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

Startled, she found herself grinning. “Come on in,” she said. “I’ll wash your back if you’ll wash mine.”

“Agreed,” he replied.

The intimacy of soaping each other off, wet bodies pressed so close together, aroused her again, to her stunned disbelief. When she felt Micha’s arousal pressing against her, she laughed out loud. “Again?” she asked, breathless with anticipation.

“Again,” he replied, his hands silky on her slick body.

They made love under the warm spray of water, this time taking their time, lingering over exploring each other, which drove Carly over the edge more quickly than she would have liked. Micha immediately followed, giving a primal cry of release.

Later, clean and dry and feeling human again, Carly opened a bottle of red wine she’d been saving for a special occasion. She figured being alive after narrowly missing being blown up in a car explosion qualified. Micha ordered a pizza, her favorite comfort food. Though she shouldn’t have been hungry, considering how much she’d eaten earlier, she managed to devour three slices. “I guess I worked up an appetite,” she said, smiling. Bridget lay curled at her feet, staring longingly at the remains of the pizza.

“Me, too.” Micha got up, moving restlessly around the room. He appeared distracted and unsettled, the opposite of a man who’d just made love to her twice.

“What’s wrong?” Carly finally asked, slipping Bridget a small bit of crust.

Micha stopped moving long enough to meet her gaze. “I’m worried that by trying to protect you, I’ve put you in danger. The more I think about it, the more likely that car explosion was meant for me. You could have been killed. Because of me.”

“I get that,” she replied. “But since we don’t know who might have been the target, it’s pointless to blame yourself. Besides that, do you have any enemies? Someone who hates you enough to want to kill you?”

“Not that I know of.” Voice as grim as his gaze, Micha shook his head. “But I’m thinking whoever rigged that car to blow had to be handy with explosives. I knew people like that over in Afghanistan. For whatever reason, I was the intended victim.”

“But what about that video camera?” she asked, genuinely perplexed.

“Maybe someone was watching you hoping I’d show up,” he told her. “No more secrets, Carly. What happened in the war seriously messed up people. While I was rescued, others lost their lives. I need to do some checking with some of my military contacts.”

Moving closer, he put his hands lightly on her shoulders. “I’ll keep watch over you, I promise. If there is someone after you, I’ll keep you safe. If there’s someone after me...” He paused. “I’ll deal with them. We need to be extra vigilant.”

Carly scratched Bridget’s head, right behind the ears. “I wonder if she was trying to warn us when she barked earlier,” she said. “We looked outside, but no one was there.”

“She probably was,” he replied. “Whoever rigged that car worked quickly and efficiently, which means highly skilled.”

She shuddered. “What if they do that to my car while I’m at work? I’m not sure what to do.”

“Let me use your car tomorrow,” he told her. “I’ll drop you at work and park it. I’ll stand guard. Maybe we can catch this person red-handed.”

Though his plan sounded dangerous, she agreed. She could see no other choice.

CHAPTER 7

Either way, Micha figured he had a good chance of catching the person who’d blown up his rental car. If the bomber was actually after Carly, Micha would watch out for her no matter what. He’d give his life for her if need be. And if Micha himself was the target, well, he’d already been to hell and back. Somehow, he’d survived. After that, nothing shook him. He’d actually welcome putting a rapid end to this craziness. Bring it on.

In the meantime, if any bright spot emerged from all of this, it was that the near-death experience had clearly caused Carly to push away her lingering misgivings about Micha. To his delight, for the first time since his return into her life, she invited him to spend the night with her, in her bed. His heart had leaped at the warmth in her bright blue eyes when she’d asked him to stay.

Not wanting to appear overly eager, he’d pretended to have to consider her offer, when in fact he could hardly contain his joy. For once, she wasn’t pushing him away. He hated that it had taken such a horrible event to cause this, but he also understood she’d made a choice. Instead of turning away, she’d leaned in. He’d take it. Hell, when it came to Carly, he’d take whatever she was willing to give. Somehow, he suspected she knew this.

That night he’d held her close while she slept. His heart was full.

In the morning, they made love again, this time with the comfortable ease of longtime lovers. Micha took his time pleasuring her, holding off on his own release until she’d had hers. After, she clung to him without talking, almost drifting off to sleep until her dog’s soft whine reminded Carly she had to get up and take care of Bridget.

As Carly stirred, Micha propped himself up on his elbow to watch her. He wasn’t sure what to expect—would she have regrets? To his relief, she glanced at him and grinned, her gaze bright and unabashed. “I’ve got to let Bridget out and feed her. Don’t you dare try to leave while I’m gone,” she said.

Astounded, he shook his head. “Carly, you know better. I’d never treat you—treat us—as a one-night stand. I’m not going anywhere except to take a quick shower.”

“Good,” she replied, calling her dog. “There are spare towels in the bathroom cabinet. Make yourself at home.”

Make yourself at home. Her choice of words humbled him. Profoundly grateful for his good fortune in the midst of this turmoil, Micha had a quick shower while Carly took care of Bridget. Then, while she showered, he puttered around her small kitchen,