Read I'll Never Let You Go (Morgans of Nashville) for Free Online Page A

twelve-hour shift today.”
    “My mistake.” His tone didn’t sound apologetic. “Your accent sounds like Nashville.”
    “Born and raised here. Went to vet school in Knoxville, but as soon as I graduated, I came back home.” Maybe, if she tossed the guy a few easy facts, he’d back off.
    “Family?” He kept wiping the very clean bar. Most would see a man making conversation, but cops didn’t just make conversation.
    “Mother and father have passed.”
    “Sorry to hear that. You got brothers and sisters?”
    Smile. Sip the beer. Act normal. “Are you writing a book about me, KC?”
    A laugh rumbled in his chest. “Hard to break the cop habits.”
    “Right.” He continued to lean toward her, still waiting for an answer.
    Leah nodded toward a couple of women at the end of the bar. “You’ve got some thirsty gals over there.”
    KC glanced down the bar at a collection of women raising empty beer mugs. “No rest for the wicked.”
    No truer words. “So they tell me.”
    “Back to work.”
    She tipped the beer bottle’s neck toward him. “Good to meet you, KC.”
    He saluted. “You too, Dr. Leah.”
    She faced the stage and watched as Georgia sang and swayed to the music. She had the crowd in the palm of her hand, and Leah envied her command of the room.
    A tap on her shoulder had her jumping, and she turned to see a tall gal with dark brown hair. She had a full, smiling face and a sharp gaze. Dressed in black, a thick chain around her neck dipped between the hollow of her breasts.
    Leah smiled, relaxing. They’d bumped into each other at the front door minutes earlier, but Deidre had made a beeline for the ladies’ room. “Deidre.”
    “I see you’re all settled in. Cold night.”
    “Nice in here.”
    Leah had met Deidre Jones a couple of months ago at the gym. They’d become friends, and when Deidre had suggested Leah join a marathon training group, she’d agreed. This New Year was about making new choices. Living. Taking full breaths. And having a friend was nice. “What brings you here tonight?”
    Deidre grinned. “Got a date tonight.”
    “A date?”
    She winked, like a normal, happy woman would. “Nice to play and not work.”
    “Still running in the morning?”
    “If the date doesn’t go too late, I’ll be there.”
    “So is that a yes or a no?” Grinning, she mimicked Deidre’s pointed look when Leah waivered on a run date.
    Deidre tipped the top of her bottle toward Leah in a touché kind of salute. “It’s a yes.”
    “Good. Always more fun when you’re there.”
    Leah searched around. “Where is this date?”
    “In the head. He’ll be right back. Just wanted to say hi again.”
    The familiar face loosened a few knots. “Thanks.” A man approached behind Deidre. Tall, blond. “Is that David Westbrook from our running group?”
    “Yep.” She grinned. “But don’t tell anyone in the group. I don’t need a lot of shit about it. My soon-to-be ex-husband will just make more trouble.”
    Deidre had spoken of her divorce to Leah a few times. She hadn’t used the word stalking , but Leah had recognized the pattern. She’d offered suggestions that Deidre had brushed aside. “Sure.”
    David grinned as he wrapped an arm around Deidre. “Leah. See you in the morning?”
    “I’ll be there.”
    “Great.”
    “See you.” Deidre hooked her arm in David’s and the two vanished into the crowd.
    “Right.” She nudged her back close to the bar and watched as Georgia moved back and forth onstage. The woman had an easy confidence Leah admired.
    A man jostled next to her at the bar. When she glanced in his direction, he grinned. “Hey. I’m Max.”
    She moved back a step. “Hey.”
    “You here by yourself, little lady?” He had to shout to be heard.
    “No.”
    He made an effort to look around her. “I don’t see anybody.”
    She dug her fingernail into the silver label of her beer and ripped the paper. Dogs, cats, snakes, even birds she knew. In an animal, she read