Ethan was the bear about to be poked. “So you think I’m going to pretend to be married to Jillian again and that’s going to put us in the perfect position to catch Sullivan? A couple of sitting ducks waiting to be shot?”
Masters stared at him. “You’re going to prevent that, remember?”
He shoved a hand through his crew cut hair, striving for control. “This is lunacy. I can’t believe you’re willing to use your daughter as bait.”
“I’m not,” he said. “I’ve decided it’s too risky for Jillian and that’s why I hired this girl. This is Kendra Bell.” He gestured to someone in the doorway.
The civilian woman stepped into the office and Ethan could only stare at her. That creamy skin, that curtain of red hair skimming her face... Shock ripped through him like rifle fire.
“You’re...” He shook himself slightly and tried again. “I mean... You look like...”
“Your ex-wife,” she finished. “I know. That’s the point.”
He swallowed hard and peered closer and the truth assembled itself as the surprise ebbed away. They did resemble each other, this woman and Jillian—same build, same eye color, same tint of hair.
She shot a distrustful look at Titus, and raised an eyebrow in Ethan’s direction. “If you’re finished staring...?”
He gulped. His mama would have boxed his ears to know he’d been ogling, but honestly, the resemblance was mind-blowing. Heat climbed up his neck.
“People used to mistake us for each other in high school,” she said. “Sullivan’s going to make the same error, and that’s how I’ll catch him, without your interference.”
“My interference?”
She ignored him, turning to Masters. “You neglected to tell me, when I agreed to the job, about this scheme to involve Lieutenant Webb.”
“I sent you a follow-up email,” Masters said.
“Uh-huh.” She folded her arms across her body. “Anything else you failed to mention, Colonel?”
Ethan tore his gaze away and locked eyes with Masters. “This wasn’t part of the plan I heard, either.”
“Yes, it was. I just didn’t tell either one of you all of the pertinent facts.”
Ethan blew out a breath and shook his head. “No way. Working with Jillian would be bad enough, but at least she’s a marine, not a civilian, and she knows how to protect herself.”
“So can I,” Kendra said. “I’m a licensed PI, with a real gun and everything.”
He cast her a doubtful look and started to answer, but Masters cut him off. “You will pretend to be newly reconciled husband and wife.”
“No one will believe that,” Ethan said.
“Yes, they will. I’ve already started the gossip wheels turning here and at Canyon that you two are an item. Posted an old picture of you two on a few key military networking sites.”
Ethan gaped. “You...”
“And when Sullivan comes for Kendra thinking she is my daughter, you will catch him before any harm comes to Jillian.”
“And what about the harm that might come to her?” Ethan snapped, jerking a thumb in the civilian’s direction.
Kendra glared at him. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here. Like I said, I can take care of myself. Before I was a PI I worked as a bounty hunter, and there’s plenty of excitement in that job, let me tell you. I don’t need, or want, your help on this case.”
His cheeks went hot again. “That’s A-OK by me, because I’m not offering it. We’re not working together. I’m out of here.” He stalked to the door, his dog at his heels.
“Lieutenant,” Masters bellowed. “You will not walk out on me.”
Ethan turned and fired a glance at Masters. “I’m not one of your marines, Colonel, nor am I your son-in-law anymore, so with all due respect to your rank...” He let the slam of the door fill in the rest.
* * *
Kendra felt the crackle of energy leave the room along with Ethan Webb and his dog. She had recognized him from the file Colonel Masters had sent, but in person he was more impressive. The guy could be on a recruiting poster. Dark hair, eyes like coffee with a hint of cream, six feet of muscle and barely concealed annoyance, and a Southern drawl that thickened in proportion with his anger. His arrival had thrown her off her game. Time to get the meeting back under control.
Calm, cool and collected, she told herself. Nothing you can’t handle. But it was hard to brush off the unsettling scene she’d just been part of, and more important, the text message she’d gotten that morning just before she’d dumped her cell and gotten herself a new number.
You’re dead.
No further explanation needed. Andy, her ex-boyfriend, recently released from prison, where she’d sent him, had wasted no time starting up the threats. She’d escaped his sick world, but not for long.
Deal with that issue later, Kendra, she told herself. Sullivan was her target, and Ethan’s abrupt departure was an advantage. Now she had the chance to try to persuade the colonel that she did not need any help catching the Red Rose Killer before he murdered anyone else in this part of Texas. Temporarily leaving her tiny office in Colorado, the place she’d fled after her disastrous time in Texas with Andy, the job was an answer to her prayer, the only way she could both settle her debt to Jillian Masters. She would complete the mission much easier without a second party in the picture, especially Jillian’s ex.
She expected the colonel to be furious at Ethan’s disrespect, but to her great surprise, he chuckled, leaning back in his chair.
“Hasn’t changed a bit. He’ll cool off and come around.”
“How do you figure?”
“He’s one of those Southern gentlemen types. Don’t let his lazy Tennessee drawl fool you. He’s smart as a fox and he’s proud and hotheaded, but he can’t walk away from a lady in distress.”
“I’m not in distress.”
“Not yet.” The colonel smiled—a cold, calculating smile—like a tiger sizing up its prey. Her stomach tensed. She did not need another ruthlessly determined man in her life, but she had the feeling she’d just been saddled with two of them.
* * *
Ethan headed to the parking lot with Titus. He yanked open the truck door for the dog and got in himself, clenching the steering wheel, wondering how he’d lost control of his life. There was absolutely no reason he should be doing the bidding of his devious former father-in-law, and now to find out he’d be partnered with a civilian of all things. Why had he accepted the request that bordered on a command? Ethan was a member of the Air Force Military Police, not property of the Marine Corps.
Masters’s previous words echoed in his mind. Jillian needs you.
That was rich. His ex-wife didn’t need him and never had. Sure, she was under threat from serial killer Boyd Sullivan along with a list of others who’d crossed him, but the investigative team Ethan was a part of would catch him. Besides, Jillian was a woman who could take care of herself—ruthless, determined and entirely self-absorbed. She’d been offered protection after Sullivan killed two K-9 handlers at Canyon Air Force Base, including Ethan’s best friend, Airman Landon Martelli. He’d also murdered Chief Master Sergeant Clint Lockwood in the same killing spree. She’d declined the protection in spite of the risks. No surprise there.
Sullivan’s not smart enough to hurt me, she’d said. Typical.
Yet all of a sudden Jillian had just gone along with her father hiring a look-alike as bait? Insane. He slammed a