“Looks like ‘The Hunk’ has done his cooking proud,” Connie said, using the nickname she had given Gunner when he and Trinity first started dating. He wasn’t much of a cook, but like many men, he was great on the grill. “It smells amazing.”
“And it tastes even better,” Gunner said, setting the food on the counter where Trinity had made space.
Connie’s heart melted when he wrapped his arm around his wife and placed his hands on her small baby bump. Then he turned her and kissed her as if he hadn’t seen her in days.
They were obnoxiously cute. Connie loved them both to death, and she hated to admit that sometimes she was jealous of their relationship. Trinity was living the life that Connie one day wanted. They made being married seem like so much fun while also making it look easy, though she knew it wasn’t. Considering Trinity and Gunner’s rocky start, though, Connie was glad to see that they were still madly in love. Gunner, a professional poker player who used to be Maxwell’s college roommate, had hired LEPA a few years ago. A deadly criminal was taking out professional poker players, and Gunner was concerned for his safety. His two stipulations when hiring personal security: he wanted Trinity as his security specialist, and he needed her by his side around the clock. Not only had Trinity kept him safe, but they’d also fallen in love.
“Where’s Max and Trace?” Trinity asked when the kiss ended. “I’m surprised they didn’t follow you inside. I know they have to be hungry.”
Gunner set a couple of bottles of beer next to the lemonade. “They were talking but said they’d be in shortly.”
“Mommy, now can I have a cupcake?”
“Jonah, do not ask me that again. I already said that you couldn’t have one before dinner, and I meant it. We’re going to eat soon.”
Trace and Maxwell strolled in, and Connie’s gaze immediately landed on Trace. At first, he was frowning when he entered the kitchen, but the moment he saw her, he smiled and headed over to her. She didn’t ever think she’d get used to the butterflies that took flight inside her stomach whenever he was near. Would it always be like that with him?
Trace pulled her to his side and placed a kiss on her temple as if it was the most natural thing to do. Connie’s cheeks heated when she made eye contact with Trinity. Her friend was grinning like she had just been awarded a billion dollars.
Connie rolled her eyes and glanced up at Trace. “Ready to eat?”
“Definitely. I’m starving.”
Once they were seated at the dining-room table, conversation flowed easily. That was always the case when Connie hooked up with Trinity and her family. But this was the first time that she was there with a man. Not just any man, but one who made her heart beat double time and her insides quiver.
She was done pushing him away. Done being afraid of getting hurt or making the wrong choice. Connie wanted...no, she deserved...to have the loving relationship she’d always dreamed of, and she could see that happening with Trace.
He squeezed her thigh, and Connie’s pulse did a little giddyap. How was it possible that, with only a touch, this man could arouse the passion that had been dormant for too long inside her?
“You all right?” he asked close to her ear, his deep voice sending goose bumps spreading up her arms.
Connie glanced at him and smiled, something she’d been doing a lot of over the last few days. “I’m great.” She noticed he had cleaned his plate. “Are you ready for dessert?”
His left eyebrow lifted in surprise and his lips quirked. She then realized how her question sounded.
“Cupcakes. I’m talking about cupcakes,” she said quickly and a little louder than intended.
“Yay! We can have cupcakes,” Jonah cheered at the other end of the table, where he was sitting next to Gunner and across from Trinity. “Mommy, can I have a yellow one?”
Trinity pointed her fork at Connie. “The next time you bring cupcakes into this house, you better sneak them in.”
Connie grinned at her friend. “I can’t make any promises on that.”
Everyone turned to Maxwell and Gunner, who were engaged in a heated discussion about basketball. The NBA playoff season was kicking off and Gunner insisted that the Lakers were going to win the title.
“Actually, the Lakers are playing tonight. I just can’t remember what time,” Trace said.
Gunner strolled into the family room, where they had the biggest television Connie had ever seen hanging on the wall. He scrolled through a few channels. “They’re probably on now.”
“Stop!” Trace yelled and jumped out of his seat before Connie could figure out what was going on. “Go back.”
Gunner flipped back to the previous channel and stopped on a news station. He turned up the volume.
Connie stood slowly, and unease crept through her body when she recognized the photo on the television screen. She walked over and stopped in the middle of the room next to Trace.
“According to authorities, a woman’s body was found at the West Meadow Inn motel. The woman, who sustained a single gunshot wound to the head, has been identified as Janel Landrey, age twenty-eight. She was the bank teller at Sunburst Bank for whom authorities have been searching in connection with the recent robbery. Her death is being ruled a homicide. The bank robbers are still at large and should be considered armed and dangerous. They are wanted for the murder of Richard Holmes and also are suspects in the murder of Ms. Landrey. There’s a fifty-thousand-dollar reward for information leading to the apprehension of these individuals. If you have any information...”
Connie didn’t hear the rest as she stood frozen. All she could think about was how they had shot the woman in cold blood. Her bank teller. A gunshot to the
