradley Mysteries, The Angel Delaney Mysteries The McAllister Files, which she wrote with a police detective. She's also written the popular Jennie McGrady Mysteries and the Max & Me Mysteries for kids.
Patricia's most recent works include Strangers in the Night, a romantic suspense for Summerside Press. Most of her mysteries are set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where she lives with her husband Ron. She enjoys sharing the sights sounds and culinary delights of the northwest with her readers. The Oregon and Washington coasts provide the settings for many of her novels.
Patricia, who worked for 18 years as an RN, holds a master's degree in counseling. In addition, she conducts writers' workshops for adults and children and has been the Director of the Oregon Christian Writer's Summer Conference and co-director of Writer's Weekend at the Beach. Patricia has appeared on numerous radio and television talk shows across the United States and Canada.
Books By Patricia H. Rushford
(Many of Patricia's books are available as e-books.)
Fiction
Strangers in the Night
Romantic Suspense (e-book)
The Angel Delaney Mysteries
Deadly Aim
Dying to Kill
As Good as Dead
The Helen Bradley Mysteries
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
Red Sky in Mourning
A Haunting Refrain
When Shadows Fall
The MacAlister Files
Secrets, Lies and Alibis
Deadfall
Terminal 9
She Who Watches
Sins of the Mother
Romantic-Suspense)
Novels for Guidepost Books:
Strangers in Their Midst (Mystery and the Minister’s Wife series)
Chasing the Wind, Measure of Faith, and With Open Arms (Stories From Hope Haven)
Mysteries for Kids:
The Jennie McGrady Mysteries
The Max & Me Mysteries
Non-fiction:
It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Kid.
What Kids Need Most in a Mom
Connect with Patricia
On Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Patricia-H.-Rushford/e/B000
AR89Y2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
On her Website:
http://www.patriciarushfordbooks.com
On Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2015712717917&id=1396800853#!/patricia.h.rushford
On her Blog:http
://www.patriciarushford.blogspot.com/
Follow her in Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/patrushford/
Or on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/56643.Patricia_H_Rushford
Also on Twitter and Linked In
When Shadows Fall: A Helen Bradley Mystery (Helen Bradley Mysteries Book 5) Page 23