Secret Service Setup. Jessica R. Patch

       ONE

      “Do you ever feel like sometimes the sunshine is deceiving because the day is going to be ominous regardless of how bright it is?” Jody Gallagher tapped her finger on the side of her Covenant Crisis Management coffee mug while her best friend and CCM’s on-site psychologist, Cosette LaCroix, turned from the coffeepot, and her full lips—as red as the male cardinals outside—reminded Jody of a luscious makeup commercial.

      “Is that how you feel?”

      Jody should have known she’d get doctor-talk. Was that how she felt? A warm outer appearance, but cold inside? Maybe. She knew how to put up a good front. One could only whine and mourn over loss for so long before loved ones traded in supportiveness for speeches about moving on. Of course, said loved ones hadn’t watched their dreams burn to ash right in front of their eyes. In front of millions of eyes. She rubbed her temples. “I guess I’m dreading the day.”

      “At least he called and gave you fair warning he was coming.” Cosette never said anything negative about the man Jody once loved—the man who’d single-handedly wrecked her dreams of someday becoming the youngest female Secret Service director. Dreams she’d birthed through spending time with her great-grandfather. She missed Granddaddy Flynn.

      Jody-girl, one day you can be sitting right here in my chair. Doesn’t have to be Wilder or any other boy. It can be you. I think it should be, darlin’. You can do anything you want. And if you want it, work for it. Do it. Achieve it.

      She should have known better than to fall for a man who played hard—too hard. Especially after what she’d witnessed in Afghanistan. But she’d fallen for him. And he’d betrayed her. She’d been fired. Humiliated. Her reputation stained. Thankfully, Granddaddy Flynn hadn’t lived to see that.

      “Yeah, that was a bullet to the chest without any Kevlar kind of moment.” To hear Evan Novak’s voice after three years. She’d instantly recognized it—soft, smooth. Not a drop of grit until he laughed. He’d called to let her know he’d be in Atlanta today on protection detail for Senator Townes, who was campaigning for the primary election this coming November. A conservative in the South. Jody didn’t expect trouble, but this morning she’d woken with a ball of tar coating her gut and it had spread since she’d rolled out of bed. Maybe it was the fact that she was going to see Evan. The Covenant Crisis team was leading the private security sector today and providing one of Georgia’s wealthiest businessmen protection during the event—not that he needed it, but he was one of the largest campaign donors to Senator Townes, and if he wanted to pay them for security, then so be it.

      CCM was partnering with the Secret Service, as well as local law enforcement. Jody had voluntarily piped up to be the appointed detail. She needed to prove to herself she could be around Evan with no effect, and she wanted him and her former colleagues to see she was still capable—had always been capable—of providing excellent security.

      “Hey, if Wilder picks up on any of this anxiety, he’ll yank you from the op. You want that?” Cosette leaned against the counter, forcing eye contact with Jody. “Do you?”

      No. Nothing would come between her and the job. She wouldn’t let Wilder down. He’d immediately given her sanctuary here at the plantation home turned agency and offered her a job, no questions asked. Not because he was her first cousin, but because he believed in her ability and ignored the lies that she’d been drinking on duty while safeguarding the vice president’s adult son, even though the evidence had been incriminating.

      “I want to accomplish the mission. And I don’t want Evan Novak to emotionally affect me ever again.” She finished her coffee. “I also don’t want a couch therapy session later.”

      Cosette’s dark eyes flashed, the Cajun in her making itself present in that feisty expression. “Mmm-hmm...keep telling yourself that. It’s happening.”

      A knock on the door saved her a friendly argument. “Come in.” Wilder opened the door, looming in the doorway. Suit. Tie. “You clean up nice, cuz,” Jody said.

      He flicked