Hereafter [McKnight, Perth & Daire 2] (Siren Publishing Allure) Read online

  McKnight, Perth & Daire 2

  Hereafter

  Charlotte Perth has been sent to Missouri to find the bodies of three missing women, and she’s dragging her new injured boyfriend, Jonas Daire, along for the ride. Only when she arrives in Rock Ridge does she realize that Agent Nash McKnight has been hired to protect her, and his nearness is driving her absolutely crazy.

  As if having to deal with a wacky Southern belle who’s channeling more than the dearly departed, the local sheriff who’s convinced she’s the murderer, and an underground sex club wasn’t challenging enough. Now she’s got to worry about her unwanted attraction to Nash as they go undercover to ferret out a killer.

  Charlotte doesn’t want to betray Jonas, but she’s not quite sure how to squash her feelings for Nash. And just when she thought she might have it all figured out, a secret she uncovers is enough to put her on the murderer’s high-priority list.

  Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal

  Length: 50,130 words

  HEREAFTER

  McKnight, Perth & Daire 2

  Beth D. Carter

  EROTIC ROMANCE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at

  [email protected]

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

  HEREAFTER

  Copyright © 2013 by Beth D. Carter

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-901-1

  First E-book Publication: April 2013

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Hereafter by Beth D. Carter from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Beth D. Carter’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Carter’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  Many thanks to my editor, Claire.

  Also to my bestie, Lark, for laughing in all the right places.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Thank you for reading Book Two in the McKnight, Perth and Daire series! Charlotte’s story concludes in the final book, Breathless, when she finally confronts the demons from her past. We’ll also get to meet the rest of the Perth clan. Charlotte is going to have to figure out her love life while searching for a killer. Happy reading!

  HEREAFTER

  McKnight, Perth & Daire 2

  BETH D. CARTER

  Copyright © 2013

  Chapter One

  “The guest room is on the right.”

  Jonas slanted her a look that clearly asked if she was crazy.

  Charlotte laughed. “But I’m afraid the only clean sheets are on my bed.”

  He gave her a wicked smile. “Well, then, I guess I’m going to have to sleep in your bed.”

  Oh, yum.

  It was good to be back, standing in her adobe single family dwelling, decorated in the typical Santa Fe colors of desert earth tones. She had landscaped the front yard with a mixture of rock and cacti since green grass didn’t grow very well underneath the dry, almost rainless sky. Various Native American artwork decorated her walls. Charlotte liked her little house. It may not be big and spacious like Jonas’s house, but it definitely brought her a level of comfort.

  The taxi had just dropped them off, and while she was trying to dig her keys out of her purse, she surreptitiously watched him, taking in his reaction but she couldn’t determine what he was thinking. The desert was quite different than growing up in Washington.

  Once inside, she had dumped everything in the living room. Time enough to sort things out tomorrow. Right now she was tired and more than just a little horny.

  He looked over at her and caught her staring at him.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You’re so handsome. I can’t believe you’re mine.”

  “Ah,” he murmured and ran a tender finger down her cheek. “I think I’m the lucky one.”

  He tipped her face up toward his and placed his lips against hers. Mindful of his injured arm, she placed her hands on his hips to help her balance as she raised on tiptoes to meet his kiss. The embers that lay between them flared to life, like gasoline being thrown on top of a match. Jonas’s one good arm curled around her and pulled her into his side, his tongue slipping boldly inside her mouth. She gave a little shudder and immediately melted into him, her hands sliding up his chest and accidentally bumping his injured arm.

  He pulled back with a wince, his body tensing for a moment. She saw pain lines bracketing his mouth.

  “I’m so sorry!” she told him, practically jumping away from him.

  “I’m fine. Come here. I want to kiss you again.”

  “No! What if I hurt you?”

  “Believe me, there are other parts of my anatomy that will be hurting far worse if you don’t get over here and kiss me.”

  Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “Really? That’s not your nightstick happy to see me?”

  “Oh, it’s a stick all right. Wanna do a little hand carving?”

  “Now there’s a visual,” she said, holding out her hand. “Come on. Let me show you the rest of the house.”

  “Can we start in the bedroom?”

  She took his hand in hers and led him from the kitchen to her bedroom, glad she went with her instinct to get the queen-size. They didn’t even bother flipping on the light. Instead, she walked over to the dresser and
lit a few candles. Then she helped him undress in the dim light, being careful of his injured shoulder as they both maneuvered the shirt over the bandage. With a naughty smile on her lips, she knelt and unbuckled his pants, sliding the material over his hips and down his long, muscular legs.

  “My, you must be very happy to see me,” she murmured as she knelt eye level where his boxer briefs tented out. She slid her hands up his thighs, over his hips, and to the top of his waist band. Then, letting her nails scrape lightly over his skin, she began to peel his underwear down.

  He drew in his breath and seemed to hold it as he watched her examine his cock that sprung out. She pulled his shorts down, and he stepped out of them, and then her hands were exploring his body. His leg hair was soft to the touch as she felt her way up, over the hard muscles of his thighs and tight clench of his ass. His cock was long and slightly arched toward his stomach, standing at attention under her ministrations. She could hear his shallow breathing and feel the excited quiver in his limbs. Slowly, her fingers encircled the base, holding him firmly as her mouth descended. A drop of moisture appeared at the slit, so she licked the head like a lollipop, making him groan and gyrate his hips.

  The ringing of the phone just about had her jumping out of her skin. She cursed under her breath and tried to ignore the squealing of the ringing as she returned her focus on Jonas. The phone fell silent and then started back up.

  Jonas groaned, but not in pleasure this time. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair and turned away from Charlotte, who still knelt on the bed. Glowering at the phone, she shuffled over to her nightstand on her knees to where her phone blared.

  She picked up the handset a bit forcefully. “Yes?” she snapped.

  “Charlotte?”

  “Holly. Why did I know it was you?”

  “What’s wrong? You sound funny?”

  “Perhaps because I’m pissed!”

  “At what?”

  “At you!”

  “What did I do now?”

  Charlotte blew a piece of hair out of her face. “I’m not alone.”

  “What, did your neighbor come over?”

  Charlotte pulled the phone away from her ear to stare at it, as if Holly could see the exasperation on her face. Then she put it back to her ear. “Are you mental? Did you suddenly take an I’m stupid pill?”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Holly demanded.

  Charlotte growled a bit under her breath. “Just…never mind. What do you want, Holly?”

  “I’ve got you booked to fly out tomorrow.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Um, because you have a job. Remember?”

  “Oh my god! I completely forgot!” Charlotte said, slapping her free hand on her forehead. She peeked through her fingers at Jonas, who sat upon the bed watching her with steady, calm eyes. “Remind me.”

  “Three girls have gone missing in Missouri, and the families have pooled together to hire you.”

  “Right. It’s all coming back to me. They hired Melody St. Cloud as well. I simply got distracted.”

  “I’m getting the vibe that it’s not from your neighbor.”

  “Considering she’s eighty-two and hard of hearing, you’d be correct.”

  There was a slight pause. “Oh,” she said with dawning understanding creeping into her voice. “Don’t tell me you brought Detective Daire home with you.”

  “Okay.”

  “Well?”

  “You told me not to tell you.”

  Holly gave an exaggerated sound of annoyance. “Now is not the time to be a smart-ass. What are you going to do with him while you’re working?”

  Charlotte threw him another quick glance. “I’ll bring him with me.”

  Jonas quirked an eyebrow.

  “I’ve never met him, but I get the impression he wouldn’t like to be introduced as your boy toy.”

  “So crude and rude, sister dear. He’s going to be my consultant, of course.”

  “Well, that’s not going to work,” Holly stated.

  “Why not?”

  “Because you’re a consultant. A consultant can’t have a consultant. It’s like a plumber hiring another plumber to plumb a house.”

  “What?” Charlotte asked on a strangulated laugh. “Plumbers don’t plum. That’s a fruit. Holly, seriously, how did you pass the bar?”

  “With a silent B, Lottie. P-L-U-M-B. You know, like in dumb.”

  Charlotte covered up her phone and looked at Jonas. “Do plumbers plumb?”

  “Yes.”

  “Crap.” She put the phone back to her ear. “Okay, so moving on, please just book another ticket for Jonas. And don’t call me back.” Charlotte hung the phone up with a sharp click and then turned to face Jonas. “Wait, did she just call me dumb?”

  Jonas shook his head and she could see he was trying to contain his laughter. “You two are like a comedy act.”

  “We should have taken our act on the road. Oh well. She’s my best friend, so what am I going to do? She takes care of my whole business, plus manages her own law practice.”

  “Where was she adopted from?”

  “Ethiopia, during that whole We Are the World and Hands Across America time.”

  “I barely remember that. Speaking of hands across.” Jonas patted the area next to him. “Why don’t you come closer so I can spread my hands across you.”

  Charlotte happily obliged, sitting next to him and leaning into the heat of his body. He entwined their fingers.

  “So I guess we’re waking up early tomorrow to fly to Missouri?” he asked.

  She gave a reluctant nod.

  “Then we should get some sleep.”

  “Only sleep?” she asked.

  “Let’s say that’s one of the things we need to accomplish tonight.”

  “And the other?”

  “Oh, we can use our imagination.”

  She giggled. “Thank you for not fussing about going to Missouri on one of my cases.”

  “I’d rather cuddle with you tonight and head to St. Louis tomorrow than have two thousand miles between us. Besides, I’d like to see you working when it doesn’t involve me and my family.”

  Charlotte slid her hand behind his neck and tugged his face down until she was able to place a soft kiss on his lips.

  “I’m just going to find the girls,” she told him. “No more investigating for me. I swear it.”

  Chapter Two

  The flight to St. Louis was uneventful. It was the commuter plane she and Jonas had to take to the town of Rock Ridge that freaked her out. The thing sat six people, not including the pilot, and seemed to hit every pocket of turbulence in its path. Through the forty-five minute flight, Charlotte alternated between silently cussing Holly for booking the plane of death and praying to god that she not die in a fiery wreck.

  When the puddle jumper finally landed in Rock Ridge, Missouri, she disembarked on shaky knees and fought the urge to kneel down and kiss the ground. The airfield they landed in had one paved runway, a large hangar, and a copious amount of cornstalks all around.

  Two men in bright orange came around the side of the plane and opened a hatch, unloading their travel-on cases.

  “Welcome to Rock Ridge,” one said with a smile as he handed her the case. The other was checking the wheels and plane out.

  “Thanks,” she said, shading her eyes and glancing around. “I didn’t realize how remote this place would be.”

  “How do we get to town?” Jonas asked the man after he took his bag.

  The man pointed his thumb over to the hangar. “There’s a cop waiting for you. Figured he was your ride.”

  Jonas eyebrows rose. “Thanks,” he said. “Come on, Charlotte.”

  He began walking, one arm still in a sling and the other holding his black leather travel case. He didn’t look back to make sure she was following, but Charlotte had no desire to linger in the Children of the Corn setting. On the other side of the building a police car rested, and a cop
stood next to his car. He was a young man, and handsome, but he still had that boyish quality to his face, as if he hadn’t quite lost his innocence. His hair glinted like a copper penny in the bright sunlight.

  “Hello, Miss Perth,” the young officer greeted with a nod. “I’m Junior Deputy Danny McCoin.”

  “Nice to meet you, Junior Deputy McCoin. This is my consultant Detective Jonas Daire.”

  At the introduction, the man snapped to attention, as if Jonas was his commanding officer.

  “At ease,” Jonas murmured. “This isn’t the military, and anyway, as you can see, I’m on a leave of absence.”

  “Very good, sir. I’m here to escort you to the hotel, ma’am.”

  “Escort me? It sounds like I’m in trouble here.”

  “Oh no, ma’am,” Danny assured. “But I’ve been working closely with the families. This is an important meeting.”

  “Call me Charlotte, please.”

  “Right, ma’am—I mean, Miss Charlotte,” Danny said, flushing a bit.

  “Good enough, I suppose. Lead on, Macduff.”

  “It’s McCoin, not Macduff. Danny McCoin.”

  “Right,” she said, walking to the police car. “So, Danny, have you ever read Macbeth?”

  “Excuse me?” he asked, puzzled as he opened the car door for her.

  “The quote is, ‘Lay on, Macduff,’” Jonas replied as he took the front passenger seat.

  She eyed him skeptically. “Are you sure? I’ve always heard it as ‘lead on.’”

  “Macbeth is my favorite Shakespeare story.”