Page 24 of The Secrets She Keeps

Powell had had some really wicked thoughts when he’d said that.

The man had known it too.

She was still tingling from the kiss he’d given her then. He’d just swooped her up off her feet and kissed her. Right there in the elevator. Gunnar Erickson was the most dangerous man on the planet—especially when he kissed her.

She was there with her brothers, for Brandt. That was the entire reason she was in Masterson now. But she’d wanted to watch for Gunnar all day.

She’d worried about him too.

Powell wasn’t an idiot—she knew the man got under her skin. He most likely always would. Their baby would probably have that same skill in a totally different way. Her hand dropped to her stomach again. She just couldn’t stop doing that. There was a baby in there. Hers. His.Theirs.

“They’re in the parking lot now.”

They? She’d been under the impression it was going to be one guy from Major Crimes. To meet with Gunnar, and possibly Charlie, who was already up here skulking around with his wife Rory somewhere. “Okay, so what’s going on?”

“Daniel sentHeather.”

“What? Why?” Alex asked, straightening. “After what happened?”

“I don’t know. She’s supposed to still be suspended,” Gunnar said. Fury was all over him. “For another two weeks.”

“She wassuspended?” Mac asked. “Why did that happen?”

“Because Daniel is an asshole,” Gunnar answered, the fury in his words hard to miss. “And I’m going to kick his ass myself for this. He had no business sendingherup here right now. None.”

“Oh, boy,” Alex said. “I bet Heather is beyond pissed right now. Everyone, find a hiding place and get ready. Powell—you’re small enough. Get under the end table. You should be safe enough there. This is not going to begood.Was that an earthquake I just felt? No. It was Scary Heather on the warpath. Everyone brace yourselves.”

“Okay, Gun, what am I missing here?” Charlotte asked. “Who exactly is thisHeatheryou speak of?”

“Heather Coleson, Zoey’s aunt,” Powell said quickly. “It was her younger sister who was shot the same night as Haldyn. Imagine Zoey but with Caine and Rafe’s slightly sharper cheekbones. At a distance, you can barely tell Zo and Heather apart. They look eerily alike. Right down to the hairline and the way they tilt their heads. Heather’s voice is just a little higher than Zo’s, and I think her hair is different, maybe.”

“It’s a little bit beyond creepy,” Mac said. “Heather is a vampire goddess queen too. I’m sure of it.”

“I think Heather’s hair is lighter than Zoey’s and not nearly as straight,” Alex added. “But I haven’t looked close enough at her hair. I’m usually watching out for her fangs. Of course, Zoey has fangs too. Must be a family thing.” He looked at Mac and hissed, held up claws. Mac bit back at him and hissed next.

Powell resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Brothers could be such trials.

“She bites harder than Zoey, though,” Mac had to add. “But yes, you can’t really tell her and Zoey apart at a glance unless they are within feet of each other. She’s meaner too. She’s almost taken my head off a few times.”

“She really doesn’t like Mac,” Powell said. Something was going on—and it definitely involved Heather Coleson. Powell’s curiosity was going haywire. Gunnar looked intense. Worried.

Powell didn’t like seeing him like that at all.

“I’m sure you deserve it,” Charlotte told Mac. Those two didn’t exactly get along either. “Okay, so why is Gunnar so hot? Not that he isn’t always, but it’s a totally different kind of steamy right now. That man’s temper is boiling. Something I have never seen before, actually.”

“Because Daniel is using her.” Gunnar really was angry. Powell just watched him, aware of her brothers and Charlotte doing the same. “He never should have sent her up here. I don’t know what in the hell he’s playing at right now.”

“Why? I mean, this woman is Major Crimes, right? She knows the deal?” Charlotte asked. “So what’s the big problem? Not that Daniel McKellen isn’t a problem, but I’m not getting this one, guys.”

“He has no business yanking that woman around like this.” Gunnar was almost snarling. Powell knew he was a bit protective of Heather, but this was more than that. He was downright furious. Almost pacing.

What she would have said was cut short when the carved wooden doors to the inn swung open. Two women walked in, arms full—of kids. Powell recognized them both, even with their sweatshirt hoods over their heads. “Caracame with her? And Heather brought the girls?”

“Whoa, they really look like Zoey and Ariella right there. Like, wow, she looks like Zo-Zo. Talk about a little beyond creepy. So these Coleson clones were just wandering around out there, and no one evenknewabout them?Do they all look like that? It’s a tad freaky.And this one was with the TSP and never crossed paths with Zoey or anyone who even knew Zoey? I find that hard to believe,” Charlotte said as Heather and Cara tookoff the hoods. Powell agreed with her on that. It was rather odd that no one in the TSP ihad put it together that Heather and Zoey were related before. Unless they had and had just kept it to themselves for some nefarious reason. “Who is the younger one? And the kids?”

“Of course she brought her girls. She had to. She’s going to be here for three or four days, and she’s still nursing her baby. He should have sent any of the others—he’s just wanting to keep things quiet and within the governor’s damned family. Part of his damnedplan.Or he’s up to something where she’s concerned,” Gunnar said, almost pacing. Powell just watched him, resisting the urge to gawk. Wow. He was practically vibrating. “Whatever works for what Dan wants—not what is best for Heather. That son-of-a-bitch. He’s lucky I don’t clock him myself.”

Oh, he was boiling mad. Charlotte looked at Powell, eyes wide.

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