Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #1 (13 page)

He met her in the dining room. “That was the DC Police. They caught a teenager attempting to break-in to another town house on the next block over. He admitted to trying to break-in here. He thought the place was unoccupied.”

Some of the tension in her shoulders drained away. “That's a relief.”

She told Adam her new plan to move into the town house if she gained custody of Juan.

His smile of approval warmed her from the inside out. “Not if, when.”

She appreciated his confidence. “Now I need my job back so I can afford the upkeep on this place,” she commented and picked up the vase of dead flowers from the dining table and carried them to the kitchen. She dumped out the water and then threw the old blooms away. She'd buy more flowers for the vase in honor of her sister's memory.

“You're already a good mother.” Adam had followed her into the kitchen. “You're thinking of Juan's welfare over your own. It will all work out. Have faith.”

Staring into his blue eyes, she knew faith would be the only thing to soothe her when the inevitable happened and it came time to say goodbye to Adam. Because, despite her intentions, she cared deeply for this man. Another loss to suffer through.

ELEVEN

L
ana set the crystal vase on the sideboard and glanced at Adam. Whiskers shadowed his strong jaw. Dark circles rimmed his blue-green eyes. He looked exhausted. But not once had he complained or slowed down. He'd headed out to face whatever danger had lurked in the night like a knight with his faithful steed—or rather canine. The gentle way he'd handled the neighbor had impressed Lana. He was a good man.

She wondered what her parents would have thought of him. She could almost hear her mom whisper, “He's a keeper.”

“It's hard to imagine that whoever stole the arrow hasn't tried to sell it.” Adam leaned against the counter in Rosa's kitchen. “I still don't get why the thief returned to the museum.”

Shaking off her disturbing thought, she said, “That is a mystery.” And she hoped she never saw the man in white again. He already occupied her nightmares. “Someone could be holding on to the arrow for his or her own collection rather than for monetary gain. I wrote out a list of people who had inquired about purchasing the arrow. It's at your brother's.”

“It's time we headed back there,” Adam said.

Lana bit her lip, knowing he wasn't going to like what she was about to say. “I'd like to stay here tonight. It's late and I don't want to disturb Joe or Ruth or the girls.”

“No. You can't stay here alone.”

“I know the risks. But I have to start living my life. I can't keep hiding and hoping the man who wants me dead goes away and stops trying.” She squared her shoulders. “I'll move in here tomorrow. Thankfully, my sister has an alarm system.”

“An older one that needs to be updated.” He swiped a hand through his hair. “You should go back to my brother's. I don't like the thought of you alone.”

She wanted to ask him to stay but knew relying on him wasn't a good idea. He'd be leaving her life soon. She needed to start fending for herself. She had no solution that would appease him. “I'm staying.”

“Then Ace stays with you and I'll call the police about having a patrol car sit out front instead of at my brother's.”

The offer made a fresh set of tears prick the backs of her eyes. “I can't ask that of you. Or of him.”

“You're not asking. I'm offering.” He looked down at the dog. “Ace, guard Lana.”

The dog cocked his head, his dark gaze going from Adam to Lana and back again, then Ace trotted to her side as if he understood the duty he'd been given. She stroked a hand over his sleek head. “I don't know what to say.”

Adam stepped in close and cupped her cheek. “You don't need to say anything.” He dipped his head and placed a tender, sweet kiss on her lips before walking to the door. “I'll return first thing in the morning.”

She followed on wobbly legs, Ace matching her steps the same way he did when he and Adam moved together. Her lips tingled and a fuzzy heat invaded her head, her heart. “Good night, Adam.”

He dipped his head in acknowledgement and disappeared into the night. She locked the door and leaned back against the cool wood. Her heart puddled at her feet. As much as she wanted to deny her feelings, she had to admit to herself, she was fast falling in love with Adam Donovan.

* * *

Twenty minutes after leaving a uniformed officer guarding Lana and Ace at the town house, Adam arrived at the Capitol K-9 headquarters, parking in the underground parking lot. He hoped to find the offices dark and everyone gone. He wasn't up to talking to anyone. He needed time to process through his thoughts and feelings. Things best done alone.

He planned to drop off the Appletons' laptop for Fiona before going home to rest. Though he doubted rest was something that would be easily found anytime soon. Not with the way his heart and head were warring over his feelings for Lana.

Using his key card he accessed the elevator and stepped inside. His heart bled for the pain she carried. He wanted to heal her heart, make her laugh and bring joy to her life. He'd kissed her again because she was distressed over the loss of her family members.

Nice rationalization, Donovan.

His throat closed up.
Get a grip, dude.
His job was to protect her. Nothing else.

Yet the fear of losing her balled his insides up into a hard, tight knot.

He cared for her. Far more than he should. Far more than was proper. Far more than he wanted to admit.

Not smart, not smart at all.

He mentally snorted and stepped out of the elevator. Yeah, if he was so smart then how did his former FBI partner pull the proverbial wool over his eyes? Hmm?

And now he was letting his judgment be impaired by a pretty face and a sad story.

But reducing her in such a way wasn't fair. There was more to Lana than attractiveness and he couldn't shortchange her, even in his mind.

She was more than a beautiful woman; she was intelligent, stubborn, loyal and brave to the point of reckless. Fearless and yet so vulnerable. She made him feel like he could battle any dragon and win. He wanted to battle her dragons. He wanted her.

In his heart. In his life.

The realization stopped him dead in his tracks. His lungs seized.

But if he planned to stick with his decision to leave DC and relocate back home to Colorado he needed his heart and mind to be of one accord. Just how he was going to accomplish that, he didn't know. He'd thought the worst of his moving would be leaving Ace, his partner, behind.

The best way was to neutralize the threat to Lana. Then Adam could move on. Or ask Lana to go with him?

No, he rejected that thought immediately. He couldn't ask that of her. He didn't even know how she felt about him so dreaming of her relocating to be with him was out of the question. Her life was here.

He ignored the mocking laughter in his brain telling him moving on was going to be harder than he'd imagined.

With the Appletons' computer in hand, Adam headed for Fiona's workspace, stopping short when he noticed the light on in Gavin's office. He hesitated, debating turning around and leaving. But his sense of duty was too strong.

He'd have to face his captain at some point and explain leaving Ace with Lana. Unease slithered through him. He didn't like leaving her. He told himself it was because she was still in danger but his heart wouldn't buy that line.

Shaking off his thoughts, he squared his shoulders. Might as well talk with Gavin now while it was just the two of them. He stopped in the doorway. Not only was Gavin still here, but Fiona and Nicholas, as well. Nicholas's partner, a Rottweiler named Max, lay at his feet.

A rock plummeted to the pit of Adam's stomach. He didn't want this conversation with an audience.

“Come in,” Gavin said, gesturing for Adam to join them.

Nicholas looked past Adam and then back. “Where's Ace?”

Adam's mouth went dry. No use in thinking he could hedge. “He's guarding Lana Gomez along with a DC patrol.”

Fiona's mouth formed an O but no sound came out. Nicholas's eyebrows shot to his hairline. Gavin leveled him with a questioning look.

“She took possession of her sister's town house tonight and refused to leave.”

Gavin considered him for a moment then nodded. “Fill these two in on your trip to Virginia.”

Having already called Gavin with an update on his interview with the Appletons, Adam held up the laptop and explained to Nicholas and Fiona about Erin hiding at the Appletons', cutting and dyeing her hair and about the thugs who were after her.

Fiona jumped up and took the device from him. “I'll get started on this right away!” She rushed from the office, her red satin skirt swishing in her wake.

“At least we know she's alive,” Nicholas stated.

“Or was a few days ago.” Gavin rubbed his chin. “If those goons catch up with her before we find her...”

She's as good as dead, Adam silently finished. He couldn't imagine Chase's stress of not knowing if Erin was alive or dead. Though Chase and Erin weren't romantically involved now, losing her would be devastating for the rookie K-9 officer. He and Erin had remained friends. And as far as they knew, he was the last one to have seen her before she went missing.

“Has she contacted her cousin?” Adam asked Nicholas. The former navy SEAL had been assigned to the White House detail to keep an eye on Selena Barrow, Erin's cousin.

Nicholas shook his head. “Not that I can tell. Selena's been all over me about not doing enough to find Erin.”

Adam told them what he'd learned from Rosa Gomez's neighbor.

“Why didn't the woman tell us this when she was questioned the first time?” Gavin demanded.

“I believe Mrs. Jordan was protecting Rosa's reputation. I showed her a picture of Michael Jeffries but Mrs. Jordan couldn't ID him as the man Rosa was seeing.”

“Did you make any headway with Tommy?” Gavin asked.

“The kid is definitely edgy.” Adam recounted his conversation with the boy.

Gavin grimaced. “A tough little nut to crack, that one. I was hoping he'd respond better to someone else. He clams up every time I try.” He stood. “Let's call it a night, gentlemen.”

Nicholas rose. “I'll check on Fiona's progress before heading out.” He and Max left.

“I have news for you,” Gavin stated, handing Adam an envelope.

Adam stared at the letterhead from the Colorado Springs Police Department. Quickly, he slipped the page out and scanned the content. His transfer had come through. The letter welcomed him to the Colorado Springs K-9 unit. He could leave DC and head to Colorado at the end of the month. That news should have been exciting. Instead, Adam felt a strange numbness fill him.

He lifted his gaze. “Thank you.” The words were thick in his mouth. Gavin could have refused to let him transfer out.

Gavin gave a noncommittal shrug and gathered his things and walked with Adam to the elevator. “So what's going on with you and Miss Gomez?”

Adam used the elevator's arrival as an excuse to stall answering. No way could he admit to kissing Lana. Twice. Adam stepped in and pushed the parking lot button. When the doors slid shut, he faced his captain. “There's nothing going on. You assigned me to protect her. Ace and I are doing our jobs.”

Gavin's lips twitched. “I told myself the same thing about Cassie.”

Right. After Gavin had protected Cassie, house mother at All Our Kids, they had started seeing each other.

“This situation is different,” Adam said. “We have very diverse goals. Hers is to raise her nephew and continue with her career at the museum. Her life is here.”

“And you're intent on returning to Colorado,” Gavin supplied.

The neutral tone of his captain's voice didn't give away anything, but Adam couldn't help a twinge of guilt. The envelope burned a hole in his pocket. Gavin had agreed with General Meyer that Adam would make a good addition to the unit even though Adam didn't have any experience in the field with his canine partner. Adam would always be grateful to Gavin, General Meyer and the whole K-9 unit. “I believe returning is the right decision for me.”

“And yet, you set Miss Gomez up at your brother's,” Gavin pointed out. “Not to mention left your partner with her for the night.”

“I couldn't stay with her and she refused to leave the town house.”

“You could have forced the issue or called Brooke.”

“I could have.” Should have. But he hadn't. Why?

Because he wanted to be the one Lana needed, the one who was there for her when she needed him. By leaving Ace, he'd left a part of himself behind. Guaranteeing a reason to return, too.

He'd stepped on the boundary line but he hadn't crossed it. He had no intention of crossing the line regardless of how much he enjoyed their time spent together, despite men with guns or sonic wave blasters. He liked her, cared for her and...needed to let her go. To protect her heart because he would only hurt her in the end. But how did he let her go without ripping out his own heart?

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Gavin walked out and paused. “If you change your mind, your job here will be waiting. You will always be a part of our team.”

“Thank you, sir.” Knowing his captain appreciated him and wanted him to stay touched Adam deeply.

Gavin hesitated, then said, “Be careful with Miss Gomez.”

“I will.” Though Adam wasn't sure if Gavin was saying to guard his heart or to keep from breaking Lana's.

* * *

A few hours later, Adam left his apartment, having showered and changed into a fresh uniform, feeling as though he was missing something. His partner. His apartment had been strangely empty without Ace. Since the day he'd chosen Ace, the two hadn't spent any time apart. Adam hadn't realized how much he relied on Ace for companionship outside of work.

But it wasn't just Ace he missed. As much as he didn't want to admit to missing Lana, he did.

He missed the cute way her nose crinkled when she was confused, and the way her quick mind worked. He missed her laugh and her smile. He missed the way she made him feel as if he were a man worthy of a woman like her.

Oh, man. He was in deep, messing everything up by letting his emotions dictate his actions.

He drove to the town house and parked outside where he had a good view of the front door and the side gate. The patrol officer had a good view from his vantage point. Between the two of them, they had the place covered.

He settled back and spent the rest of the night waiting anxiously to see Ace. To see Lana. To share his news about his transfer, yet dreading telling her goodbye.

As night turned to morning and the patrol officer's shift ended, Adam called Lana to let her know he was outside. Funny, he forgot to mention his transfer but her sleepy voice had wreaked havoc with his senses and all thoughts of moving away had fled his brain. He could imagine her sleep-mussed with her long dark hair flowing over her shoulders and her eyes heavy-lidded as she awoke to answer the phone. She'd said the night had gone by without a hitch. Ace had slept at the foot of her bed.