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

Carly’s heart squeezed. She blinked when Micha stood and held out his hand to help her up. “Are you ready to go?” he asked.

Grateful, she slipped her hand in his and got to her feet. Keeping her fingers intertwined with his, she leaned over and kissed first her mother’s cheek, then her aunt Fallon’s. “We’ll talk later,” she murmured. “Have a nice night.”

Holding hands still, they went in search of Jones so they could tell him goodbye. Carly felt the gazes of every single family member they passed and realized she didn’t care if they saw her and Micha holding hands. Though she knew they’d speculate endlessly, let them gossip. Maybe, just maybe, she might have started to believe she and Micha could actually have a future together.

CHAPTER 10

Back at Carly’s house, Micha excused himself and went to the guest bedroom that Carly had given him to use, even though he’d yet to spend a night in that particular bed.

Visiting Jones Colton’s brewery had lit a fire inside him. In Carly’s family, so many of them had found and pursued their passion. Carly becoming a pediatric nurse, Tatum with her restaurant and Jones opening his own brewery had made Micha realize he needed to give serious consideration to his own future occupation. As had Carly’s mother with her questions about what he intended to do for a living. He wanted to do more than simply earn a paycheck.

Besides Carly and the military, Micha had one other passion. Most might consider this a hobby and for a while Micha had, too. Now he thought he might be able to make it become more.

While being held captive in Afghanistan, he’d begun to carve wooden figures, toys, just to pass the time. To his surprise, he’d gotten quite good at it. His captors had taunted and mocked him, but they’d taken the toys home to their children. And they’d begun asking for more. He’d learned to trade his little wood carvings for extra food or more time in the sun. Sometimes, he’d thought his toys had helped keep him alive.

Later, after coming out of the medically induced coma in the burn unit, he’d been unable to get his fingers to work well enough to hold a knife. This had fueled a new determination inside of him. Having received an honorable discharge, he was no longer a soldier, and after two years away he knew he wouldn’t be Carly’s husband, but damned if he would give up his ability to make the simple wooden toys.

By the time he’d completed his physical therapy, his fingers no longer fumbled with the knife and the wood. He figured he’d regained nearly 90 percent of his previous skill and he vowed to keep on practicing until he had it back 100 percent. The little carvings brought him great joy, especially when he saw the delight shining from the eyes of a child who’d received one.

In the back of his mind, he’d known he wanted to do something with that, but until he’d seen Jones’s enthusiasm for his brewery, he hadn’t given serious thought to starting his own business.

Now, full of enthusiasm, he pulled out the plastic tub full of carvings that he’d brought with him from the hotel. He’d spent many nights alone in his hotel room, turning pieces of wood into animals and elves, cowboys and dragons. He’d been meaning to take this latest batch down to a women’s shelter, as he’d done before coming to Chicago, but hadn’t made the time to locate one yet.

Now he thought he might wait. He’d need some inventory, prototypes if you will.

Since he’d managed to save quite a bit of money during his time in the military, he figured he wouldn’t even need a loan. He’d just need to do research on how to best market the toys, which he could begin with on the internet, and whether or not he’d have much competition.

Practically dancing around the room, he couldn’t wait to show Carly and hear her thoughts. As a matter of fact, he’d even started working on a carving of her dog, Bridget. Fishing it out of the tub, he guessed he had maybe another hour left of work until it was completed. He figured he’d finish that before discussing any of this with her.

He could begin his research and see if his passion might be commercially viable. Would there be an actual market for his simple, carved toys? He closed the plastic container and slid it back under the bed. He’d finish the carving of Bridget when Carly was at work and present it to her as a gift.

For now, he guessed they’d watch a little television before going to bed. The simple cozy domestic things like that made him happy. The knowledge they’d be sharing a bed again ignited the simmering arousal that being in Carly’s presence always brought.

Despite his best intentions, he couldn’t manage to contain his glee from Carly. She picked up on his inner excitement the instant he walked into the kitchen.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her gaze sweeping his face. “Do you have news?”

He realized she thought he’d heard something about the case. “No, nothing like that. Sorry. Your mother’s questions made me think a lot about what I was going to do for work. All my adult life, I’ve been military. It’s difficult trying to see myself outside of that box.”

“Does that mean you’ve thought of something?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Let me guess.” Arms crossed, she eyed him. “Stop me when I get close. Security guard. Army recruiter. Police officer. Private detective.”

He shook his head to all of those, though he had to give her credit. Every single occupation she’d listed was a logical follow-through for a man recently discharged from the military. If in fact his idea didn’t work out, then he’d likely consider one of them.

No if, he reminded himself. He needed to think positive.

“Then what is it?” she pressed.

“I’m not ready to discuss it yet. I