A little more suspense…

♥ suspense romance ♥ forced proximity ♥ army veteran ♥ protector ♥ Appalachia ♥ small town ♥

Review quotes

♥ Edge of my seat, FABULOUS book. ♥

♥ Their chemistry and forced proximity make this adventure fun! The action keeps the pages turning and has you rooting for their HEA. ♥

♥ This short story moved along quickly, had plenty of danger and trying to stay alive in it. ♥

As she passed the large window, she could see the back of the Virginia State Capitol through the trees. The view always filled her with a sense of accomplishment. She had worked for the governor for years, long before Judith Sterling was elected to office last year. The other party had been decisively ousted, rightly so, as Judith was far better as governor than her predecessor. Amanda took a moment to look out at the garden, a small smile of contentment playing on her lips.

In the elevator, Amanda straightened her jacket and smoothed her skirt, before she ran a hand through her blue hair, ensuring every strand was in place. This short moment in the elevator, she always used to check on her attire. The mirror reflected the confident, professional woman she wanted to present, but for the color of her hair. Amanda never had wanted a career in the limelight, and the crazy hair-dos made sure she was hardly ever in any photographs, keeping her soundly behind the backdrop where she wanted to pull strings. Right now, though, her mission was to retrieve Judith’s wallet from the car. This wasn’t a task you could leave to a nosy intern, after all. She stepped out into the parking lot, the warm, shaded air a relief from the stuffy office.

The walk to Governor Sterling’s car was short, and by now she knew the executive mansion better than her own apartment. She found the sleek, black sedan parked in its usual spot, right by the exit. She fished out the keys from her pocket, the key fob cold against her palm. A quick press, and the car beeped in response, the lights blinking welcomingly.

Opening the driver’s door, Amanda was greeted by the clean scent of lavender mingling with the new car smell—a combination that was distinctly Judith Sterling. She leaned over the driver’s seat, her hand brushing the cool leather as she grabbed the wallet from the passenger seat. Wallet in hand, she closed the door again and locked it.

She tucked the key and wallet safely into her blazer pocket, patting it securely, her posture straightening as she prepared to head back.

To enjoy the shadows the September sunlight created on the greenery, she took the path through the garden. A group of younger colleagues gathered around the entrance, animatedly discussing the latest project. Most of them were very young and in their first job, hired right after the election. They still needed a little more guidance than the more senior members of the team. Amanda approached them with a purposeful yet easy gait. The conversation dipped as her colleagues turned toward her, their faces lighting up in recognition and respect.

“Morning, Amanda!” a young analyst called out eagerly. “We were just debating the best approach for the new policy rollout.” He handed her his tablet with a flowchart of action steps on it.

Amanda leaned slightly against the door jamb with its intricate side windows, her posture relaxed yet authoritative. She adjusted her glasses and scanned the document quickly. “Remember, always start with why,” she advised with a confident nod. “If people understand the purpose behind the changes, they’ll be much more receptive. And don’t forget to highlight the benefits!”

The group nodded appreciatively, and one of them jotted down eager notes on her tablet.

“Thanks, Amanda!” another chimed in.

“Keep up the great work, team,” Amanda said, her voice warm but decisive. “If you want to, we can go through the finalized plan before you hand it in.” The relief of the analysts was palpable. She gave them a final encouraging nod and pushed through the glass door, heading back inside. She once had been this young and inexperienced and would forever be grateful for Judith mentoring her.

As the door swung shut behind her, the sounds of the colleagues’ resumed excited chatter blended with the general hum of the busy office environment. She took the narrow, wooden staircase covered by the plush red carpet to the second floor and a minute later, she gently pushed open the heavy oak door to her boss’s office, her footsteps muffled by the thick carpeting. The room was unexpectedly empty, the chair behind the large desk vacant. From the adjacent bathroom, she heard the flushing of the toilet, a sign her boss was still on the premises.

Approaching the desk, she took the wallet from her pocket. Some papers lay slightly askew next to her boss’s computer. They looked odd and had most definitely not been run by her. Intrigued, she glanced at the top sheet. Her breath caught. Numbers, dates, a list of chemicals—words that made no sense in isolation yet screamed danger when strung together in this context.

She shouldn’t read this. But then again, maybe she should.

Her hand hovered over the documents, hesitation warring with duty. She took a deep breath and pulled the top sheet closer, her eyes scanning the contents rapidly.
The words hit her like a physical blow. Illegal dumping? Chemical contamination? Her mind raced as she pieced together the implications. This wasn’t just poor judgment; it was criminal. Someone—surely not Judith—was endangering lives by turning a blind eye to groundwater being systematically poisoned.

A surge of adrenaline made her focus entirely on the papers as she grappled with the implications of her discovery, her mind racing through possible repercussions.

She trusted her boss, always had. Judith stood for everything Amanda believed in herself.

She took the stack of papers in her hand, skimming the documents. The more she read, the more dire the situation became. Befuddled, she shook her head, thinking she must be missing something here. Her initial impulse was to wait for her boss and demand an explanation. But if it was true—and it definitely looked like it was—confronting Judith would be stupid. There must be another explanation. There must be.

And then, Judith stood next to her with an unreadable expression on her face. “What are you doing, Amanda?” Her voice was calm, too calm.

“What’s this?” Amanda asked, although by now she knew it had been a mistake to wait for her boss. She should have left while she could.

Her boss’s eyes narrowed and glanced at the papers in Amanda’s hands, then back at Amanda. Amanda could almost hear the cogs turning in her head.

“I’m so sorry you had to see this, Amanda,” she said slowly, her tone chilling. She turned slightly, signaling someone Amanda hadn’t noticed before. A shadow detached itself from the wall by the side door—a large, imposing figure stepped forward. Amanda’s heart skipped a beat.

“Take care of this,” the governor instructed him quietly.

The ambiguity of her words terrified Amanda. Take care of this? Take care of her? Amanda didn’t understand. She chuckled, but it came out as a grunt. Her heart pounded in her chest as fear gripped her. With her boss’s intentions now ambiguous but undeniably threatening, and the agent taking a step towards her, Amanda’s survival instincts kicked in. Her legs acted long before her brain decided what to do, turning and running for the door. Like a toddler who finds it easier to take their first steps with blocks in their hands, she clung to the wallet and the crumpled papers while sprinting down the hall.