SUDDEN
LOVESUDDEN
LOVETaking a chance...
When successful author Renee Shepherd decided to visit her sister Michelle in Chicago, the last thing she expected was to be drawn into an investigation surrounding the suspicious death of Michelle's colleague at the Augusta Foundation--or to fall deeply in love with Evan Brooks, the organization's charismatic executive director. Evan makes Renee feel both a reckless excitement and a solid sense of security she's never known. But as her love for Evan grows, so does the evidence against him.
On Love...
Though it angers Evan to know the woman he adores suspects him of fraud and murder, he cannot turn his back on her. And whatever the consequences, Renee realizes she cannot deny the ecstasy she has found in Evan's embrace. With a dangerous web of intrigue tightening around them, Renee and Evan must decide if they are brave enough to trust each other, and risk everything for Sudden Love.
"Make it out to Charleen Bartlett, please."
Renee obliged, giving her best regards, closed the book and slid it back to the older woman. She pasted a friendly smile for Charleen even though smiles were hard for her now. Despite the warm welcome she was receiving form the men and women arriving for the book signing, Renee’s thoughts flipped from Kimberly to Evan and nothing else. She thought of the innocent girl whose life was cut short. She thought of Evan’s angry eyes across the street from the apartment. She thought of Kimberly pleading for help, advice, anything. She thought of Evan’s lips and the fire she felt when they touched hers. Renee would give anything to be absorbed in books and signatures, but a signing seemed so insignificant when murder and a lost chance at love consumed her mind.
The last thing Renee wanted was to be selfish and complain of a temporarily broken heart when a young woman was dead, two parents without a daughter, Marshall without a sister and Alan without the woman he had loved. It was only that she had, before these new revelations and still now, felt there was more to her and Evan than a vacation romance. She was certain so much more was about to happen, if it hadn’t already.
She wanted desperately to wipe the thoughts from her mind as she signed a book for Antoinette Clark, an aspiring nutritionist at DePaul University, but she knew that would be impossible as soon as she met the next person in line.
"Hello Renee."
Evan Brooks smile gave no indication that he was as familiar with her as he was. It gave no indication that he had seen her hugging Chris Jackson. It was unassuming and kind, as if he was doing his best not to intimidate her, upset her.
His name slipped softly from her lips. "Evan, what are you doing here?"
"I told you I’d come." A frown appeared briefly as he slid his copy of her book across the table. "Remember the memorial?"
Renee tore her eyes from his and opened the book. She’d forgotten her invitation to him, which seemed like months ago. "How would you like me to phrase it?"
Evan only stood there, a puzzled look on his face.
"Renee," he asked. "What’s going on? Why are you avoiding me? What’s between you and Chris Jackson?"
"Evan." She spoke in a whisper, her tone turning harsh as she eyed him. "I’m working here. Now is there any particular way you would like this signed?"
"Yes. Sign it to the man I kissed last Saturday night." Evan words were quietly spoken as he bent over the table, his eyes holding a determination that let her know he wasn’t the type of man to be brushed away so easily.
As her temperature rose, Renee tried to hide the effect his intimate comments had on her. Without a response, she opened the book and only signed her name, then slid it back to him.
"I want to speak with you when you’re finished." Evan’s tone was unwavering. He meant what he’d just said.
"It’ll be a while." Renee only glanced at him for a moment. If he wasn’t so gorgeous. If his eyes weren’t so piercing.
"I’ll wait," was his only response as he retrieved the book and stepped aside.
Renee felt a tug at her heart as she saw him walk away from the table. She didn’t think she was capable of feeling such a way for someone who could be a killer. It wasn’t possible was it? She knew she was having a hard enough time trying to stay away from him, but his appearance only heightened the already strong attraction.
So, she thought, he said he would wait. Renee knew she had to come up with something. Evan wasn’t a man to accept empty explanations. Did she have the courage to tell him her suspicions? She knew she didn’t, couldn’t.
There were more people than Renee had expected and even though she was pleased, she was also exhausted after signing the last book. Her mouth hurt from smiling nonstop. She hadn’t forgotten about Evan, not for a second. His was the first face she looked for as she stood up from the table the book store owner had set up for her. When she saw him sitting on a nearby love seat, a feeling of joy came over her. That was the last emotion she expected to feel, but it was undeniable. He had waited. In more than a small way, that mean something to her.
It wasn’t that she wanted to speak with him. She actually dreaded it, not knowing what she would say. Rather, it was that he’d done what he said he would. She could trust him at his word. He was patient. That was what she needed if there was to be any chance for them.
She almost didn’t want to disturb him, watching him from a distance. As he stared out the large window watching the passerby’s on Michigan Avenue, Renee took in his profile. There was strength in every inch of his face. Clean cut and well dressed, she found it more than difficult to keep her blood pressure down as the sternness of his jaw contradicted the tired look in his eyes in such a sexy way. He looked like a man who could do something he shouldn’t if he had to, but not murder. It would never reach that point. Could it?
"All finished, Ms. Shepherd?"
Stacy Ford, the owner of the bookstore, clasped her hands together in an excited manner. She was a middle-aged woman with raisin brown skin and dark brown eyes. Her thickly braided chocolate brown hair had a striking streak of white, which matched the flashy blue pant suit she wore with sequins pasted here and there. She’d been overjoyed to meet Renee, always happy to do signings because of their effect on a store’s sales.
"Yes, I suppose." Renee turned from Stacy to Evan who had heard her name being called and swiftly started towards her.
"You’re probably starved," Stacy said. "I have some snacks for you in the back room. Come on."
Renee followed, knowing Evan was right behind her. Stacy led them towards the back room, cluttered with boxes and stacks of books. There was an old sofa in the middle of the room and next to it, an end table with coffee, finger sandwiches and cookies.
"It isn’t much, but..." Stacy stopped in the middle of her sentence as she saw Evan standing in the doorway.
"Stacy." Renee stepped aside as Evan approached. "This is Evan Brooks, a friend of mine."
"It’s very nice to meet you Stacy." Evan was his usual charming self. "This is your store?"
"Yes." Stacy’s words came out in a breath as she pulled her head all the way back to look at Evan face to face. "Stacy...Ford."
"I’ve been looking around. It’s very impressive." Evan attempted to remove his hand from her strong grip after their shake, but she clasped both her hands around his.
"Me too," Stacy responded, her mouth as wide as a saucer plate as she pleasingly looked him up and down. She had no idea her words made no sense.
Renee found the scene amusing. She took a seat on the sofa, satisfied to see that Evan had that effect on someone besides herself.
"I’ll be sure to shop here from now on," Evan said, finally able to get his hand back. He turned to the sofa and sat beside Renee.
Renee was more than aware of his closeness. His gentle, but masculine smell was now familiar and she fought the urge to scoot closer to him. She tried hard to concentrate on Stacy who was still in a trance over Evan. Anything to keep from looking at him and those mesmerizing eyes.
"If you come," Stacy said with a little more composure. "I’ll give you half off. Promise."
"You got a deal." Evan was so used to attention from women he showed no signs of embarrassment.
"I’ll let you two alone for a while." Stacy winked as she backed out of the room until she fell into a stack of books that went sliding all over the floor.
"No, let me. Let me. You sit." Stacy waved to Evan who began to stand up with the intention of helping her. As he sat back down, she started piling the books on top of each other. Despite her efforts, each book seemed to want to stay on the floor because one slid back down as soon as another was added. This went on for a several seconds, until Stacy cursed under her breath, pushed the remaining standing books to the ground and stormed off.
Renee wasn’t sure if it was the scene before her or something more, but a sudden burst of laughter erupted from within her with Evan joining right in.
It wasn’t just the humor of the moment, it was a gamut of emotions expressing themselves through her laughter. The last two and a half weeks had been pressing on her for many reasons and she needed to let some of it go. The stress, concern and worry was building up and occupying her every waking moment. So she laughed. She laughed and felt herself calm down for the first time in a while.
Then suddenly, Evan’s laughter stopped and Renee turned to face him. His stone serious face and smoldering quieted her. She could only stare into them as he reached a hand out to her arm and commandingly pulled her towards him.
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