Dead by Midnight - Beverly Barton [63]
“A camera?”
“I’m a reporter,” a voice called out loudly.
“The guy’s a reporter for the Huntsville Times. He showed me his credentials. He’s legit.”
Mike stomped into the living room, where he found Shelley Gilbert standing over a cowering young man sitting on the sofa, a look of sheer terror on the guy’s face. Then Mike scanned the room and found Lorie standing in the arched double doorway that led into the dining room.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She nodded. “Just a little shaken up.”
Mike turned around and glared at the reporter. “What’s your name?”
“Ryan Bonner, sir.”
“What the hell did you think you were doing sneaking around outside Ms. Hammonds’s home? Do you realize that at the very least, she can charge you with trespassing?”
“Yes, sir. I—I was just trying to snap a few pictures of Ms. Hammonds without her knowing it. And I thought maybe I might overhear the ladies’ conversation. I really need an exclusive in order for the paper to hire me as a full-time reporter.”
“What sort of an exclusive did you think you’d find here?” Mike asked, hoping his gut instincts were wrong about why this guy wanted a story on Lorie.
“Hey, it’s no secret that something’s going on, that Ms. Hammonds has a bodyguard. And don’t ask me how I know. I don’t have to reveal my sources.”
“You’re right, you don’t. But you do have the right to call a lawyer.”
“Are you going to arrest me?”
“That depends.”
“I won’t be bullied into not writing my story,” Ryan said. “I’ve done my research about Ms. Hammonds, you know, or should I call her Cherry Sweets? That was some sweet centerfold she posed for, but nothing to compare to that movie she made.”
Mike saw red. Literally. The rage inside him boiled over and it took every ounce of his self-control not to punch Ryan Bonner in the mouth.
Chapter 13
“Buddy!” Mike bellowed the deputy’s name.
“Yes, sir?”
“Escort Mr. Bonner down to headquarters.”
“You can’t arrest me!” Bonner shouted.
“Take him in for questioning.” Mike grinned. “And by all means, let him call his boss at the Times or his lawyer or anybody else he wants to call. But under no circumstances is Mr. Bonner to be released tonight. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“This is police harassment,” Bonner whined.
Mike turned his back on Bonner while Deputy Pounders led him to the patrol car. He knew there wasn’t anything he could do to stop the gung-ho reporter from writing an exposé about Lorie’s past. It wasn’t as if her years in LA were a big secret. But after being back in Dunmore for nine years and slowly making a life for herself here, Lorie had earned a second chance, at least with the townspeople. But if Bonner retold Lorie’s old story—from hometown beauty queen and talent contest winner to Playboy centerfold and porno star—tongues would start wagging and the ladies from the WCM would get riled up all over again. Lorie would become the center of attention for all the wrong reasons.
He paused outside the front door, his thoughts a mixed jumble that he needed to straighten out before seeing Lorie again.
Did he really believe she deserved a second chance? Yes, of course she did.
Just not a second chance with him.
Damn it, man, you want her. You know you do. Every time you see her, all you can think about is how it used to be between the two of you. You want to touch her. Hold her. Kiss her. Make love to her.
What he wanted and what was good for him were two different things. Lorie was all wrong for Sheriff Michael Birkett and his two children.
He had to keep things on a professional level; otherwise, he’d wind up in a sticky situation that could damage his career and wreak havoc on his personal life. And he could wind up hurting Lorie more than he’d already hurt her.
Taking a deep breath, Mike reached for the door handle, opened the door, and walked into the house. He found Lorie pacing the floor in the living room and Shelley Gilbert standing guard. Both women turned to face him.
“Buddy is taking Mr. Bonner to headquarters,” Mike said. “If you want to press charges for trespassing or—”
“Does he know about the