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

emotional back there, but really, I’m good. I just hope they catch these guys. The thought of them still out there, possibly planning another robbery, pisses me off. Two people are in the hospital because of those assholes. Excuse my language, but I’m so...I’m so angry, especially knowing Richard is still in surgery.”

“Richard?”

“Yeah, he was the loan officer I was talking to before the robbery. I heard him get shot.”

Trace shook his head and started the car. “Senseless. Another senseless shooting.”

During his years in the navy, his tours of duty had taken him to some rough countries. He had seen so much crap that he would never be able to unsee. Now, back on US soil, he still found it bugged the hell out of him to hear about crimes and killings that just didn’t make sense.

“It’s like people don’t value life anymore,” he said, but stopped himself before launching into one of his rants about foolishness. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“I’m fine. I just don’t know if I’ll ever get that man’s gray eyes out of my mind.”

Trace turned to her. “Exactly what were you able to ID?”

“I saw his eyes and part of a tattoo on his neck.”

“Did he see you?”

Connie swallowed hard and bit down on her bottom lip, something she did whenever she was uncomfortable. “We made eye contact, but only for a second or maybe two. Then, just as quick, one of the other men pulled him out the door.”

“Damn, Connie. That means he might be able to identify you, too.”

“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “I don’t think so. It was just a split second. Trace, everything happened so fast. There’s no way he could’ve gotten a good look at me. Besides, he doesn’t know who I am,” she said in a rush, sounding as if she was trying to convince herself. “He knows nothing about me, and the FBI agent assured me that what I shared with them and my identity will be kept confidential.”

Worry wound through Trace as he watched her carefully, noticing how agitated she was getting. He reached over and massaged the back of her neck.

“If you believe that, then why are you trembling?”

CHAPTER 3

“Maybe because you have the air conditioner on full blast,” Connie said, trying to lighten the moment. Trace wasn’t laughing, though.

The last thing she wanted was to keep thinking about the robbery. She’d held herself together through the ordeal, while being questioned and even while she worked with the sketch artist. It hadn’t been until she saw Trace and walked toward him that she’d felt her brave front slipping. Seeing the worry on his handsome face and the way he stared at her had loosened something inside her.

“It’s like you’re trying to freeze me to death,” she persisted, trying again to ease the tension in the car. “Of course, I’m—”

“Sweetheart, quit deflecting and talk to me.” His stoic expression was almost intimidating, but Connie knew he was only concerned about her well-being.

Right now, though, she would prefer it if he flashed that crooked grin that made her knees weak. Or she wouldn’t mind seeing his panty-dropping smile that always made her heart beat a little faster. He was such a gorgeous man, with smooth, sepia-toned skin, always flawlessly groomed with his hair cut low and his mustache and goatee perfectly trimmed. It was no wonder women practically threw themselves at him. He was that good-looking.

“Talk to me,” he repeated.

“Adrenaline, Trace. Maybe I’m trembling because the adrenaline that was pumping through my veins a while ago is slowly slipping away. I’ll admit, I’m a little nervous. This all seems unreal. One minute I’m making a deposit at the bank because the stupid app didn’t work. The next thing I know, I’m facedown on the floor while masked men hold me and other people at gunpoint. I might not have seen my life flash before my eyes, but I thought I was going to die.”

“Tell me what you told the cops.”

Connie swallowed as the bank scene filled her mind. She told Trace everything that had happened before she and Richard had realized the bank was being robbed.

“You see stuff like that in the movies or on TV, but to experience it felt like I was living out a nightmare.” Connie glanced out the windshield, watching as people walked in and out of the police station. “One robber was barking orders at the teller while the other two were making sure people didn’t move. Richard moved.”

Trace continued massaging the back of her neck, and Connie soaked up the comfort his hand provided. That, along with the heady scent of his cologne—a woodsy, citrus mix that surrounded her—was distracting. A good distraction, but a distraction nonetheless.

“What do you mean, he was moving?”

“Trace, can we just not talk about this right now?” The words flew from her mouth with more bite than intended, but she didn’t want to keep reliving this.

“Moving where?” he asked as if she hadn’t just asked him to drop it. “I need to know.”

Connie huffed out a breath. “At first, Richard was on the floor to my left. Then it looked as if he was trying to ease back into his office. I’m not a hundred percent sure what he was up to. He was barely moving. I don’t even know how the robber noticed. I felt Richard crawling before I actually saw him move. If that makes any sense. I’m not sure where the robber was standing, but he...” The words caught in her throat.

Connie tried focusing on how good the massage to her neck felt. She didn’t want to be taken back to the sounds in the bank. She didn’t want to relive those last moments of lying on the floor. More than anything, she didn’t want to see Richard being yanked to his feet like a rag doll.

Tears pricked the backs of her eyes. God, please let him be all right.

“Tell me the rest,” Trace said gently.

“Why? Why are you doing this?”

“Because someone other