Read Online When She Wasn't Looking by Helenkay Dimon - Free Book Online

low hush, mimicking him.
    With one arm, he scooped her behind him. The other hand held the gun. “Stay right there and keep that phone ready.”
    Her head pressed against his back as they shuffled through the white kitchen she loved so much. The plates with the little daisy in the center, the ones she’d found at an estate sale and stacked in the cabinets. The small pots of herbs lined up on the windowsill. She handpicked every piece as she built her first real home as an adult.
    “You okay?” he asked in a rough whisper.
    “Yeah.”
    She rested one hand in the deep groove between his shoulder blades. As she expected, not an ounce of fat on the guy. Trim waist and sleek muscles, a hard back and shiny hair. The warmth of his body and scent of the outdoors washed over her in a mix that was pure male. She felt him inhale.
    “Damn.”
    She grabbed his biceps and peeked around him as he hit the doorway into the small dining room. “What?”
    “Call Rich.”
    She pushed around Jonas and stood by his side. The drawers to her sideboard stood open. Looking through to the family room, paperwork spilled out of her desk and couch cushions lay scattered on the floor.
    She tried to push past him. “My house.”
    “Hold on.” He pressed a hand to her stomach. “Wait here.”
    The guy just wasn’t getting it. She’s sat on the sidelines, passive and still, and watched her life spin. Those days were officially over. She was about to argue with him while she hit the button for Rich’s line when the hardwood floor creaked near the front door. She kept it loose on purpose. It was her first line of defense. Looked as if the system worked.
    His gaze shot to hers. He mouthed the word company and nodded toward the back door. This time she listened. Coming face-to-face with another gun didn’t interest her.
    With lightning speed, he whipped into the family room, gun up and shoes quiet against the usually creaky floor. “Stop! Police!”
    The high-pitched scream and heavy thud had Courtney running into the room after him. She told Rich to hold as her gaze went to the front door. Jonas had someone pinned against the wood as he reached around for his handcuffs.
    Sneakers, flowing skirt, yelling. The woman bucked and slammed her body against his as she tried to land a kick. “Get off of me!”
    Instant recognition.
    “Jonas, no.” Courtney reached them just in time to grab his wrist. The handcuffs jangled in his fingers. “She’s not a thief.”
    Confusion fell over his face. “Who is it?”
    “You’re the deputy.”
    “That doesn’t mean I know everyone.”
    When her friend started wiggling and mumbling, Courtney rushed to end the wrestling without more trouble. “That’s Ellie.”
    He didn’t let up on the elbow pressed into Ellie’s back. “Be more specific.”
    Courtney tugged on his arm to get him to back up. “Ellie Wise, best friend and landlord.”
    Jonas loosened his hold then held his hands up as if waiting to get that kick he’d been fighting off. “I see.”
    Ellie turned around. Fury blazed in her chocolate-brown eyes. “That’s all you have to say?”
    “How about this…how did you get in here?”
    Ellie held out her hand. “My key.”
    Courtney felt the rush of guilt down to her toes. “I forgot she had one.”
    “What’s going on?” Ellie looked at them, then around the house. “I heard you were in the hospital and came to get some stuff for you. There’s stuff everywhere. The bedrooms look even worse. You’ve got this one on guard.”
    Stuff everywhere. Panic rose in her throat. Courtney spun around and raced to the fireplace on the far wall.
    Dropping to her knees, she ignored the pain assaulting her and stuck her hand up the fireplace, digging around in the ashes. Her fingers touched on the corner and she tugged. Her shoulders slumped in relief as she pulled the folder out of its hiding place and sat back on her knees with it clutched to her chest.
    By the time she looked up, both Ellie and