Trouble Walks In Read Online Free

it personally.”
    â€œCan’t blame a guy for trying.”
    They stopped at the truck, and she slipped her arm from his before quickly shoving her hands in the pockets of her coat. The cold air slithered under her clothes with surprising speed as the warmth of his body against hers became a memory. Ronan made quick work of ordering their coffee and, to her surprise, knew exactly how she took it.
    â€œI know it’s not that fancy French stuff you like, but it’ll do in a pinch.”
    â€œImpressive,” Maddy said, taking the steaming cup from his hand. “You nailed it.”
    â€œI pay attention.” Ronan slid a sidelong glance at her while he handed money to the guy in the truck. “We’ve been going for a run followed by coffee almost every week for months. What kind of a cop would I be if I couldn’t even remember how you take your coffee?”
    â€œYou love being right, don’t you?” She tilted her chin, daring him to deny it.
    â€œYes.” Ronan inched closer, cradling his cup in one hand and holding Bowser’s leash in the other. Confident and in total control as always. “But especially when it comes to you.”
    She was about to ask him what exactly he meant by that, but Bowser started walking toward the corner. They strolled side by side, but she kept her eyes on the pedestrians ahead of them. If she looked at Ronan, he might get a peek at the conflicting swirl of emotions currently running through her.
    â€œOkay, explain, please.” Maddy shivered again, but not from the cold. “Why do you want to be right when it comes to me?”
    â€œBecause you’re this big, bad businesswoman who acts like she’s got it all under control.”
    â€œAnd I don’t?” She let out a short laugh. “Gee, thanks.”
    â€œThat’s not what I said, and definitely not what I meant.”
    They stopped at the corner. Maddy was about to cross, but Ronan grabbed her arm, pulling her back just as a car blew through the light. If it hadn’t been for him, she would have gotten hit.
    â€œShit,” Maddy hissed. “Damn taxi drivers.”
    She turned her eyes to his, and his grip on her tightened, almost imperceptibly. Maddy’s heart thundered in her chest. Was it from the near miss with the cab, or the feel of Ronan’s fingers curled around her bicep?
    â€œI like surprising you,” he said quietly. Bowser made a snuffling sound and sat between them, but Ronan didn’t take his eyes off hers. “How am I doing so far?”
    â€œToday?” Maddy asked quietly. “Well, to be honest, you shocked the hell out of me by showing up at the church. Why did you come?”
    â€œAre you serious?” His brows furrowed. “I thought that would be obvious.”
    â€œNot to me.” Maddy shook her head slowly and studied him, clutching the cardboard coffee cup with both hands.
    â€œI figured it would be a tough day for you.” His mouth set in a tight line before he completed the thought she could practically see floating over his head. “Going to the funeral couldn’t have been easy, and I thought you could use a friend. I didn’t think you’d want to be alone.”
    â€œI didn’t,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
    The wind blew over them, sending her hair flying into her eyes. It was perfect timing, making the tears that welled up easy enough to explain away. Maddy tugged the strands of hair aside and nodded before turning her attention to the passing cars.
    â€œSee, Bowser?” Ronan scratched the bloodhound’s head, which elicited a loud bark from the dog. “Right again.”
    Maddy burst out laughing in spite of the surge of emotion and wiped discreetly at her eyes. “No one likes a know-it-all, McGuire.”
    â€œMaybe not,” he said with a wide grin. “But I still surprised you. Come on, the light changed. Let’s cross before