Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021 Karen Whiddon (best fiction books to read TXT) 📖

Luis like that—no matter that he had broad shoulders, strong arms, a tight behind...

She stepped forward, her throat raw and her pulse racing. “Both tips are useful. Thanks for the help.” She waited a beat. “How’d you know what to suggest?”

“Easy, I taught firearms at the police academy in Denver before joining the detective bureau. Plus, I saw you shoot on Saturday. It wasn’t hard to diagnose the problem.”

Julia shoved her gun back into the duffel bag. She gave a soft laugh. “I guess that’ll teach me to not accept help when offered.”

“And speaking of help, now’s probably the time for both of us to get some sleep. I’m exhausted.” He yawned, as if to prove his point. “You take my room.” Luis held up his hand before she had a chance to protest. “I insist.”

“Good night, then.” She lifted her bag from the table. “Thanks for letting me borrow your room.”

Julia wandered down the short hallway to Luis’s bedroom. Jinxy followed at a trot and jumped on the bed as soon as she turned on the light. After setting the bag on the floor, she removed her gun. Lifting it, she aimed at one of the bricks on the wall. Now aware, she felt the outward roll of her shoulder. Julia moved her arm farther across her body, until her aim was perfect. She aimed again, repeating the motion until it was natural and fluid.

It felt as if she’d reclaimed a piece of herself...and maybe she had. And it was all thanks to Luis. Moving to the window, she looked down at the street. It was empty, and yet, she didn’t feel safe.

Then again, she was with Luis and she knew that he’d protect her with his life.

The thought was reassuring, and she pulled the curtains closed. The room was bathed in a warm glow. Jinxy was lying on the bed, her orange tail twitching. Julia disrobed. Wearing only her panties, her eyes dropped to her middle and the scar that bisected her abdomen. A memento from Darcy Owens. It was a like a line on a map, leading straight to hell. Rummaging through her bag, Julia found a pair of shorts and a T-shirt for sleeping.

Slipping beneath the covers, Julia settled her head on the pillow. She drew a deep breath, the scent of Martinez filling her. Closing her eyes, she began to drift to sleep. And in her dreams, she was held tightly in Luis’s protective arms.

* * *

Hidden in the shadows of a building, the Watcher stood on the street and stared at the window. A figure moved past before pulling the curtains closed. It was Julia. A moment later, the lights went dark. Obviously, she wasn’t going home. But how long would she be staying here?

Turning in a slow circle, the Watcher looked up and down the block—gaze settling on a building directly across the street. In the front window was a sign—Apartment for Rent. Immediately Available. The lettering was faded. The edges of the sign had curled and yellowed with the sun. Probably the sign had been taped to the window for several weeks, if not months.

After taking two steps back, the Watcher realized that the buildings were mirror images of one another. The first two floors housed businesses, with the third floor reserved for a residence.

At the back of the building, there was a separate entrance to the apartment. A padlock held a bolt in place, but the wood around the hinges was old. A pocketknife was used to pick away the rotten wood, until the hinges swung free.

The Watcher tensed, waiting for the wail of an alarm.

The night remained silent.

A back staircase led directly to the apartment and another locked door. The Watcher kicked the handle. The wood cracked. The noise echoed all along the stairwell as the door swung open. The scent of new carpeting and fresh paint hung in the air. A set of tall windows faced the opposite side of the street.

From that vantage point, it was easy to see Luis Martinez, sprawled out on a sofa and staring at a TV. Colors washed over him as his eyes drifted closed.

There was nothing else to see, yet the Watcher stayed at the window. In the reflection Darcy stood in the room and smiled. Every breath drew her in. With each heartbeat, Darcy’s soul became stronger. They were merging, the Watcher knew. You’ve done good, she whispered. Now, you have to show me your love. Now, you have to destroy them all.

The vacant apartment was the perfect location to see and know everything.

In short, the Watcher was now God.

* * *

The day dawned overcast, and a light rain started to fall just as the sun would have crested over the horizon and brightened the Wyoming sky. Luis stirred and pain shot from his hips to his knees. Damn. The sofa wasn’t meant for someone his size, or a guy who played football for years. Still, a little discomfort didn’t matter, especially if Julia had been able to sleep.

Standing in the kitchen, already dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, she was brewing a cup of coffee.

He must’ve made enough noise that she knew he was awake. With a smile, she looked over her shoulder. “Morning,” she said.

“Morning,” he mumbled as she set the coffee in front of him. It was black, just like he drank it. Taking a sip, Luis knew it would be easy to get used to having Julia around. “How are you? How do you feel? Did you sleep?”

“Actually, I slept perfectly.” Julia reached her arms above her head and arched her back. At this early hour, she hadn’t bothered with a bra. Her breasts pressed into the thin fabric of her shirt. He tried not to look. “No nightmares. You wouldn’t believe how long it’s been since I had a full night’s sleep. It must be the fact that I’m here—with you.”

With you. What did she mean by that?

Jinxy jumped onto the sofa. The cat placed her