Under Threat B.J. Daniels (best free novels txt) 📖

She’d managed not to come face-to-face with him. Even with the changes in her appearance, he could recognize her. They’d been lovers. Soul mates. He would sense who she was the moment they were in the same room.

“Good,” Mary was saying. “Let’s plan on it. Just let me know what day you’re free. And thank you again for yesterday. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Lucy nodded, still taken aback. “I’m glad I was here.” She took a step toward the door, feeling strangely uncomfortable. “Off to work,” she said as she walked backward for a few steps, smiling like a fool.

Could this really be going as well as she thought it was? She couldn’t believe how far she’d come from that night in Arizona when she’d gone into the river. She had Mary Savage, the woman who’d stolen Chase from her, right where she’d wanted her. So why wasn’t she more euphoric about it? Her plan was working. There was no reason to be feeling the way she was, which was almost...guilty.

The thought made her laugh as she crossed the street. Guilt wasn’t something she normally felt. She was enjoying herself. Maybe too much. She’d thought it would take longer, and she’d been okay with that.

As she settled into work, she realized that she would have to move up her revenge schedule. She was starting to like Mary and that was dangerous. No way could she go on a horseback ride with her, and not just because she might run into Chase. She couldn’t let herself start liking Mary. If she weakened... She told herself that wouldn’t happen.

But realizing this was almost over, she felt a start. She hadn’t given any thought as to what she would do after she was finished here. Where would she go? What would she do? She’d been so focused on destroying Chase and his cowgirl that she hadn’t thought about what to do when it was over.

That thought was nagging at her when she looked up to find Chase standing in front of her counter. Panic made her limbs go weak. He wasn’t looking at her, but at the board with the day’s specials hanging over her head. Could she duck in the back before he saw her? Let the other barista wait on him?

But Amy was busy with another customer. Lucy knew she couldn’t hide out in the back until Chase left. All her fears rushed through her, making her skin itch. She’d come so far. She was so close to finishing this. What would she do when he recognized her?

He’d know what she was up to. He’d tell Mary. All of this would have been for nothing. Mary’s father was the marshal. It wouldn’t take long before he’d know about what had happened in Texas, about the suspicions that had followed her from town to town and finally to Big Sky, Montana. Once he saw through her disguise, and he would. Just like that and it would be all over. She wanted to scream.

“Good morning,” he said, and finally looked at her.

“Morning.” She held her breath as she met his blue eyes and gave him an embarrassed gap-toothed smile.

He smiled back, his gaze intent on her, but she realized with a start that she saw no recognition in his face. It’s me, she wanted to say. The love of your life. Don’t tell me you don’t see me, don’t sense me, don’t feel me standing right here in front of you.

“I hope you can help me. I want to buy my girlfriend the kind of coffee she loves, but I forgot what it’s called. She lives right across the street. I thought you might know what she orders. It’s for Mary Savage.”

Girlfriend? “Sorry, I’m new.”

“That’s all right. It was a shot in the dark anyway. Then I guess I’ll take one caramel latte and a plain black coffee please.”

She stared at him for a moment in disbelief. She’d been so sure he would know her—instinctively—even the way she looked now. But there was no recognition. None.

Fury shook her to her core. They’d made love. They had a connection. How could he not know her?

“You do have plain black coffee, don’t you?” he asked when she didn’t speak, didn’t move.

She let out a sound that was supposed to be a chuckle and turned her back on him. Her insides trembled, a volcano of emotions bubbling up, ready to blow. She fisted her hands, wanting to launch herself across the counter and rip out his throat.

Instead, she thought of Mary and something much better. Ripping out Mary’s heart, the heart he was so desperately trying to win back.

She made the latte and poured him a cup of plain black coffee. He handed her a ten and told her to keep the change.

Thanking him, she smiled at the thought of him standing over Mary Savage’s grave. “You have a nice day now.”

“You too,” he said as he left.

She watched him go, still shocked and furious that the fool hadn’t known her. She promised herself that his nice days were about to end, and very soon.

It wasn’t until he was headed across the street to Mary’s office that Chase looked back at the woman working in the Lone Peak Perk. What was it about her...? He frowned until it hit him. Her voice. Even with the slight lisp and Southern drawl, the cadence of her voice was enough like Fiona’s to give him the creeps.

He shuddered, wondering if he would ever be able to put the Fiona nightmare behind him. Yesterday he’d called Rick, and Patty had answered.

“I’m so sorry about what happened with you and Fiona,” she’d said. “I just feel so sorry for her. I know it’s no excuse, but she had a really rough childhood. Her mother remarried a man who sexually abused her. When she told her mother, the woman didn’t believe her. That had to break her heart.”

“Did she have anyone else?”

“No siblings or relatives she