Free The Killing Times (An FBI Romance Thriller (book 1)) by Morgan Kelley Page B

work on damage control. Not only for the assignment, but because he wasn’t willing to let the woman in his dreams slip away yet again.
     
     
     
     
    Elizabeth pulled out of the parking lot, her emotions overwhelming her. The tears overcame her and a few broke free. There was no doubt in her mind this was g oing to happen. The minute the FBI agents arrived, her past was going to rear its ugly head and bite her in the ass.  Elizabeth drove to the station, checking her face to make sure she didn’t look like a hot mess. Despite it all, it was time to work. Once inside the building she headed right for her office, slamming the door in anger and once again, humiliation.
    Martha jumped at her desk, glancing over at Deputy Sara Bishop. The woman shrugged, heading to the door and knocking. “Boss, are you okay?”
    “Yes. No. I don’t know.”
    “Want to talk about it?” asked Sara, never seeing her boss this frazzled before.
    Elizabeth tried to smile. “No, I’m fine. I have to head over to the morgue in a few, but thanks for asking Sara.”
    Sara wanted to say more to her boss; she couldn’t help but feel that something bad had to be brewing . Sheriff LaRue didn’t let anything work her up like this. Then she saw the stranger. Oh, yeah. If he had anything to do with it, she wouldn’t be surprised. She had never seen a man who looked quite that perfect and tanned, and now she couldn’t help but just stare.
    “Special Agent Blackhawk, to see Sheriff LaRue.” He stood there like he had no intention of leaving, even if she refused to see him. He grinned when both women just pointed at the door, wordlessly. He gave the courtesy of knocking , and then pushed it open.
    Relief flooded him just to see her again.
    Elizabeth didn’t say a word, as he entered her office. She was just grateful she had managed to stop crying before he arrived. Why add more humi liation to the entire situation?
    “Well Agent, I didn’t expect to see you here after your partner’s little display.”
    “Didn’t you say we were going to the morgue?” He sat across from her , opening his take out container. “Yours is in the bag. I doubt we’ll be in the mood afterwards.” He saw her eyes and the sadness and wanted to comfort her, but he just needed to observe for now. Blackhawk wasn’t sure if the woman in front of him would be as receptive to him, as she was in his dreams.
    Elizabeth stared . She didn’t understand why he came after her. “Why?”
    Blackhawk shrugged. “Rarely do I find things are as cut and dr y as they seem. Unlike my partner, I like to know the person first, and then make my mind up regarding them. Anything she’s said to me about you is hearsay. I don’t buy into other people’s opinions, Sheriff LaRue. Gabriel Rothschild said you were his closest friend, and I don’t think he says that lightly. If he sees you in that light, I need to give this an open mind unlike my partner.”
    “Thank you, Special Agent Blackhawk.”
    “Ethan. My name is Ethan. Since we’ll be working together a great deal, why waste all that air on a long title when first names are perfect?” A small smile flitted across her lips, and the sadness in her eyes lifted. Blackhawk could feel hope returning that his partner didn’t just bury his chance of learning more about this woman.
    “Okay, Ethan.” There was something about him that put her at ease.
    “What do I call you, Sheriff?” he asked, taking a sip of his coffee. His blue black eyes never left hers, because they couldn’t. He felt trapped, as he waited her out. Blackhawk wondered how liberal she’d be with her nickname- the one the deputy had used. It was the one that he desperately wanted.
    No, it was the o ne that he needed.
    “Well the people I work with call me Sheriff LaRue, or Elizabeth.”
    “And your close friends, what do they call you?” he asked, feeling the warmth creep up his body, because he planned to be at least that by the end of the work