B.J. Daniels - Iron Will

“Do you remember their names?”

Lillian looked at Hank. “She was faithful to you. If that’s what this is about—”

“It’s not,” Hank assured her.

“We just thought they might be able to fill in some of the blanks so Hank can better understand what happened to Naomi. He’s having a very hard time moving on,” Frankie said.

The woman looked at Hank, sympathy in her gaze. “Of course. I just remember her mentioning one in particular. His name was—” she seemed to think for a moment “—River.” She waved her hand wistfully. “Blame it on Montana, these odd names.”

“You probably don’t remember River’s last name,” Frankie said.

“No, but Carrie might. She knew him too.” Lillian looked at her watch. “I really have to go. I’m sorry.”

“No,” Frankie said, getting to her feet. “You’ve been a great help.”

“Yes,” Hank agreed with much less enthusiasm. “Thank you for taking the time.”

“It’s good to see you,” the woman said to him and patted his cheek. “I hope you can find some peace.”

“Me too,” he said as he shared a last hug with Mrs. Brandt before leaving.

* * *

HANK CLIMBED BEHIND the wheel, his heart hammering in his chest. “You aren’t going to give up on your other man theory, are you?”

“No, and you shouldn’t either,” Frankie said from the passenger seat.

He finally turned his head to look at her. Gritting his teeth, he said, “You think she was cheating on me? Wouldn’t that give me a motive for murder?”

“I don’t think she was cheating. I said she had someone waiting in the wings. Big Sky is a small town. I suspect that if she’d been cheating on you, you would have heard.”

“Thanks. You just keep making me feel better all the time.”

“I didn’t realize that my job was to make you feel better. I thought it was to find a killer.”

He let out a bark of a laugh. “You are something, you know that?”

“It’s been mentioned to me. I’m hungry. Are you going to feed me before or after we visit Naomi’s best friend, Carrie?”

“I’m not sure I can do this on an empty stomach, so I guess it’s going to be before,” he said as he started the pickup’s engine.

“Over breakfast, you can tell me about Carrie,” she said as she buckled up.

“I don’t know what you want me to tell you about her,” he grumbled, wishing he’d gone with his instincts last night and stormed into her bedroom and fired her. Even if he’d had to kick down the door.

“Start by telling me why you didn’t like her.”

He shot her a look as he pulled away from the condo complex. “What makes you think...?” He swore under his breath. “Don’t you want to meet her and decide on your own?”

“Oh, I will. But I’m curious about your relationship with her.”

Hank let out a curse as he drove toward a local café off the beaten path. The place served Mexican breakfasts, and he had a feeling Frankie liked things hot. She certainly got him hot under his collar.

It wasn’t until they were seated and had ordered—he’d been right about her liking spicy food—that he sat back and studied the woman sitting across from him.

“What?” she asked, seeming to squirm a little under his intent gaze.

“Just that you know everything about me—”

“Not everything.”

“—and I know nothing about you,” he finished.

“That’s because this isn’t about me,” she said and straightened her silverware. He’d never seen her nervous before. But then again, he’d never asked her anything personal about herself.

“You jumped at this case rather fast,” he said, still studying her. She wasn’t the only one who noticed things about people. “I suspect it was to avoid whoever that was who kept calling you.” He saw that he’d hit a nerve. “Angry client? Old boyfriend?” He grinned. “Old boyfriend.”

“You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

“Am I? I don’t think so.” He took her measure for the first time since he’d hired her. She was a very attractive woman. Right now her long, dark hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. Sans makeup, she’d also played down the violet eyes. And yet there was something sexy and, yes, even sultry about her. Naomi wouldn’t leave the house without her makeup on.

That thought reminded him of all the times he’d stood around waiting for her to get ready to go out.

This morning Frankie was more serious, more professional, more hands-off. Definitely low-maintenance in a simple T-shirt and jeans. Nothing too tight. Nothing too revealing.

And yet last night at dinner when she’d snuggled against him, he’d felt her full curves. Nothing could hide her long legs. Right now, he could imagine her contours given that she was slim and her T-shirt did little to hide the curve of her backside.

“Why isn’t a woman who looks like you married?” he asked, truly surprised.

“Who says I’m not?”

He glanced at her left hand. “No ring.”

She smiled and looked away for a moment. “Isn’t it possible I’m just not wearing mine right now?”

Hank considered that as the waitress brought their breakfasts. “ Are you married?” he asked as the waitress left again.

“No. Now, are you going to tell me why you didn’t like Naomi’s best friend or are you going to keep stalling?”

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