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

purpose, grabbed a handful of Bridget’s favorite treats and met Micha in the front yard.

“Here.” She handed him a couple of the treats. “You go that way and I’ll go the other.”

“We’re staying together,” he said. “No way we’re splitting up without knowing if...” He didn’t have to finish the sentence.

She nodded. “Okay. Bridget,” she called. “Here, girl.”

They walked up one side of the street, all the way to the stop sign. Carly could only hope Bridget hadn’t gone too far. The thought of her getting hit by a car was heart-stopping.

“Don’t give up.” Micha squeezed her shoulder. “She might be scared and hiding. Let’s go back toward your house and stay on this side of the street before we cross over.”

Two houses from hers, Carly spotted movement in a neighbor’s bushes. Catching her breath, she grabbed Micha’s arm. “There,” she said. She’d barely gotten the word out when Bridget came trotting out, tail wagging furiously, clearly unaware she’d done anything wrong.

With a cry of relief, Carly dropped to her knees and gathered her dog to her. She hadn’t cried so far but damned if her eyes hadn’t filled with tears.

“I can’t lose you,” she told Bridget. “I just can’t.”

The three of them made their way back to the house. Carly took Bridget inside while Micha went to repair the hole in the fence. He promised to double-check for any others and fix them, too.

Legs shaky, Carly dropped into a chair while Bridget got water and then curled up in her dog bed to nap. Glancing at her hands, Carly realized she was still shaking. The severity of her panic when she’d thought she’d lost Bridget stunned her.

Micha let himself in quietly. Bridget gave a quiet thump of her tail but didn’t lift her head. Micha bent down and scratched her behind the ears, which made Bridget give a doggie moan of pleasure. This had Carly smiling, even though her eyes were still streaming tears. Angrily, she wiped them away, not even sure why she was crying.

“Carly?” Micha asked, crossing the room toward her. “Are you okay?”

She started to nod and then ended up shaking her head no. “I thought that psychopath had taken my dog,” she said, her voice shaky. “You know things have gotten absolutely crazy when that’s the first thought that comes to mind.”

“I know.” He gathered her in his arms and held her. She allowed herself to relax into him, inhaling his masculine scent and loving the way his strong, muscular body made her feel safe. “Carly, you really should consider staying with one of your brothers. At least temporarily, until all this blows over.”

“No,” she replied, without moving. “We’ve already discussed this. I’m not being run out of my own home.”

He stroked her back, his big hand gentle. “It won’t be forever. Just until we catch this guy.”

Inside, she knew he had a point. Today had proved that. If something happened to Bridget because Carly continued to cling to her stubborn pride, she’d never forgive herself. “I’ll think about it,” she heard herself say. “But don’t say anything to Jones or Heath, okay? I haven’t decided anything yet, and if I do agree to go stay with one of them, I’ll tell them myself.”

His voice a raspy deep rumble against her ear, Micha agreed.

Now that she’d calmed down, Carly knew she needed to get ready for work. Extricating herself from Micha’s arms, she glanced at the clock and gasped. “I’ve got to get a move on,” she said. “I can’t be late. I never have and I don’t want to start now.” She rushed off toward her bedroom, determined to get ready as quickly as she could. Being punctual had become a point of pride with her over the years. Not only did she excel at patient care, but her charting was precise and she never, ever had been late for a shift. Nor would she be today.

Somehow, she managed to pull herself together in order to leave at her usual time. As she blew into the kitchen, Micha waited by the back door.

“I’m ready,” she told him. “Usual routine?”

“Of course.” He gave her a quick kiss. “And please, really think about possibly staying with one of your brothers.”

She nodded, even though her mind had already gone ahead to the sick children waiting for her on her floor. She gave Bridget a quick pet and then straightened. “Let’s do this,” she told him, grabbing her purse and keys. “Time to start another day.”

Micha reached out as she swung past, pulling her in for one more tingle-all-the-way-to-her-feet kiss. When they broke apart, they were both breathing heavily.

“Now that’s the way to start a day,” Micha said. “Give me a minute or two before you leave.”

She nodded, internally shaking her head at their new routine. Watching as Micha let himself out the back door, she locked it behind him. Then, eye on the clock, she waited.

CHAPTER 11

As he’d done every morning that week, Micha left Carly’s out the back door. He hopped the chain-link fence into the neighboring yard, and from there walked down the street to where he’d parked his Jeep. As far as he could tell, none of the vehicles parked on her street were occupied. If no one sat in a vehicle watching the house, unless they’d mounted a camera again somewhere outside, she wasn’t under surveillance. Just to be safe, the night before he’d checked the numerous trees closest to her house and found nothing.

Finally, he got in his vehicle, started the engine and drove closer to Carly’s house. He waited until he saw her pull out of her driveway. He then put his Jeep in Drive and followed her, allowing another car to pull in between them just for show.

When they reached the hospital, she pulled into the employee-only parking lot and Micha found a place in the parking garage, close enough that he could watch her walk in. They’d kept to this same routine every day, and he’d seen nothing