Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021 by Karen Whiddon (good e books to read txt) 📗

you to babysit me,” she said, a bite to her tone. “I have taken care of myself since before I was an adult and have lived on my own for years. I don’t want to impose on you or anyone else, but after the parking-lot incident, I don’t want to be alone. I just hate the idea of inconveniencing you.”

“Connie, you claim that we’re friends, but you don’t act like it.” When she started to speak, he placed his finger on her lips to silence her. Her eyebrows dipped into a frown, and Trace almost laughed. Maybe touching her mouth was too much, but he needed to make something clear.

“Real friends come to the rescue when needed, and that’s what I want to be for you. A real friend.” He moved his finger from her mouth. “Besides, if I needed you for any reason, would you have a problem with me calling you?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then why do you think I would mind?”

“Because...” She started to turn away, but Trace kept her locked in between his arms. “I don’t want it to seem like I’m leading you on. I don’t want to send mixed signals.”

“You’ve made your position clear about where you and I stand. I respect that. Am I still interested in more than a friendship with you? Hell, yeah, and to be honest, deep down I think you want that, too.”

Connie’s gaze dropped. She didn’t deny or confirm his last comment, and that left him hopeful. He wasn’t trying to make her uncomfortable, but he wanted her to know that he wasn’t going anywhere. Their attraction to each other was getting harder and harder for him to ignore. He sensed that was the case for her, too.

“I’ve never forced myself on anyone,” he continued, “and I don’t plan on starting with you.” Instead of kissing her senseless, the way he wanted to, he gave her a quick peck on her forehead. “Now, let’s get out of here.”

CHAPTER 8

Connie took several deep breaths and released them slowly as she and Trace rode the elevator up to the twelfth floor of his building. The soft instrumental jazz flowing through the overhead speakers should’ve helped soothe the tension that had settled between her shoulder blades. It didn’t. This was her first time being at his place.

She fidgeted and nibbled on her thumbnail. To say she was a little nervous about sleeping at Trace’s condo was an understatement, but that wasn’t what had her on edge. Her distress had everything to do with the events of the last thirty-six hours. Had it not been for his presence on both days, she probably wouldn’t have been able to keep it together as well as she had.

Am I still interested in more than a friendship with you? Hell, yeah, and to be honest, deep down I think you want that, too.

Trace’s earlier words filtered into her mind. Their feelings were definitely mutual. Connie just wasn’t ready to admit that she wanted him in her life as much as he claimed to want her. Not simply as friends. Deep in her heart, she wanted someone she could count on. Someone she could trust. Someone who loved her unconditionally. And that someone was Trace.

But removing the wall that she had carefully erected around her heart would leave her vulnerable to another betrayal. She couldn’t deal with that again. On the other hand, if she didn’t take a chance on him, he would eventually move on. She would be left wondering what could have been.

Connie had never known Trace to have been in a serious relationship, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t had any opportunities. Even on the way to his place, someone named Sylvia had called him twice, but Trace had ignored her. Connie wasn’t naive enough to think there weren’t others who were probably trying to get his attention. Others who weren’t afraid to let him into their hearts.

She stole a glance at him as the elevator continued to climb. He hadn’t said much on the way to his place, but who could blame him? He didn’t know if she would bite his head off if he asked the wrong question. Or snap at him for offering to help her in one way or another. One of her character flaws—pushing people away for self-preservation—had reared its wicked head again. Despite that, Trace was still sticking around. And she liked that.

“Are you mad at me?” Connie asked just as the elevator dinged and the metal doors slid open.

Trace frowned. “Of course not. Why would you ask that?” He reached for her good hand as they exited. As he guided her down the long hallway, their footsteps were silent on the multicolored carpet.

“I figured you were since you’ve barely said two words to me since we left my house. I know I’m not the easiest person to deal with. If you’ve changed your mind about me staying, I’ll understand. I can call an Uber and go to my sister’s place.”

“You’re not going anywhere. I’m not letting you out of my sight until the cops find the person who ran into you.”

“Almost ran into me,” Connie corrected him. “They didn’t hit me. Thank goodness.”

“Either way, you’re stuck with me for a while. As a matter of fact, I’m not letting you out of my sight until they catch those assholes. So get used to seeing me around. You can be stubborn if you want to, but I can be just as bullheaded.”

She tsked. “I think I liked it better when you weren’t speaking to me.”

Trace glanced down at her and a slow smile appeared, immediately setting her at ease. “The longer this day goes, the more I’m seeing your other traits.”

Connie wasn’t sure how to take that, but she hated that he’d seen her unyielding side. Even though she knew he was trying to be helpful after the parking-lot incident, she still wasn’t able to tone down her Ms. Independent persona.

“This is me,” Trace said when they