Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021

to watch them go, but made no move to follow. Carly crouched down again. “Come here, baby girl,” she crooned. “Let’s get you inside where it’s warm. I’ll find something you can eat, I promise.”
To her shock, the dog slunk closer, posture wary, but nonthreatening. As the skeletal creature climbed the back-stoop steps, Carly almost cried. Taking care not to make any sudden moves, Carly opened the back door and stepped inside, still calling the dog to her. A full tummy and a warm bath might go wonders to helping the poor animal feel better.

CHAPTER 3
Micha checked the time to make sure it wasn’t too late, and then called the cell phone number of one of his former combat buddies, Charlie Crenshaw, now working stateside for the Chicago PD.
“Hey, man,” Charlie said once Micha identified himself. “It’s great to hear from you. Last I heard, you were laid up in the hospital over at Walter Reed. Are you all better now?”
“I am. Actually, I’m back in Chicago.” He took a deep breath. “As a matter of fact, I wanted to check and see what kind of progress has been made on the Colton murders. Since you’re the only Chicago cop I know, I figured you’d be a good place to start.”
“Why?” Charlie asked, sounding more confused than suspicious.
“I used to be engaged to Ernest Colton’s daughter, Carly. She’s had the feeling that someone’s been following her for the past six weeks and is worried it might be related to the murder.”
“Okay, I get it.” Charlie cleared his throat. “I trust you, Micha, so what I’m about to tell you can’t go any further. All right?”
“Agreed,” Micha responded immediately. “I’ll keep my mouth shut until you give me the go-ahead.”
“Good, because the chief wants to talk to the Colton family before the news gets out to the general public. There’s been a second set of killings, with the same MO as the twin Colton men, though they weren’t twins. Right now, the theory is serial killers, and the FBI has been called in to help investigate.”
“Damn.” Micha whistled. “Now I’m even more worried about Carly being followed.”
“Give her my number and tell her to call me tomorrow. Once I’ve received an official complaint from her, I can request a protective detail.”
Relieved, Micha thanked him. “I’ll pass the info along to her. Is it okay if I let her know about the new murders?”
“We’d prefer to notify the family first, but if you think she can keep it to herself, go for it. Just remember, you didn’t hear it from me.”
“Got it,” Micha replied. “Thanks again, man.”
“No problem. Let me know when you want to grab a beer and catch up. I work days, so I’m off most nights.”
Micha promised to touch base again soon and ended the call. He sat for a moment, staring at his phone, and ultimately decided to wait until the morning to talk to Carly. He didn’t want to worry her and possibly cause her to lose sleep.
He wondered if she had to work tomorrow. Since he had no idea of her schedule and hadn’t thought to ask, he figured he’d simply show up at her house with coffee in the morning. They could talk and he’d tell her what he’d learned from his friend. Then, if she was open to it, they could make plans to meet up later.
That night, he slept better than he had in years. He’d come back to the vibrant place his soul had always recognized was his true home, and the woman he’d known from the moment he met her was meant to be his.
He was up bright and early the next morning. On his way to her place, he stopped at her favorite coffee shop and got them both lattes, hers with extra whip. He texted her as soon as he got into his car, letting her know he had coffee and asking if it was okay if he gave it to her personally.
A few seconds later, she texted back. Sure, but I have to leave for work in fifteen minutes. I don’t have a lot of time.
He made it to her house in five and rang her doorbell with his elbow, a coffee in each hand. She answered a moment later, her blond hair up in a ponytail and wearing pale blue scrubs.
“Good morning,” he said, handing her the coffee and drinking her in with his eyes.
Accepting it with a half smile, she thanked him.
“How about I drive you to work this morning?” he asked, going on impulse. “That would give us more time to talk.”
She regarded him silently. “But then I wouldn’t have a way to get home when my shift is over.”
The fact that she didn’t decline outright gave him hope.
“I’ll pick you up,” he offered. “Maybe we can go get a bite to eat or something.”
“I can’t. I have to come home and take a stray dog to the vet. I’m having her scanned for a microchip, and if she doesn’t have one, I’m having her checked out.”
A dog. His heart squeezed. Back when they were engaged, he’d hoped to get a dog together as soon as they were married, though he’d never brought it up. “Can I meet her?” he asked, a little too much emotion in his voice.
Carly glanced at her watch. “I don’t have time. I’ve got her a spot all fixed up in my kitchen.”
He nodded. “Okay. Maybe later. Now how about that ride to work?”
“I don’t know.” She regarded him dubiously. “There’s been a lot of water under the bridge in two years, Micha. We can’t simply pick up where we left off before.”
Trying to hide his disappointment, he nodded. “That makes sense. How about we start out as friends instead?”
“Friends?”
Her skeptical tone made him grin. “Sure. And as your friend, how about I drive you to work and pick you up later? I’d love to meet your new dog.”
“As long as you understand that what happened between us yesterday