Free The Patriot Girl by Toni Lynn Cloutier

Dustin?”
    “At the club. If…hello?” He cursed when the phone went dead. He stormed out of his office, went behind the bar, and made a pot of coffee. Now that his sister knew he needed her, she’d get in touch with him soon.
    Ten minutes later, he jumped at the pounding on the front door. Who could that be at seven o’clock on a Friday morning? Jesse, maybe, but he had a key. Dustin turned the lock and before he could open the door fully his sister pushed past him.
    “Shh. Are you in trouble?”
    Being an FBI agent, Dana’s mind was always “on duty.” She scouted the room to make sure the coast was clear. And when she whipped off her leather jacket and sat on a barstool, Dustin was free to breathe without being hushed.
    “So what is it, bro? I just listened to your message. Why the panic?”
    He placed his hand under her chin. “You look worse than I feel, Dana. Were you on a stakeout last night?” Breaking his touch, he turned around and poured two cups of coffee, setting Dana’s in front of her.
    “Thanks.” She took a sip. “I wasn’t on a stakeout. Bulldog got married yesterday. You know the reception will last until Sunday night. What’s up with you?”
    Even after clearing his throat twice, Dustin could barely get the words out. “I met her, Dana.” He punched the bar with a closed fist.
    “Dustin, calm down. Who are you talking about? Who did you meet?”
    “Remember the woman at the club last Sunday night?” His knuckles dropped to the bar as he leaned forward to meet Dana’s eyes. “I’m pretty sure she’s Paul Adams’ widow.”
    “The Patriot Girl? The one from the bank robbery?” She squeezed his arm. “Does she know who you are?”
    “No. I didn’t know until after I promised to help her out with her PR business. I’m planning on hiring her to help get this place off the ground. She’s coming here tonight to sign a contract. What am I going to do?”
    “Are you sure that’s all you’re hiring her for? Because if this is only business, you wouldn’t be this upset and hurt.”
    Dana was right. If he had to be honest with himself, his plan to hire MaKayla was mostly to get to know her better. The publicity was a bonus.
    “Dustin, you’re hot for this chick, aren’t you?”
    “Yeah, I am. The first time I set eyes on her, I knew she’d be trouble. But I never expected something like this. I can’t face her again without telling her the truth. But how do I tell her without her freaking out, or worse, without her walking out?”
    “How does she feel about the accident?”
    “How the hell am I supposed to know? It didn’t make its way into the conversation.”
    “Whoa, I don’t know the chick either. You said you’re ‘pretty sure.’ What makes you think she’s his widow?”
    “I’m sorry.” He gripped his hair. “Well, besides the last name, Paul’s son was fourteen at the time of the accident. MaKayla’s son is leaving for college. The timing adds up. Plus, no man in his right mind would leave a woman like her unless he had too.”
    He shouldn’t be so surprised this was happening. Actually, he should be laughing at himself for thinking something so great could have been a piece of cake.
    This would have been the easiest business hook-up he’d ever made, but nothing he ever wanted in life came easy. From having to prove himself to Liz’s family before he could marry her, right down to losing Liz because he had wanted a child. How could he even expect being with an intelligent, beautiful, woman would be a walk in the park?
    He’d be damned if he’d let MaKayla get away without a fight. There wasn’t much in life he asked for, but when he wanted something why did he have to go through all the bullshit to get it?
    Dana broke into his thoughts. “You need to be the one to break the news to her, Dustin, before someone else tells her. Even if she doesn’t blame you for the accident, she’ll be pissed you didn’t come clean the minute you found