Stalking: PAVAD: FBI Romantic Suspense, #11

By Calle J. Brookes

SHE WANTS HER BEST FRIEND.

HE'S TOO CLUELESS TO REALIZE...

FBI agent J.T. Tompkins is more than willing to help his colleague's daughter adjust to life in St. Louis. He considers her one of his closest friends, after all. 

If he sometimes loses the ability to breathe when Emma smiles at him—well, that is his secret to keep. 

Yes, J.T. is attracted to her, but he's not going to be a creep about it.

There is no way a woman like Emma would look at a man like him that way. 

When someone at the college Emma attends decides she's belongs only to him, J.T. steps up to keep her safe until the stalker's identity is discovered…

In the meantime, Emma has to come up with a new plan. 

One that ends with her safe from a stalker—and wrapped up tight in J.T.'s arms forever…

​

***A 60 PAGE PAVAD: FBI NOVELLA***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lost River Lit Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Jul 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781386221661

Book preview

1

Emma Reynolds would always draw his attention, no matter who else was around.

She probably always would. J.T. Tompkins saw her the instant he entered the political science building. She was the woman of his dreams, after all.

Other guys watched her, too, but Emma had no idea the effect she had on men. On him.

She hurried across the lobby to meet him. His hands immediately slicked with nerves, and he felt his cheeks flush.

J.T. pushed his glasses back into place and tried to gain control of himself. He wasn’t a stupid teenaged boy anymore, too nerdy to catch the girl of his dreams. He was a sophisticated, well-respected federal agent with one of the best field offices in the country, the best actually. And he was almost thirty years old! At least eight years older than most of the coeds in this building. Than her.

So why did one beautiful woman freak him out so badly?

J.T. She wrapped her hand around his forearm and—call him crazy—clung to him. That wasn’t like her, not at all. He hugged her for a brief moment.

Em? What’s wrong? He studied her for a moment, trying to be objective. Her nose was red from the cold, strands of her long strawberry-blond hair peeked out from beneath a Christmas tree knit cap.

Her green eyes were frightened. J.T. stood up straighter and put his hands on her waist. He resisted the urge to pull her into his arms and tell her not to worry. Promise her he’d take care of whatever it was. Always. He couldn’t stand it when she was upset about anything. What’s wrong? What happened?

It’s probably nothing. And I’m sorry to bother you at work. I should have just called campus security or the police or something—

Emma, just tell me what happened.

Someone broke into my car. Her voice broke, and he realized just how close to tears she was.

Where is it? Was anything taken?

No, something was left.

She trembled against him and wrapped a finger in the scarf hanging down from his neck. She was pushed against him, and she was scared. Had he ever seen her scared before? Other than the time her sister was shot? Not Emma, she was fearless. Something was definitely going on. What?

A rose. And a note, I think. I didn’t stay in the parking lot long enough to read it.

And you’re certain someone broke in? You didn’t leave it unlocked? He didn’t think she was freaking out over nothing. That wasn’t the way Emma Reynolds operated; if something had scared her, there was probably good reason. Let’s go take a look.

She nodded, then shocked him to his toes by grabbing his hand and clinging. Thank you. I’m glad you’re here.

Why didn’t you call your dad?

And have him go overboard? After what happened to Kelly last year, I don’t want him to freak.

Her older sister had been a victim of a stalker that had focused on Kelly’s entire forensics team. The stalker had even set off explosives in the building where Kelly—and J.T. and Dan—worked. One clerk had been killed, and both Kelly and Ally—Emma and Kelly’s stepmother—had been injured. And I knew you would be just as good.

Hardly. Her father was one of the best agents J.T. had ever seen. He’d consider himself lucky if he ended up being even half as good.

He took one look at the duct tape residue on her window and the tape lying all over the snow.

He’d offered to fix that window for her three months ago, but she’d smiled at him and said she was fine with the peace sign printed tape for the time being. Said it gave the car character. Still taping the window, I see.

I’m rethinking that after today. She shivered, and he doubted it was fully from the cold. I unlocked my door, and the…present…was in the passenger seat. I got out of my car, found the tape, and then immediately went back inside. I called you from the lobby. I figured better safe than sorry.

Smart thinking. He had on his gloves but was careful to handle only the edge of the envelope.

He slid the note out and open. He read. "‘Your gift was done by your lover with care, in hopes that together…we will soon be there…’’’ He looked at her after he read it. Something from a boyfriend?

She shook her head. No. I’m not dating anyone, J.T. I haven’t since before coming to St. Louis.

Wow. That had been a long time ago. Why hadn’t he known that? Why?

2

Because the guy