Harlequin Intrigue
December 27, 2022
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Teaser
He’ll keep her safe
Even as their attraction intensifies with every hot Miami night…
Mariela Hernandez has a target on her back, thanks to her abusive ex-husband’s latest plot. Teaming up with Ricky Gonzalez and his family’s respected private security firm is her only chance at survival. Keeping the vulnerable woman safe isn’t easy. Neither is denying their growing attraction. But with bullets flying, Ricky will risk it all to be the hero Mariela needs….
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Excerpt
Ricky sat on the couch in his aunt’s office, sharing with her what he thought about the client she had sent him for a consult. “I think she’s experienced abuse based on what we discussed. Her husband regularly bullied her verbally and made her beg for money and time away from the house. He normally only let her out to do household errands and insisted on tracking her every move. There are also her accounts of how her husband would physically attack her.”
His aunt Elena nodded as she sat on the couch beside him. “We have a number of police reports about visits to the home. Neighbors called in because they were worried. She was also hospitalized a number of times because of his physical abuse.”
“It sounds like you have enough to build a self defense argument against the murder charge,” Ricky said, considering all the evidence his aunt had gathered.
“It does and I appreciate your help. Would you mind if I call in Dave Baker to confirm your analysis?” she asked.
He didn’t mind at all. He’d only just finished getting his PhD and license while Baker was an experienced psychologist well-known for his handling of domestic abuse victims. “Baker is an excellent choice, tia. His opinion will carry a lot of weight with the court.”
She leaned over and patted his knee. “Your opinion will be helpful also, Ricky. I see how well you’re doing with the members of your support group. In no time more people will be coming to you for help and for your opinion.”
“I hope so,” he said, but in the meantime, he was actively building his private practice, helping his aunt and the SBS when they needed it, as well as running his support group for people suffering from trauma.
His aunt’s phone rang, and she reached over and picked up the extension sitting on a table beside the sofa.
“This young lady wants to see me tonight?” Tia Elena said and did a quick look at her watch. With a resigned sigh, she said, “If Maggie recommended her to me, I can’t refuse. Please ask her to come over as soon as she can.”
“Another late night, tia?” Ricky asked when his aunt hung up the phone.
“Sometimes it’s unavoidable,” she said, stood and held out her hand. “Thank you for helping me out.”
He cupped her hand with both of his and squeezed tenderly. “Thank you for trusting me enough to give me the business. I truly appreciate it.”
Tia Elena smiled indulgently. “The Gonzalez family sticks together.”
“We do, but only if you think I can do the job,” he said, not wanting the work if he wasn’t up to it.
“Of course, Ricky. I wouldn’t jeopardize my clients if I didn’t think you could handle it,” his aunt said and guided him toward the door to her office.
They exchanged a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, and then he headed into the main space of the law firm where nearly a dozen attorneys and their staffs worked on assorted cases.
As he neared the door, an extremely attractive young woman entered. Sun-streaked, caramel-colored hair fell in soft waves around her heart-shaped face, accenting stunning eyes of deep emerald. She was casually dressed in jeans that hugged nicely rounded hips and thighs, and a flowing tunic top that did nothing to hide her voluptuous breasts.
His gut tightened in appreciation of her natural beauty, but he reminded himself that if this was the young woman who had just called for an appointment, she was likely a survivor of domestic abuse if Maggie Alonso had given her his aunt’s number.
Because of that, he gave her plenty of space as she hurried in, a wary look on her face as she saw him by the door. She was clearly leery of men, and it saddened him that she had experienced so much pain at such a young age. By his guesstimate, she couldn’t be more than thirty, but then again, abuse knew no age limits.
“Mariela Hernandez,” she said to the receptionist and shot a quick, suspicious look over her shoulder at him as he lingered by the entrance.
He raised his hands as if to say We’re cool and hurried out the door, his one hope that his aunt would be able to help her.
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