Love Inspired Suspense October 2015 #1 by Lenora Worth, Hope White, Diane Burke Page A

Christmas tree between the two high-backed brocade chairs in the corner by the doors. If she could get her mother to make it to a chair...
    A knock at the bedroom door pulled Rikki out of her hopes.
    The day nurse, Daphne, leaned her head in, her short brown curls falling in her eyes. “You have a visitor, Miss Alvanetti. Blain Kent.”
    Rikki’s heart jumped so fast she had to catch her breath. Whirling, she left the drapery gaping open. “I’ll be right there. Thank you, Daphne.”
    The pretty young nurse nodded and went back to the kitchen where she was making soup that no one would probably eat.
    â€œI’ll be back soon, Mama,” Rikki whispered. She kissed her mother’s soft cheek and brushed back the spiky white-blond hair Sonia had always been so proud of.
    Sonia mumbled incoherently but kept sleeping.
    Rikki stopped in the wide hallway and gathered herself. Her mother used to say, “Pull yourself together and put on some color.”
    Rikki checked her light pink lipstick and ran a hand through her tousled hair out of habit, thinking of her mother’s endearing command. Just one of many Sonia quoted often. Then she took her time making her way to the far side of the long house.
    Blain was waiting in the den. He stood in front of the fire, staring at the family portrait centered over the mantel.
    Daphne was still in the kitchen. She sent Rikki an inquisitive glance and then gazed back across the way at Blain.
    Rikki’s heart jumped again. He was an attractive man. All hard angles and dark shaggy hair, his physique muscular and solid. He wore a worn black leather jacket and jeans with battered cowboy boots.
    â€œDetective,” she said by way of a greeting. “You’re out early today.”
    At the sound of her flats hitting the hardwood floors, he turned and swept her with a questioning gaze. And he was holding her squirming cat.
    Something melted inside Rikki’s bitter heart. But she poured all that softness into grabbing Pebble up in her arms and cooing to him. “You found him. Thank you.”
    Blain gave her an indulgent stare and wiped cat hair off his jacket. “He found me outside your town house. And now I have cat hair all over my apartment.” He pointed to the bag of dry cat food on the counter. “Got this at the discount store.”
    â€œThank you.” She smiled at his obvious disapproval. “Pebble is an early riser. I’m sure he woke you to let you know he needed feeding.”
    â€œI’ve been up for a while,” he retorted. “How’d you sleep last night?”
    The question rang out more as an accusation. “Better than the night before,” she replied, determined not to give him any openings.
    She dropped Pebble and watched as the big cat ran to the kitchen and meowed. She moved across the room to find a bowl, and motioned toward the big leather sectional. “Have a seat. Can I get you some coffee?”
    He sniffed toward the kitchen. “I thought I smelled actual real coffee. That stuff we have at the station is more like tar mixed with motor oil.”
    â€œI’ll bring you a cup right away. Cream and sugar?”
    He gave her a look that spoke of something besides coffee. “No. Black. Thank you.”
    Rikki headed toward the kitchen where Daphne was bent down petting Pebble and smiled at the curious nurse. “Daphne, would you mind sitting with my mother while I talk to the detective?”
    Daphne nodded, pursed her lips, turned off the stove and then left the room. Too nosy, that one. Or maybe too interested in the brooding man sitting in the den.
    â€œHere you go.” After feeding the cat, Rikki came back to the den and handed Blain the big Christmas mug, one of many her mother had collected over the years. This one had a grinning reindeer on it.
    Blain stared at the silly mug, one dark eyebrow lifting. With a smile so quick it could have been a wink, he took the