All Chapters of Sunstroke: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

SUNSTROKEPart TwoThe story continuesI still can't believe this is happening. Maybe I'll wake up and find out it's all just a bad dream.Yeah, right.Robin Hanna tucked her long brown hair behind one ear and looked at the computer screen for perhaps the one-hundredth time. She had a headache from staring at numbers for so long and the taste of frustration was bitter on her tongue. She'd worked late three nights in a row and still didn't feel as if she'd accomplished what she needed to. Getting information for Jonas Faulkner had been the easy part. Protecting her clients was a lot more difficult. Damn Raymond Forrester anyway.Damn herself, while she was at it, for being smart enough to spot what was happening. And stupid enough to work for a man who was laundering money for the Russians and stealing from his clients while doing it. If only she could wave a wand and make things go back to the way they were. She had spotted the discrepancies by accident, her business and

"Yes. Because tomorrow I'm getting you someplace safe, far away from here. I started that in motion as soon as I hung up from your call.""Oh!" She hadn't given much thought to what she'd do next. "Well, sure, although I'm not sure how much help I cam be.""You'd be surprised at what the brain registers and remembers. At least it gives us a starting point."The tea had taken the edge off the cold enough that she could unzip her jacket although she didn't take it off. In fact, she wondered if she'd ever be warm again."Okay, go ahead and see if you can get someone. I'll do my best.""One more thing." He slid over a pad of paper that was sitting on the table and handed it to her along with a pen. "I need you to write down all your sizes, even for your...He paused."...your delicate items."If she hadn't been so uptight, Robin would have laughed. Unflappable Jonas, uncomfortable discussing ladies lingerie."Okay, but what for?""We're sending you out of town and you obviously can't

"Trey?" Art's voice cut into his reverie."What?" He gave himself a mental shake. "Oh, vacation. I don't know. I can't seem to work up the enthusiasm.""Well, give it some thought, okay? We're just a little concerned for you." He paused. "You know we're all happy to take up the slack to give you whatever time you need."He ground his teeth. "Worried I'll fall down on the job? Am I not pulling my weight?"Art had the good grace to look a little embarrassed. "Not at all. You more than pull your share around here. Hell, just taking Bridger off everyone's hands ought to earn you a bonus. But-" He paused."But you're worried about my state of mind. Is it because Laura's making no secret of the fact that she's seeing someone while I'm not? Is that it?" He had deliberately not ventured out into places where he might run into her. Even after a year, seeing her with another man would be the pits."Trey, we all know this is a painful thing to go through. The partners all want you to know w

Robin had just finished breakfast when there was a knock on the door of the villa where she was staying. She checked through the peephole as she'd been instructed and relaxed when she saw Seth Guillory from McBain Security standing there. Her first thought was he had something to tell her she didn't want to hear."Good morning." She wet her lips. "Not bad news, I hope."She lived in fear of the killers slipping out of sight and somehow tracking her down. But Seth shook his head and smiled. "Not at all. Jonas called with some information for you, and both Gabe Rossi and my boss, Luke McCain texted me to make sure I checked up on you. Again, they apologize for being away but it couldn't be helped. I told them I had things under control.""I don't want to cause a problem for anyone, or be an inconvenience." She was usually the one in control so adjusting to this threw her off her game."You aren't."She waved a hand at the interior. "I'm pretty sure this place wasn't just sitting h

After two days of hiding in the villa, Robin was ready to move beyond the confines of its walls. After all, the place was gorgeous, with every amenity one could think of. She read the brochure left in the villa and was amazed to learn it boasted a restaurant that was referred to as "an epicurean's delight." And the picture of the casual outdoor dining was too tempting to pass up. As long as she was here, she reasoned, she might as well enjoy what it had to offer.Her life was in a mess and she had no idea what her future held. She had no job to go back to, since Jonas had told her the FBI closed up Forrester Associates. Beyond her two friends who with her made up the Flirty Thirties she didn't really have a strong circle of friends. Too much time spent working too long and too hard. She didn't even own property, preferring to rent and leave the maintenance to others. The rest of her life-her future-was a blank page yet to be written on. So no, there would be no romance for Robin Han