Caught in the Frame Read Free Page A

as children, Chloe and Nate’s relationship as friends meant he and Lila were familiar with each other on those terms. It was one thing, though, to be Nate—the kid who does stuff with your daughter, and quite another to be Nate—the man who does stuff with your daughter. That he might not be ready for that particular scenario was just hitting her now.
    Nate looked concerned as a flash of uncertainty scrolled across Chloe’s face. “What news?” he asked with trepidation.
    While Chloe explained everything, from Lila’s phone call down to the worry that inviting him to tag along was premature, Nate’s expression morphed through surprise to excitement, and finally amusement. “Love, I have been waiting for and wanting this for a very long time. It doesn’t feel too soon to me; of course I’ll go! Give up a chance to spend two weeks in an Irish castle with you, just because we haven’t technically been together for very long? Not gonna happen; I’m in.”
    Relieved, Chloe threw her arms around Nate’s neck and gave him another lingering kiss. “What about work, though?”
    “Dalton can handle things around here, and I’ll put the Gilmore department on alert; it’ll be fine. Nothing bad ever happens in Ponderosa Pines, right?”
    Chloe snorted at that. The recent murder of Evan Plunkett had taken the shine right off the town’s unofficial motto.
    “Good. Because boy, do I have plans for us! Massages, Jacuzzi suite, hiking, a couple of day trips. We’re going to have an amazing time!”
    “I imagine we’d have an amazing time if we never left the room.” Nate flashed a mischievous grin and cocked an eyebrow; the implication, and the fact that he looked dead sexy doing it, caused a ripple of desire to run from the top of Chloe’s head to the tips of her pink-painted toenails.
    “Of that, I’m sure. Which is why I booked us an extra week at a private cottage in Galway after this is all done.” Chloe’s satisfied grin was answered with a gaping one from Nate, who did a little dance, picked Chloe up, and spun her around in a circle.
    “I freaking love you!” He practically shouted, then threw her over his shoulder, Chloe’s laughter trailing behind as he headed back to the bedroom.

Chapter 2
     
     
     
     
    If she had her way, EV Torrence would send Murphy and his stupid law straight down the intention-paved road to hell where they belonged. Why was it when Dalton Burnsoll was the last person on earth she wanted to see, he seemed to be lurking around every corner, but when she actually needed to talk to him he pulled a disappearing act worthy of Houdini?
    Even considering her lack of experience at relationships—and their present status as a quasi-couple—EV knew full well there was a rule against not telling him in person she had just made plans to fly halfway around the world.Tracking him down before someone else clued him in that she’d be spending the next two weeks in Ireland had launched her into what felt like a game of Whackamole.
    There was no doubt Chloe had already spoken to Mindy and Veronica, which meant the information was well on its way though the town grapevine. Growling in frustration, EV hit speed dial for the second time. When his phone went to voicemail again, she debated whether she was annoyed enough to just text him and be done with it, or to go out looking for him.
    Technically, she was a free agent, since they’d agreed to put their relationship on hold while they dealt with the nasty situation involving Remy Vincent. Technically, she didn’t have to report to Dalton Burnsoll—or anyone else—if she wanted to go out of town. Technically didn’t mean squat, though, because the man mattered to her.
    Knitting bag slung over one broad shoulder, EV directed her long legs down the path toward town. Chilled November air turned each breath into a cloud of vapor as she picked up her pace from a frost-crunching walk to a slow jog. Delicate shards of frozen dew lay like powdered