Page 116 of Montana Manhunt

That brought another question to mind. Did James Hanson know Rosalie had stolen the insurance money from her nieces? Perhaps. The chief was an intelligent man. Then again, he may not have cared.

How long had Hanson been dating her aunt? Violet thought about that for a beat. They’d become an item not long after Violet and Cami graduated from high school.

“What are you thinking about so hard?” Noah murmured.

“How long Chief Hanson and my aunt have been dating.” She looked at him. “They’ve been together since Cami and I graduated from high school. Perhaps before then.”

Rayne frowned. “That’s a long time to be dating. Why didn’t they get married?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it? I don’t have the answer to that.”

“You could ask your aunt,” Grant suggested.

She shook her head. “Not happening. Rosalie has already made how she feels about me perfectly clear.”

“Anyone else you might ask that question?”

She thought a minute, then said, “Mrs. White. If Cami was curious about it, she might have asked Mrs. White. She has her finger on the pulse of the town. Mrs. White is also part of a church quilting circle. Those ladies talk about everything and everyone. If anyone knows the truth, they do.”

“Then we’ll make sure you talk to Mrs. White today.” Noah squeezed her hand and shut down his computer. “After breakfast, we’ll go to the hospital to see Lauren. Maybe she’ll have some answers for us, too. Do you want to eat first or change clothes?”

“Shower and change first.” Violet needed a hot shower to clear away the last of the fog.

“I’ll meet you back here in a few minutes.”

Violet went into the bedroom, grabbed her Go bag, and carried it into the bathroom. After a long, hot shower, she pulled on clean clothes and her tactical boots. After the unexpected attacks over the past few days, Violet needed to be prepared for anything. She set her Go bag beside the mike bag and returned to the sitting room.

Rayne handed her a plate with four donuts and a cup of coffee. “Not sure what you wanted to eat, so I chose donuts at random.” She inclined her head toward the balcony. “Noah is waiting for you.”

The sun was peeking over the horizon when Violet joined Noah in the crisp morning air. When she sat beside him, he draped a blanket over her lap.

“I thought you might like a few minutes of quiet.”

“Breakfast with you and a sunrise? I couldn’t ask for a better way to start my day.”

They ate breakfast and sipped coffee until the sun rose in the sky. When they finished eating, Noah wrapped his arm around her shoulders. They sat in silence for several minutes until he tipped her face up to his and kissed her with exquisite gentleness. “I love you, Violet,” he murmured.

“I love you, too, Noah, so much more than I can express.”

“Whatever you need today, I’ll be by your side.”

She blinked away the sting of gathering tears. Enough already. This day would be hard enough without a crying jag at breakfast. “Knowing that means the world to me.”

He brushed another kiss over her lips, stood, and tugged Violet to her feet. Noah walked into the suite with her.

Violet pulled up short when she noticed Grant standing close to Rayne in the kitchenette, his hands on both sides of her body.

Noah closed the French door harder than necessary.

Grant glanced over his shoulder, then back at Rayne, taking his time moving away from the other operative.

Definitely something brewing between those two. Violet couldn’t wait to share the news with Teagan and the rest of Artemis. This relationship would be fun to watch.

“Ready?” Grant asked.

“Yeah.” Noah’s eyes twinkled. “Unless you want Violet and me to return to the balcony for another few minutes.”

Rayne shook her head. “We need to go. Violet is eager to see Lauren Gilmore.”

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