Rival Forces Read Free Page B

Harmonie Kennels on a daily basis trip on their tongues when they catch sight of you. You could have your pick of sexy alpha males.”
    Yardley shook her head. “I can’t be all sexy come-on with a man one minute and the next expect him to appreciate me chewing his ass in public for a mistake on the training field.” She shrugged. “Besides, you know what the K-9 handlers call me.”
    â€œThe Citadel. Unconquerable.” Georgie couldn’t tease her friend about that. Yard had fought too hard to gain and keep the respect of her male colleagues. Too bad. Every woman needed a man willing to storm her castle. “Screw Dr. Gunnar if he couldn’t see what he was throwing away. Someone will come along who’s worthy of you.”
    Yardley smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re right. Some random guy will come along soon and I’ll screw his brains out to take my mind off this.”
    â€œNo! You know that’s not at all what I meant.” Georgie reached up and touched her friend’s arm. “You deserve a man who can handle his business and be okay with you handling yours. Yet he’ll be there, if you need him. Of course, he’ll need an iron constitution and balls of steel. I’ve got it! I’ll notify the cavalry, armored division.”
    Yardley burst out laughing, feeling the sadness and doubts drift away as she raised her glass. “To the cavalry.”
    After the toast Georgie looked around for something else to talk about and spied her gift under the tree. “We didn’t open our presents. Open yours first.”
    As Yardley reached for the brightly packaged box, something fell from the bottom. It was a red envelope with sticker wreaths decorating it. She picked it up.
    â€œA card, too?” She faked surprise. “Oh, you shouldn’t have.”
    Georgie smiled. “I didn’t. It was on the doorstep when I arrived earlier. I forgot to tell you. Maybe you have a secret admirer.”
    When she opened it, Yardley’s mouth turned down. “Not exactly an admirer.”
    â€œWhat is it, Yard?”
    Yardley hesitated, then offered it. “See for yourself.”
    Georgie gasped softly. It was a cover from a porno magazine featuring bondage. The disturbing graphic picture was of a nude woman tied up in very painful ways. A photo of Yardley’s head had been Photoshopped over the model’s and her eyes blacked out. “That’s disgusting. What are you going to do?”
    â€œWhat I usually do.” Yardley took it from Georgie and tossed it toward the flames in the fireplace.
    â€œWait.” Georgie jumped up and snatched it out. “You might need this. As evidence.”
    The image had shaken her, but Yardley stuffed down that feeling. “Your FBI boyfriend is rubbing off on you. I don’t jump at every insult lobbed my way.”
    â€œHave there have been others?”
    â€œAbout once a year someone thinks it will make them feel better to threaten me with retaliation for my decision not to pass them as certified handlers.”
    â€œAnd you get this?” Georgie held it up with two fingers.
    Disgust shuddered through her. “No. Nothing like that.”
    â€œYou need to tell the authorities.”
    â€œWhere would I start? My clientele comes from around the world.”
    â€œBut this was delivered today. Without a stamp. This guy’s local.”
    Yardley rolled her eyes. “I hate having smart friends.”
    â€œI hate it even worse when my smart friend doesn’t act like one.”
    â€œThere’s no one local I have a beef with. We did have to scrub a Georgia police officer trainee a few weeks back after he deliberately set his dog on another student.”
    â€œSounds like the kind of guy who’d do this.”
    â€œMaybe. But I can’t accuse anyone without proof.”
    â€œStill, you should notify the sheriff. When will your staff be