Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #1 by Terri Reed, Becky Avella, Dana R. Lynn Page B

floor, she rushed out and down the hall to her apartment door, needing the distance from Adam. He was too big, too handsome and too perceptive. Her nerves were raw, her emotions close to the surface and his presence compounded her need to escape.
    She longed for her comfy sweats and a cup of Earl Grey to calm her frayed senses.
    The canned laughter of a television show drifted from Mr. Witcowski’s apartment across the hall. The smell of garlic seeping from the Tuccis’ apartment two doors down made her mouth water.
    Adam easily closed the distance and cupped her hand as she slid the key in the lock. Warmth spread up her arm and settled in her cheeks. Why was he touching her? And why did his touch soothe and not scare her? She gave him a questioning look.
    â€œLet us clear the apartment first,” he said in a low voice that sent a shiver tickling the back of her neck.
    The implied danger clawed through her. Outside, Ace had alerted them to a scent he recognized. Could the thief be inside her apartment?
    A knot of tension tightened in her stomach. She released her hold on the key and stepped back to let Adam and Ace do their thing. She sent up a quick prayer there was nothing to fear as Adam opened the door. Ace charged forward, Adam followed, disappearing inside.
    She waited in silence seemingly forever before both dog and man returned with an “all clear” and motioned her inside.
    A rush of relief made her knees wobble as she entered her apartment, careful to avoid standing too close to Adam where she could take a breath without inhaling his spicy and masculine scent. As much as she appreciated his efforts, she reminded herself his concern was not personal. And she didn’t want it to be. He and Ace were doing their job. Protecting her.
    Gazing around the living room, she saw nothing looked disturbed since she’d left. No bogeyman skulked in a corner. Everything was in its place. She appreciated a clean living space and strove to keep the clutter to a minimum. Now that she was safe inside, she wanted to be alone to decompress and process through the ordeal she’d endured.
    Pausing in the middle of her living room, she met Adam’s gaze. “I’m home safe now.” Her tone implied that she was ready for him to leave.
    â€œNice place.”
    Was he really that obtuse or was he deliberately ignoring her cue for him to say his goodbye? “Thank you.”
    â€œDo you have a friend you could call to come stay with you?”
    â€œI do, but I won’t. I really just want to be alone. I’m tired and cranky. As you can imagine, the past twenty-four hours have been brutal.”
    He nodded but acted loath to leave. Why? Did he fear she’d skip town or something? Her jaw locked tight. She hated having her reputation, her integrity, questioned.
    His gaze roamed over her bookshelf, her furniture and to his left, the kitchen area. She crossed her arms. Her stomach growled, reminding her she needed sustenance.
    His gaze shot back to her and his eyebrows rose. “When was the last time you ate?”
    The concern lacing his voice sounded sincere. But she wouldn’t allow his protection to extend to feeding her. “Yesterday. I’ll fix something after I clean up.”
    He remained standing there, his gaze touching the bandage at her temple, making her aware of the throbbing in her head.
    At the end of her patience, she crossed to the door to the hallway and opened it. “Thank you again, Officer Donovan. I’ll be fine now.”
    He scrubbed a hand over his shadowed jaw. “I can take a hint. Make sure your windows are secure and lock this door behind me.”
    â€œI will. I’m five floors up,” she reminded him. “And Maurice and the other doorman have been instructed not to let anyone into the building without proper identification. Not even a handyman.”
    â€œGood. I’ll stop by the front desk and reiterate the importance of