Easy Prey (Love-Inspired Suspense) by Lisa Phillips Page B

after this reporter.”
    “You got a chance to read the article?” She didn’t comment on the fact that it wasn’t their case to investigate, and he was grateful. The police knew he was invested now, since the threat had been brought to his doorstep. They were going to have to let him do what he needed to do to take care of Elise and Nathan.
    Jonah nodded. “I think Howard Colombes is the one who broke into the office. But I’m leaning away from him being the one who planted the bomb. I think he was just looking for a story. I think he knew who Elise was when he saw her in the office and took the opportunity to take her keys.”
    “Pretty vicious attack for a story.”
    “Maybe he thought she was in on it. Selling animals.” The reporter could also be an animal-rights activist. It would make for a strong drive to uncover cruelty or mistreatment of animals.”
    “If you want to go, I can tell Elise where you went.”
    Jonah saw the look on Shelder’s face. “I can tell her myself.”
    She raised both hands, palms out. “Sure, boss. Whatever you say.”
    “I stand behind what I said yesterday. I’m not above firing you, Shelder.”
    Shelder sobered in a moment of empathy. “She’s had a rough couple of days. Add in you on top of it and she’s probably got something akin to whiplash.”
    “What do you mean, add in me?”
    She motioned toward him, shoulders to shoes. “You can be...intimidating.”
    “Elise and I, and Martin, we were best friends.”
    “In childhood, yeah.” Shelder paused a beat. “But I bet you’re a lot different than your teenage self. Taller. Bigger. You’re the boss and you know it. A woman like Elise has had to hold her whole world together for years. She’s dealt with her husband’s death, the birth of her baby, made a name for herself in her career and now she’s made a big change. Coming home. Running into you probably wasn’t part of the plan for her first day back.”
    Jonah’s gut churned. “Or getting hurt, or shot at this morning.”
    “I’m just saying, give her some time to get used to you again.”
    Jonah was willing to concede that his colleague knew what she was talking about. Hailey was a single mom herself, also taking care of her aging father. He was suddenly glad she had fallen in love with Eric Hanning. He also recognized a surge of hope. Hailey was a strong, independent woman, and yet she’d learned how to rely on Eric for help in a tough situation.
    Could Elise do that?
    It was tempting to assume he was someone she wanted in her life now, but he couldn’t know that. If he wanted her to get used to him again, he had to ease her into it gently. That plan was certain to produce better results than the force of his will. Jonah had waited plenty long enough to feel that spark again—the spark he’d only ever felt with little Elise.
    Despite the difference in their ages, Jonah had seen something in her even as a teenager. Puppy love, maybe. But it was strong enough that he’d retreated to the military while he waited for her to finish growing up. Then she’d gone and married Martin instead.
    Now was his second chance, and Jonah wasn’t willing to step wrong and live another lifetime without her. He’d waited this long—he could wait a little longer.
    Inside, Elise was on the couch with a banana peel on the coffee table in front of her. Jonah saw how pale she was, and he crouched to brush some hair back from the side of her face. “You okay?”
    Her brown eyes were wide, like a doe’s.
    “I have to go talk with the reporter, but Hailey’s going to stay here.”
    “Okay.” Her voice was small, like the young Elise he’d known. She cleared her throat. “That’s fine.”
    “Maybe Nathan could make you some tea or something. Do you still drink hot tea?”
    She nodded, then looked aside at her son. “Yes, please.”
    “I’ll be back soon.” Jonah wanted to kiss her forehead, the way he’d done many times years before, but he held back.