Vanished
Anna J. Stewart
(Circle of the Red Lily, #2)
Publication date: November 21st 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
She’ll risk everything to expose the truth.
Since her twin sister Sylvie’s disappearance seven years ago, single mother Mabel Reynolds has turned grief into action and become a strong voice for victims of violence and abuse.
When new revelations shed light on what may have happened not only to Sylvie, but dozens of other women, Mabel’s hope for answers is reignited. But the new oh-so-charming DA overseeing the investigation seems more interested in a quick rather than an accurate resolution.
With little faith in the system, Mabel isn’t about to stay quiet, not when she’s finally close to the truth. She’s willing to go up against anyone—even a smug, irritating, attractive DA to get the answers she and other families deserve.
Open and shut.
That’s what Assistant DA Paul Flynn has been told about his new assignment supervising a house of horrors case. With a high-profile conviction at stake, Paul can’t afford to make a wrong move if his professional goals are to be achieved.
But Mabel Reynolds has his attention. All of it. Attraction aside, the woman knows far more than what’s in the official files which makes her something even more intriguing. But using Mabel as an asset means exposing her and her young daughter to even more danger. Danger that is closing in on them from every side. As even darker forces appear, and their lives are threatened, Paul is faced with risking not only his entire career, but also the one thing he never anticipated losing: his heart.
Goodreads / Amazon
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EXCERPT:
Paul shoved his hands into his pockets, trying hard to quell the growing anxiety rioting around inside of him. The last thing he expected to feel around Mabel was unsettled. At least in this way. And yet …
It was one thing to know Mabel had a daughter. He hadn’t been concerned about being around them. Together. Or even around Keeley herself, and yet …
He could entertain his attraction to Mabel as long as Keeley remained invisible or at the very least an image in a file. But now that he had …. The easy way they had with one another, it was obvious they shared an abject admiration and devotion, one Paul couldn’t for the life of him reconcile with any reality.
His reality at least.
This wasn’t a troubled house or a sad one or one that balanced on the edge of emotional or physical explosions. This was a loving home with a mother who loved her child without hesitation, reservation, or obligation. He could only imagine what a flourishing young woman Keeley would turn out to be as a result. Personally? He couldn’t relate to this life at all. This was not the life he and Alden had known—grown up in.
“We just need a couple of minutes,” Mabel insisted to her daughter.
“Is this because you brought a boy home?” Keeley’s innocent question had Paul’s face flushing for the first time he could remember. “Hi. I’m Keeley.”
“Paul Flynn. Nice to meet you, Keeley.” Paul found her enthusiastic and easy welcome both entertaining and terrifying.
“Are you staying for dinner? Is he, Mom?”
“Maybe.” He ignored Mabel’s sudden frown of surprise.
The longer he stood here, the more anxious he felt to leave. He couldn’t shake the feeling he was somehow tainting them with his presence. His attraction for Mabel notwithstanding, being here, now, just didn’t feel right. “We’ll see.”
“Cool.” Keeley shrugged and sighed. “Come on Barksy. The adults want to talk.”
Paul swore the dog gave him a warning look before he trotted after his miniature mistress.
“Quinn called,” Laurel said to Mabel the second Keeley was gone. “You really okay? He said you got the crap beat out of you.”
“Well, Quinn was wrong,” Mabel assured her friend as she headed straight for one of the other glasses of wine. “I’m still full of crap.”
Paul couldn’t help it. “The EMT gave her painkillers,” he told Laurel, who spun and, without hesitation, plucked the glass right out of Mabel’s hands.
Mabel glared at him. “Really? You good with narc-ing on me?”
He shrugged. “You said you didn’t feel right to drive.”
“I’m not driving in my apartment,” she muttered. “I’m fine.” But even as she said it, she rubbed two fingers against her temple.
“She telling the truth about that?” Laurel looked back at Paul.
“They gave her the all clear,” he said without elaborating. “Except to say if she still has a headache in the morning she should head to the ER,” he added and glared right back at Mabel when she scowled again. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not,” Mabel grunted.
Laurel stood up straighter, as if his declaration had somehow inflated her confidence. “Okay, then. One trip to the ER in the morning, it is.”
“Prophetic, are you?” Mabel challenged. “He said if my head still hurt. And you just lost take-home privileges,” she told Paul.
“Yeah, about the pizza,” Paul said before he changed his mind. “I think I’m actually going to pass.” He was already backing up toward the front door. “Laurel, it was nice to meet you.” He spun around and double-timed it, shoving the regret over leaving aside and reminded himself it was for the best.
He had his hand on the knob when Mabel grabbed his arm. “Hey.” She moved in front of him when he barely turned to face her. “What’s going on? You were fine about dinner until you came in here.”
“I just wanted to make sure you got up here okay.” He didn’t want to look at her, didn’t want to see the questions in her eyes, but he surrendered and turned, met her confused gaze.
“Is it Keeley? Do you not like kids? Or the dog? Is it Laurel? It’s Laurel, isn’t it? Cause I can kick her out, no problem.”
But she wouldn’t. He could see that as clearly as he saw her love for her child. A love he wasn’t capable of offering or displaying or, as far as he knew, experiencing. Never before had he felt so completely lost in someone else’s world. He needed to keep this professional. Professional and distant. For everyone involved.
“I can’t think of a way to say this without sounding like a dick.”
“Dick away.” She released her hold, stepped back, and folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not a fan of filters anyway.”
“I’m not father material.”
She blinked. “Exactly what kind of pizza do you think we’re having?”
“Dammit, Mabel.” He rubbed his hand across his forehead as his mind raced to keep the damage to a minimum. He should have known she’d try to make a joke out of it. “I’m not kidding.”
“I can see that. Paul—”
“Just … take my word for it. Me and kids are not a good mix. I thought, maybe …” But then he’d met Keeley, and he could already feel an odd and sudden connection to the girl that he didn’t want. Or like. “This was a bad idea. You said so yourself back at …. It’s better this way. Ending … whatever this is … before it gets going. I’d only hurt both of you in the end. I’ll be in touch”—he pulled open the door and stepped into the hall—“about the case.” As he closed the door, he added, “I promise.”
Author Bio:
Award-winning, USA Today and national bestselling author Anna J Stewart writes sweet to sexy romances for Harlequin and ARC Manor’s CAEZIK (Kay-Zehk) Romance. Her sweet Harlequin Heartwarming books include the Butterfly Harbor series as well as the ongoing Blackwell continuity series. She also writes the Honor Bound series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense and has contributed to the bestselling Coltons. Her Circle of the Red Lily romantic suspense series, published by CAEZIK, will launch with EXPOSED in November of 2022.
A Holt Medallion winner (BRIDE ON THE RUN), as well as a Golden Heart, Daphne DuMaurier, and National Reader’s Choice finalist, Anna loves writing big community stories where family found is always the theme. Since her first published novella with Harlequin in 2014, Anna has released more than fifty novels and novellas and hopes to branch out even more (horror romance, anyone?). Anna lives in Northern California where (at the best times) she loves going to the movies, attending fan conventions, and heading to Disneyland, her favorite place on earth. When she’s not writing, she is usually binge-watching her newest TV addiction, re-watching her all-time favorite show, Supernatural, and wrangling two monstrous cats named Rosie and Sherlock. Visit Anna online at www.AuthorAnnaStewart.com and sign up for her newsletter (giveaways in every issue!).
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