Free Bodyguard/Husband by Mallory Kane

uncomfortably. The day had grown warm. Uncle Virgil’s air conditioner was older than she was, and since it was only June, her parsimonious great-uncle wouldn’t even contemplate turning it on for another month.
    Jack, of course, looked cool as the proverbial cucumber. The only wrinkles in his crisp white shirt were where he’d rolled up the sleeves, baring sinewy forearms with a light dusting of dark hair.
    Forcing herself to stop ogling him like a teenager, she concentrated on what he was doing. He held up the first note, the one that had come after Brad died.
    “‘Dear Holly,’” he read aloud. “‘Mere words cannot express my sorrow for your loss. Believe ye will not see him any more about the world with his divine regard! For all was as I say, and now the man lies as he lay once, breast to breast with God.’”
    Taking a small notebook from his shirt pocket, he jotted notes. “How soon did you receive this after your husband’s death?”
    “I’m not sure. Within a few days. It was in with a stack of sympathy cards.”
    “Was it in an envelope?”
    “I don’t think so.” Holly thought about those awful days after Brad died. “I wasn’t paying much attention.”

    “And you don’t recognize the handwriting?”
    She shook her head. “It’s so plain.”
    “Block printing. Most of the time it’s hard to analyze.” Jack took the note back over to the table. “Tell me how he died.”
    “O’Hara—” Uncle Virgil leaned forward “—you got all that info. Holly don’t need to be put through this again.”
    “Sir, as a law enforcement officer yourself, I’m sure you can appreciate the importance of a firsthand account from someone close to the victim. I thought we understood that I was to be given complete cooperation.”
    The two men faced off for a moment, and Holly could feel the battle of wills. Two strong, stubborn men, each with his own way of doing things. Each in his own way protecting her. The sight gave her a warm feeling, a safe feeling—a feeling she hadn’t felt many times in her life.
    “It’s okay, Uncle Virgil—” Holly began as the door opened.
    “Chief.” It was Theodore “T-Bone” Polk, one of her uncle’s detectives. “Oh, hi, Miss Holly,” he said, his weathered face turning red. “S’cuse me, but Miss Emma Thompson run into a telephone pole again. This time over at Cherry and Main.”
    T-Bone’s gaze lit on Jack. “This the new husband?” He frowned and spared Jack a half-inch nod. “You better be good to our little Miss Holly or you’ll have to answer to me.”
    Jack nodded easily, but Holly felt him stiffen.
    “I’m s’posed to be in court in Jackson in an hour. I’m already late.”
    Virgil sighed. “All right, T-Bone. You get going.I’ll take care of Miss Emma. I reckon I’m either going to have to escort her personally to the eye doctor or take that precious fifty-nine Chevy of hers away.” He looked at Jack. “This is the third telephone pole she’s hit this year.”
    “Thanks, Chief. Miss Holly.” The burly detective touched an invisible hat brim. “Oh, by the way, Jeannie said she’s ready anytime to learn those new exercises.”
    “Okay, T-Bone,” Holly said. “I’ll call her this week.”
    T-Bone sent Jack a dismissive nod and left.
    Uncle Virgil searched Holly’s face. “Holly?”
    “I’ll be fine. You go ahead.” She kissed her uncle’s weathered cheek.
    He nodded tentatively. “You’ll come over tonight?”
    She put on a smile for him. “Of course. I’ll fix dinner, and we’ll let Aunt Bode meet Jack.”
    After Virgil left, Holly looked at Jack. “He’s worried about me.”
    “I know.” Jack gave a brisk nod. “Tell me about that detective who has a thing for you.”
    Holly gawked at him. “What? Are you talking about T-Bone?”
    “He turned bright red when he saw you. Then there was his threat.”
    “T-Bone? Threat?” She thought back over what T-Bone had said and laughed. “You mean about answering to