Burning Hearts

by Marci Bolden

  Once Eva got done telling the cops what she knew and handed over all the evidence she’d gathered during the last week, that would change. Looking at the two men, Josh felt a swell of pride. She’d stopped them. In just a few short days, she’d caught them embezzling, cheating, and manipulating. And she was about to expose it all.

  Catching her gaze, he smiled and mouthed, You okay?

  She nodded. You?

  Their silent conversation ended when a police officer approached Josh and Sam, ready to ask them what they had witnessed.

  Epilogue

  Eva accepted the round of “good work” and “nice job” that her team always handed out when one of them wrapped up a case. They weren’t simply words and obligatory pats on the back. Each member of HEARTS knew how tough this job could be; even the cases that were more easily wrapped up than the Jupiter Heights Voyeur case deserved sincere accolades.

  Her report had run a gamut of issues from the embezzlement conducted by Neal Price to the illegal video surveillance by Melly Donahue, as well as Melly’s assault on Josh to steal his keys.

  She insisted it had been her boyfriend’s idea to make the videos public on the Web. He thought it was only fair to make a few bucks off the Tremants since they had gone to such great lengths to try to manipulate Melly into joining their little sex ring. Neal might have been trying to blackmail his way out of the sex ring, but his knowledge of the activities happening in the condo landed him in jail as well.

  Eva didn’t necessarily disagree that they deserved to have some kind of payback, but revenge porn was never a good thing. Ever.

  The karma Courtney was facing was much more to Eva’s liking. While she couldn’t be arrested for her actions, her name and photo would likely appear in the news stories over the next few weeks as more details became available to the media. She might not spend a day in jail for trying to recruit lovers for herself and the Tremants, but she certainly would face public ridicule.

  Brenda and Cody had been cleared of any wrongdoing, but Neal and Shane had been arrested for their part in stealing from the HOA. Melly was sitting in jail as well. For now.

  She’d been smart with her actions. There were no clear images of her on the cameras she’d planted. Shane’s shitty security hadn’t kept any footage long enough to pinpoint that the person hiding the cameras had come out of Melly’s condo, and the website was in Neal Price’s name. Even though Cody insisted Melly had paid her, she’d done so in cash, so there was no proof beyond Cody’s word.

  A good attorney could probably get her out of serving any time for her crimes, but that wasn’t for Eva to worry about. She’d accomplished what she had been hired to do. She’d caught the Jupiter Heights Voyeur and so much more.

  “You okay?” Sam asked.

  Eva nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Just so you know, Josh was really great today. He never once hesitated in making sure I was safe.”

  “Good. I’m glad.”

  “He was worried about you, too.”

  Eva nodded. She didn’t want to think about how her heart had sunk to the pit of her stomach when she’d walked in and found Shane aiming a gun at Josh and Sam. She’d whispered over her shoulder to Brenda to call the police, and then her instincts had taken over. The only thing she cared about was getting Josh and Sam out of danger. Mostly Josh. Sam knew better than to do anything rash or stupid that could get her shot, but Josh?

  She was terrified he’d taunt Shane or try to protect her and get himself hurt. But he’d done just what she’d rammed into his brain. He’d stayed calm and let her handle it. She’d say that was progress. If she had to.

  “He feels really bad about what happened in the gym, Eva.”

  “I know.”

  “So. Maybe tell him you forgive him.”

  Eva narrowed her eyes at Sam. “You do realize that if he hadn’t run his mouth, Shane Tremant never would have pulled a gun on you two, right?”

  “I know. So does Josh. And he’s beating himself up pretty hard about it.” Sam lifted her brows, as if she expected some big reaction from Eva. “He’s at the condo right now. Packing up his things. Maybe you should go pack up yours, too. You know, since the case is over and you can finally be rid of your unwanted roommate.”

  Eva drew a deep breath. “One of these days, that cute little grin of yours won’t be enough to stop me from bashing your face in.”

  Sam’s smile widened as she batted her eyes. “But that day isn’t today. Seriously, Eva, go. Let him off the hook.”

  “Fine,” she groaned under her breath as she rolled her head back. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I am. Thanks to Joshua.”

  Eva stepped around the little instigator and grabbed her bag off the table. “Night, ladies,” she called out as she headed for the door. She was met with a chorus of “good nights” as she headed to her car.

  She had a million things rolling through her mind as she headed toward the condo, but by the time she arrived, her anger was gone. Yes, Josh had done something stupid. He’d let his mouth get away from him and endangered her case, but she knew he hadn’t done it on purpose. He wasn’t meant for this kind of work, and she’d known it. So had Holly and Alexa.

  They never should have allowed him to join on this case. She never should have allowed it. Lesson learned all around. Several lessons. First, Josh needed to take some self-defense classes. Second, they’d never let an untrained person insert themselves into another HEARTS case. Third…third, she loved Joshua so much that the idea of losing him terrified her in ways nothing else ever had, and she’d do whatever she had to do to make sure that never happened.

  Josh didn’t feel right leaving the condo. Not when he and Eva hadn’t set things right. Zipping his bag, he tossed it on the bed and looked around the bedroom. This was definitely not how he had expected his week to go, but he didn’t regret one moment of helping Eva with her case.

  He’d needed this time with her, living in her world, to really appreciate everything she’d always told him. He might be booksmart, he might know more things than most people, but he had been so wrong about Eva’s job. Not only could she take care of herself, but she could take care of anyone else she needed to as well.

  Seeing her in action had been thrilling and terrifying all at once. Her training in Krav Maga had saved him at least twice this week, and her intelligence had saved a lot more people from being further manipulated by Price and the Tremants.

  Stupid that it had taken being put in this situation for him to fully appreciate all she had to offer. He should have done that from day one.

  “Stop.”

  He turned, and his heart rolled in his chest at the sight of her standing in the bedroom doorway. “Stop what?”

  She pointed to his head. She always did that when he was overthinking. “Obsessing about what happened today.”

  “I screwed up.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, you did. So don’t do it again, okay?”

  “Never.”

  Coming into the room, she stood just in front of him. “It was my fault, Josh.”

  “I opened my mouth.”

  “I never should have let you—”

  “Don’t, Eva. I wanted to be here. I needed to be here.”

  “You could have been hurt.”

  He wanted to put his hands on her hips, but he clenched them at his side instead. He wasn’t sure if she’d be okay with him touching her. “Yes, I could have been.”

  “I don’t regret you being here, though,” she whispered. “I’m glad we were able to work things out.”

  “You are?”

  She nodded, and he couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

  “You’re not breaking up with me over this?”

  Laughing, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. “I should kick your ass. But I’m not breaking up with you.”

  “Thank God,” he breathed as he wrapped her in his arms. “I was so worried.”

  “I’m sorry.” Hugging him
back, she buried her face in his chest. “I was mad about the case blowing up. I didn’t handle it well.”

  He laughed. “I didn’t handle any of this well.” Leaning back, he ran his hand over her hair. “I’m not built to operate under constant pressure like this.”

  “I know you’re not. And that’s okay.” Pressing her lips to his, she kissed him lightly. “I’ll never put you in this position again.”

  “Please don’t.” He was sincere in his plea but also couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “You’re a fucking badass, Eva Thompson.”

  “I’ve been telling you that, Joshua Simmons.”

  Smiling, he pulled her against him. “You know, I was thinking.”

  “About?”

  “About this house we’re going to buy.”

  She brushed her hands up his chest and wrapped them around his neck. “What about it?”

  Sliding his hands lower, he cupped her thighs and lifted her off her feet. Her legs tightened around his hips, and her feet locked behind him. “Well, I think we need that big jet tub we were talking about and a closet big enough for all the stilettos I’m going to buy you.”

  Her smile widened as he carried her to the bed and eased her down. “As well as a place to keep all the gimp masks I’m going to buy you.”

  “Don’t forget my studded collar.”

  “Oh, baby, don’t you worry about that.”

  * * *

  THE END

  Continue HEARTS Series with Stolen Hearts

  The Women of HEARTS Series Book Three

  The Women of HEARTS Book Three

  Stolen Hearts

  Alexa Rodriguez had spent the last twelve years obsessing about the night that her older sister had disappeared. Lanie had been there one minute. The next, she’d vanished. Poof. She was never seen again. The questions surrounding her kidnapping had never been answered. Hope that they ever would be had long ago evaporated.

  Just like any traces of Lanie.

  Alexa spent so much of her teen years learning how to work missing persons cases that she hadn’t considered any career other than becoming a private investigator. She didn’t want to be a cop, or a federal agent, or the teacher her abuela had tried to convince her to become. Her grandmother preferred she do something “safe,” but Alexa had been preparing for solving cases most of her life. Even so, cases like the one unfolding before her had a way of shaking her core.

  “She wouldn’t have left without telling me.” Dean Campbell had said those exact words at least four times since sitting at the table in the HEARTS Investigations conference room. “My little sister is in trouble.”

  “We believe you,” Alexa said in a soothing tone she’d learned from her abuela.

  Dean met Alexa’s gaze and the desperation in his light brown eyes broke her heart. He scowled, causing the lines around his mouth to deepen, aging him before her eyes. He was no older than thirty, but the crease between his brows had yet to ease and he had a seemingly permanent frown on his thin lips. His shaggy hair was unkempt in a way that she didn’t think was usual for him. He had dragged his fingers through the brown strands enough in the last fifteen minutes for her to recognize it as a nervous habit. He was genuinely distressed. So, yes, Alexa believed that he believed his sister was in trouble. She’d have to confirm that before she believed it, but his conviction was enough for her to want to comfort him.

  Holly Austin, lead investigator for HEARTS, stared at Alexa in that way she always did whenever she worried about a case hitting too close to home for one of her teammates. Holly didn’t think Alexa working missing persons cases was healthy, but at the same time, Alexa was the best one for the job.

  “What do you think?” Holly asked pointedly. She wasn’t asking what Alexa thought of the case. She was asking if Alexa was up for taking the case. Holly was the lead investigator for a reason. Not only because she was brilliant and strong enough to shoulder the weight, but because—whether she wanted to be or not—she was the most in tune with the others on her team.

  Alexa loved that Holly always took the time to think before agreeing to take on a case. She might not be good a verbalizing how much she cared about her team, but she showed it every day in the way she looked out for them in little ways.

  Dean sat across the table, his dark eyes moving from one PI to the other. “Is there a problem?”

  Shaking her head, Alexa offered him a warm smile. While Holly’s talent was assessing if one of her teammates was up for a case, Alexa’s strength was reassuring their clients. “No. No problem. We’re going to do everything we can to help you find Mandy. You’ll be working directly with me, but my team will be kept informed on the case to make sure I don’t overlook anything. I can’t make you any promises, Dean, other than that every one of us will be dedicated to bringing your sister home.”

  Relief wasn’t exactly the look on his face, but hope seemed to light in his eyes. “The police won’t do a damn thing.”

  “She’s nineteen, legally an adult,” Alexa said. “Unless there’s reason to believe she has been hurt or left against her will, there isn’t much they can do.”

  “She might be an adult, but I still take care of her. I pay her living expenses so she can focus on school. I haven’t heard from her for a month. She wouldn’t leave without telling me. I’m her brother, for God’s sake.” Raking his fingers through his brown hair, he didn’t notice—or maybe he didn’t care—that the strands were now standing on end. “Do you think she left against her will?”

  “We’re going to find out.”

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  Also by Marci Bolden

  Stonehill Series:

  The Road Leads Back

  Friends Without Benefits

  The Forgotten Path

  Jessica’s Wish

  This Old Cafe

  Forever Yours

  The Women of HEARTS Series:

  Hidden Hearts

  Burning Hearts

  Stolen Hearts

  Other Titles:

  California Can Wait

  Seducing Kate

  A Life Without Water

  About the Author

  As a teen, Marci Bolden skipped over young adult books and jumped right into reading romance novels. She never left.

  * * *

  Marci lives in the Midwest with her husband, kiddos, and numerous rescue pets. If she had an ounce of willpower, Marci would embrace healthy living, but until cupcakes and wine are no longer available at the local market, she will appease her guilt by reading self-help books and promising to join a gym “soon.”

  * * *

  Visit her here:

  www.marcibolden.com