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    Deuce of Diamonds: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #2
    Deuce of Diamonds: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #2
    Deuce of Diamonds: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #2
    Ebook138 pages1 hour

    Deuce of Diamonds: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #2

    By KC Kendricks

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    About this ebook

    Private investigator Ian Coulter has a knack for finding trouble even when he's minding his own business. Ian's in the midst of a routine weekly job for movie star client Saylor Blackwood when the man confides he thinks he has a fan turned stalker. Ian stays close to Saylor to observe the people around him and gets an unwelcome shock when FBI agent Rick Mohr contacts him.

    Rick Mohr has a problem. Ian's name just popped up on an FBI watch list. Rick knows it's guilt by association where Ian is concerned, but what about Blackwood? Rick won't allow Ian to get dragged into the mix when he's not involved. For Ian he'll break whatever confidentiality rule necessary.

    It doesn't take long for Ian and Rick to join forces to clear Ian's name and get to the bottom of what's going on in Amethyst Cove, because on or off the case, together is how they work best.

    * * * * *

    His gaze slammed into mine, hot with anger that didn't touch me. "I was a fool to walk away from you. 'One more try' he said. What a joke."

    "I'm sorry." And I was sorry he'd been hurt.

    "I knew when I left you standing there on the street, leaning on your car tipping your hat at Frank Bunson, it was a mistake to give Johnavan a last chance."

    He'd seen my little act of defiance at Frankie-boy? Huh.

    "Why was it a mistake?"

    His mouth dropped open. "Why? Why? Why do you think?"

    "I think all sorts of things, Rick. I'd like for you to tell me the truth so I can make sense of some it."

    "It was a mistake because I'd met you." He sighed heavily. "I didn't …my heart wasn't really in giving him another try."

    "And yet you did."

    "I wish I could lie to you, Ian, but I can't. I'm not that big a bastard. You know what I thought? I thought I'd get him moved back east where he'd be happy and I'd be free to move on."

    I winced inwardly. Rick wasn't a cold or calculating man in his personal life. "So how'd that work out for you?"

    "How do you think?" He scrubbed his palms over his face. "I'm not good doing things to deliberately hurt people. He didn't find a job right away, so I couldn't just say 'bye' and leave him without rent money, now could I?"

    That sounded more like him. "No, you couldn't. Did he get a job or find someone else?"

    Rick looked at me, a mix of emotions on his handsome face. He shook his head and rolled his eyes at the ceiling. "I came home from a day at the office and he was all packed and ready to go. It seems he used me as his ticket back to New York."

    "Oh, jeez. Hoist with your own petard."

    "Yeah, Shakespeare. I was. So I said it was fine and decided to enjoy a couple of weeks of solitude to make sure my head was out of my ass. Then you call me and you're going out with movie star Saylor Blackwood and I'm an idiot!"

    My joints went to jelly as the realization he was jealous I'd tricked Saylor sank into my brain. I grinned at him. "You're not too stupid. You are here now."

    "And you want to sleep on the couch!"

    I echoed his tone. "Well maybe not!"

    We stared at each other.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWhite Deer Enterprises/White Deer Books
    Release dateApr 1, 2016
    ISBN9781524260019
    Deuce of Diamonds: Ian Coulter's Amethyst Cove, #2
    Author

    KC Kendricks

    KC Kendricks calls herself an accidental writer. After completing her first novel writing as Rayne Forrest, she was urged to submit it to a publisher, and everything snowballed from there. Today, the author has had over seventy books published. In July of 2021, she tried to retire but her employer offered her a deal to work at home. She accepted. Now she balances work, writing, and hearth and home in a controlled chaos. A native of scenic western Maryland, the author enjoys most activities that don’t include snow. In warm weather she might be found walking the dog, biking on the C&O Canal towpath, planting delicacies in her garden for the deer to munch on at night, playing in the creek, or lazing on the patio with her Kindle reader or laptop. She recently began to research her family history and can't drive past a cemetery without stopping to search for family sites. Her mission is to photograph old tombstones before the elements erode the stones and the names are lost to time. For more about KC Kendricks and Rayne Forrest’s writing life, please visit the Between the Keys blog at http:kckendricks.blogspot.com . If you’d like to know more about the author’s country lifestyle and her daily activities full of simple country pleasures (and a lot of work), please visit the Holly Tree Manor blog at http://hollytreemanor.blogspot.com . KC can be reached through her blog, Between the Keys. All comments are strictly moderated by the author and personal messages are treated as such. Follow the author on Twitter for up-to-date announcements at Twitter.com/KCKendricks.

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    • 3/5
      I enjoyed the story, but the end was a bit abrupt. Clean ending though.

    Book preview

    Deuce of Diamonds - KC Kendricks

    Deuce of Diamonds

    by

    KC Kendricks

    ––––––––

    This book is a work of fiction. While references to actual places or events may occur, The names, characters, incidents, and locations are from the author’s imagination and any resemblance to anyone, living or dead, is coincidental.

    Deuce of Diamonds

    Copyright © 2013, 2019 KC Kendricks

    Cover art © 2016 KC Kendricks

    All Rights Reserved

    White Deer Enterprises/White Deer Books

    Reproduction of this digital e-book for file sharing or selling, regardless of whether any type of currency is exchanged, other than what the author grants, is strictly prohibited by law. Piracy is a crime.

    About Deuce of Diamonds

    Private investigator Ian Coulter has a knack for finding trouble even when he’s minding his own business. Ian’s in the midst of a routine weekly job for movie star client Saylor Blackwood when the man confides he thinks he has a fan turned stalker. Ian stays close to Saylor to observe the people around him and gets an unwelcome shock when FBI agent Rick Mohr contacts him.

    Rick Mohr has a problem. Ian’s name just popped up on an FBI watch list. Rick knows it’s guilt by association where Ian is concerned, but what about Blackwood? Rick won’t allow Ian to get dragged into the mix when he’s not involved. For Ian, he’ll break whatever confidentiality rule necessary.

    It doesn’t take long for Ian and Rick to join forces to clear Ian’s name and get to the bottom of what’s going on in Amethyst Cove, because on or off the case, together is how they work best.

    Table of Contents

    Praise for Ian Coulter’s Amethyst Cove series by KC Kendricks

    About Deuce of Diamonds

    CHAPTER 1

    CHAPTER 2

    CHAPTER 3

    CHAPTER 4

    CHAPTER 5

    CHAPTER 6

    CHAPTER 7

    CHAPTER 8

    CHAPTER 9

    CHAPTER 10

    CHAPTER 11

    CHAPTER 12

    CHAPTER 13

    CHAPTER 14

    CHAPTER 15

    Bonus read from Ace, Deuce, Trey, the sequel to Deuce of Diamonds

    About the Author

    Books by KC Kendricks

    Dear Readers,

    Ian Coulter’s Amethyst Cove by KC Kendricks

    Double Deuce

    Deuce of Diamonds

    Ace, Deuce, Trey

    Circle of Steel

    Steel Wheels

    This series is enjoyed best when read in this order.

    Praise for Ian Coulter’s Amethyst Cove series by KC Kendricks

    Double Deuce

    *A 2011 Best Of Nominee for Mystery at Love Romances Café

    I recommend this to those that love hot men, hot sex, mystery, a good storyline...it leaves you with a warm feeling. – MMGood Book Reviews

    Deuce of Diamonds

    KC Kendricks has created a splendid as well as an exceptionally enjoyable follow-up to Double Deuce. – Literary Nymphs Reviews

    Ace, Deuce, Trey

    KC Kendricks has created an impressive saga. The romantic portion of the storyline gives the background of how Rick and Ian progressed into their current scorching relationship together. I very much enjoyed Ace, Deuce, Trey. – Literary Nymphs Reviews

    Circle of Steel

    KC Kendricks has created another intriguing and enjoyable episode to the series – Literary Nymphs Reviews

    It was a great read. – MMGood Book Reviews

    CHAPTER 1

    The last time I watched the back of someone’s head smack the floor at The Double Deuce, I forgot to run in the other direction. Instead, I’d gotten involved, which had led to... Let’s just say the experience had been a lot more than I’d bargained for.

    That was then, and this was now. This time I knew the drunk, which added to the surprise of seeing Walter, AKA Walls, hit the floor. I pushed my way through the assembled gawkers and knelt beside him to put a hand on his shoulder.

    Hey, man, what gives? Since when do you get falling down drunk? I helped him into a slouching position. He was too liquid to actually sit. Walter squinted at me.

    Ian! My good frien’ Ian. We’ve missed you, darling. Where’ve you been?

    I steadied him with an arm around his shoulders. Working, Walls. I’m always on the job; you know that. C’mon. Let’s get you into a booth where you’ll be safe.

    It was sort of like getting gelatin to keep from melting on a hot plate, but I finally got him on his feet and staggering toward my favorite booth. I poured him onto the bench, pushed the table his way to prop him up, and slid in across from him.

    I’d had my first conversation with Rick Mohr in this very same booth three months ago, and it felt like a lifetime had passed. I motioned to the bartender, pointed at Walter, and mouthed coffee at him. He nodded.

    Tell me what’s wrong, Walls. You never drink like this.

    Yoorra bud, ’N. Take me...takes me home?

    Crap. I’d driven the ’Cuda tonight. If he puked in it, I’d be forced to injure his balls, and I had a permit to carry a handgun.

    I’ll make sure you get home in one piece, Walter. Now talk to me.

    He sat up straight as tears overflowed his eyes and flowed down his cheeks. He left me, Ian.

    Crap, crap, and double crap. I took his hand as he sobbed—loudly. Kerry set two cups of coffee on the table. I glared up at him.

    I’ve not yet had a drink and I think I’m going to need one.

    Kerry leaned over, tipping a finger at the mugs. They’re both for him. Your virgin Lemon Deuce is coming—on the house. Just drink up and get him the fuck outta here before he spews something foul all over my floor and drives away the clientele, okay?

    Thanks. I’ll do my best.

    Walter blew his nose on a napkin. Youse dun gets it, do youse, Ian? Youse...I know youse never had a boyfrin’. Youse ain’t be’n in love. And youse got the prettiest blue eyes, too.

    My chest tightened on the wave of memories that welled up inside me at his words. I didn’t care how bad it hurt to remember Rick, as long as I always did.

    No, Walls. I’ve never had a real boyfriend. I think I almost fell in love once, though.

    S’not the same. Charley was there for me. Always there for me. Now he’s not. Walter dropped his face into his hands and sobbed some more as the bartender set my drink in front of me. I thanked him and sucked down a few fast swallows of the cool lemony drink I craved.

    The drink lacked its usual punch, but I had work to do later tonight, hence it being virgin. I glanced around. It was probably the only thing in the room that was.

    C’mon, Walter. Walter, look at me.

    He blinked, but I doubted he succeeded in bringing my face into focus. I pointed at the coffee, and he obediently picked up a cup and slurped. At least he didn’t dribble it down his chin.

    Walls, what did Charley do? I could guess, but confirmation would be helpful.

    Walter puffed out his chest to display the indignity only someone under the influence of alcohol could achieve. He fucked that twat Randall!

    I took a deep breath. It wasn’t the first time Charley had tricked Randall, and it wouldn’t be the last. Those two idiots did it just because they could—and to upset their respective partners.

    Well, that and the fact neither one of them were gifted with a lot to work with and fucking someone whose dick is the same size as yours, even if that’s four inches, won’t give you an inferiority complex.

    Let it go, Walls. You know Randall is an asshole. He knows what buttons to push to get Charley to bend over. Is Charley at your apartment right now?

    He nodded and slurped a little more coffee. I felt sorry for him. Walter really loved the little jerk, and they usually made a cute couple. Maybe I needed to sit Charley down and explain to him how to be a human being. Walter was absorbed in getting his shaking hands to lift a cup to his mouth, so I leaned back with my drink and left him alone for a bit. I didn’t want my thoughts to wander where they did, but I couldn’t help it.

    Was this the sort of thing Rick had to put up with from his long-time partner? He’d alluded to the fact the partner expected fidelity from him but was free with it himself. I didn’t think it was an equitable arrangement, but it wasn’t my life.

    Rick and his partner had split up and gotten back together numerous times before Rick came to Amethyst Cove on an assignment. When Rick closed the case, his ex was willing to give their relationship another try. With eleven years of his life invested in the man, Rick took him back and they’d moved to New York State three long months ago.

    I’d been a fool not to fight for him, but I’d be a bigger fool if I thought the short time we spent together meant anything. We’d worked his case, and we had some fun on the side. Then he left to see if he had it in himself to give his partner one more chance, and I went back to taking care of my business, Amethyst Cove Security and Investigations.

    The thing that bugged me the most was Rick Mohr was the one man who made me believe I could settle into monogamy with someone, namely him.

    One of the other patrons stopped beside the booth. You need some help getting him home, Ian?

    Hi, Gary. It’d be easier with a little help if you have the time. I’ve got to get to a job pretty soon.

    Gary slid onto the bench beside me and set his beer out of Walter’s reach. Your job another cheating spouse?

    I blew out a tired breath. Yep. They do help pay the bills. This time I don’t think the chick is doing the nasty with her co-worker. I think she’s just holding his hand while he gets over his wife dumping him.

    No proof?

    No nothing. She and this guy don’t correspond outside of the job-related items I’d expect. I sipped my drink. None of the numbers she’s called on her cell raise red flags either.

    You want some company while you’re sitting in the dark?

    I thought about that for a minute. A guy had needs and I’d tricked Gary a few times since Rick left town. It was friendly fun and nothing more than I’ll show you mine if you show me yours. I’d checked out Gary and knew I could trust him. He was a nice guy, smart, kept himself tidy, and he

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