Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021 by Karen Whiddon (interesting books to read for teens TXT) 📕

Trace picked up a small remote control and pointed it at a Bluetooth speaker sitting near the coffee maker on the counter. “A Woman’s Worth,” one of Connie’s favorite songs by Alicia Keys, spilled from the speaker.

Trace pulled out the leather dining chair to her right and sat down. “It’s swollen,” he said after inspecting her hand. The gentle way he poked and prodded stirred something within Connie. He was probably trying to determine for himself that there were no broken bones. But his touch was evoking a different type of pleasure.

“Does that hurt?” he asked, putting pressure on the heel of her hand.

Connie gritted her teeth to keep from flinching. “A little,” she muttered and started pulling her hand away, but Trace held on.

Their gazes met and held, and something so magnetic passed between them. Without taking his eyes from hers, he slowly lifted her hand to his mouth and placed a tender kiss on the inside of her wrist. The gesture was as sweet and intimate as if he had graced her with a kiss on the lips.

Connie’s heart beat a little faster. How could one simple kiss suddenly heat her body from the inside out? Something intense had flared inside her. Charming was one thing, but this virile man oozed sex appeal and had her wanting to throw caution right out the window.

“I hate that you got hurt,” he said, his voice rough with emotion.

His sultry dark eyes held so much compassion. It was like being swathed in a cashmere blanket, warm and soothing, while still seductive. This sweet, gentle giant was quickly getting under her skin, making it difficult to not fall for him even more. It was hard enough trying to stick to the rules she had set for herself. His touch, the way he looked at her as if she was a precious gift—all of it put a crack in her defenses.

Trace wrapped the ice pack with the towel and placed it on her wrist. “You scared me half to death tonight. Talking to you on the phone one minute, then hearing you scream the next freaked me the hell out. I didn’t know what to think, or what I would find when I pulled into that parking lot.”

“I’m sorry if I worried you.” Connie squeezed his thigh and felt his muscles contract under her touch. “I kinda scared myself there, too.” She gave a little laugh but sobered as she thought about how that situation could’ve turned out differently.

What if no one had been outside? What if that guy, Larry, hadn’t reacted so quickly? She could’ve been killed. Then what? Her life would’ve been over, and she wouldn’t have accomplished half the things she still wanted to experience.

Life’s too short to not live it to the fullest. The words she had spoken to Erica earlier meant even more now. Connie needed to take heed of them herself and quit letting fear rule her life. She also needed to stop being overly cautious about allowing a man to get close if she ever wanted to have a forever love.

“The small bruise on your cheek is barely noticeable, but how does the scrape on your chin feel?”

“It stings a little, but it’s not bad. I put some ointment on it before we left my place. It should be fine in a day or two.”

Trace didn’t say anything, only nodded. After fifteen minutes, he lifted the ice pack and set it aside. Connie watched in silence as he began wrapping her hand with the compression bandage. He did it with such precision, it was safe to say he must have done it before.

“Do you want something stronger than water to drink? Maybe tequila?” he asked when he was done. Connie tried wiggling her hand. The bandage was snug, but not tight enough to cut off circulation.

“Tequila is tempting, but I’d better stick with water. Especially since I took pain meds not too long ago.”

“That’s right.” Trace went to the kitchen and pulled a beer out of the refrigerator. “Are you in more pain than you’re letting on? Because if you are, it’s not too late to head to the hospital.”

Connie yawned loudly and quickly covered her mouth. “Oh, sorry, and no. I think the ice and the hand wrap will do the trick.”

“Well, since you’re yawning, maybe you should try and get some sleep. The sheets on the bed are clean and you know where the towels are located. Just make yourself at home.”

Connie nodded. She was tired enough to climb into bed, but she wasn’t ready to be alone with her thoughts.

“I looked at the picture you texted me earlier,” she said, figuring she had surprised Trace if his raised eyebrows were any indication.

He set his beer on the counter. “Was she your teller?”

“Yes, but I don’t see why that matters.”

Trace’s anxiousness when he called earlier had been palpable through the phone line. Even now, as he tapped his fingertips on the counter, he seemed restless. On edge. Connie couldn’t understand why he was still hung up on the robbery. Sure, the what-ifs still plagued her, but that was different. She had actually been there. Of course she’d still be playing it over and over in her mind.

“They don’t have a reason to seek me out, Trace. I wasn’t near the teller when the robbery took place. As a matter of fact, while I was talking to Richard, I’m sure she was helping other people. Like I said before, everyone at the bank are witnesses. The crooks have no reason to think that I can somehow lead authorities to their doorstep.”

“Yeah, but you’re the only one who admitted to being able to identify one of the robbers.”

“Not really. Just his eyes and a little of his tattoo. I’m sure there are tons of people with gray eyes in Las Vegas.”

“True, but you said his eyes were unusual and familiar. What if he’s someone you know or someone who