Trouble Comes Knocking (Entangled Embrace) by Mary Duncanson Read Free Book Online Page B

the small of my back as he held it open for me. His warm fingertips lingered, and for a moment the synapses that usually fire from my brain to tell my feet to walk didn’t. I basked in the heat of his touch, slight yet still manly. What the hell? Yes, Eli was a good-looking man, but seriously not my type.
    So why did I think about him before going to bed last night?
    As if the universe wanted to set things right, my phone rang. John. My stomach fluttered. “Listen, I have to get this. It’s John. Tomorrow?”
    Eli frowned and nodded. “Same time.”
    Before I could say good-bye, he walked away.
    I caught the call right before it went to voice mail. “Hello?”
    “Good morning, beautiful.”
    My whole body warmed at the sound of his voice, low and sexy. “No one’s ever called me to say that. You’re such a sweetheart, John.”
    “Can’t wait to see you. You’re probably still all tucked into bed and cozy, huh?”
    A night apart worked. “I’ll be there in a bit. I start at nine today.”
    I sat on a bench outside The Jumping Bean and looked around as we talked. This was a beautiful area, but not always. It had once been one of the more dangerous parts of Fort Worth. Crime, desolation, a massive homeless population. They’d done a lot of restoration to make this a lovely area.
    “Lucy?”
    “Hmm?”
    “I asked if you’re at home right now.”
    I laughed. I’d been so busy looking down the tree-lined streets I’d missed part of our conversation. “No, I had coffee with a friend this morning. I’m on Magnolia.”
    “The Jumping Bean?”
    “That’s the place.”
    “I love that place. It’s pretty romantic, actually.”
    I figured he would. With its local artist paintings and open mic nights, I could totally imagine John in a place like this. I could imagine making out with John in a place like this, too. Not that I’m all PDA, or anything, but every time I saw or thought about him, I remembered that first night we almost spent together. And how much I wished it could have lasted longer.
    “You going back home before you come to work?”
    I hadn’t thought about it. I brought my e-reader in case Eli was late, but he’d been right on time. Still, it was a beautiful morning. Quiet, cool but not cold. “No. Think I might stay here and read for a bit. I’m so glad it’s not summer anymore.”
    “Me, too.”
    “What about you? What are you doing up this early?”
    “Started early today,” he said. “Ben called in sick so I came in to cover.”
    We chatted for fifteen minutes about nothing in particular. No pressure, no need to try to impress him. He didn’t care if I was skinny or how I dressed. I licked my bottom lip, remembering our “almost” night together and decided I wanted nothing more than to get to work, steal him away, and make out like teenagers until someone caught us. “Listen, I think I’m going to get going. Do you want anything from the coffee shop?”
    “Naw. Looking forward to seeing you.”
    My face heated up again. “All right, see you in a bit. Maybe we can do lunch today.” I stood and gathered my things.
    “Sounds good. ’Bye, Lucy.”
    I hung up and stuffed my phone into my purse before heading toward the small park across the street.
    From out of nowhere, I heard a squeal of tires and looked up to see a green car coming right at me.

Chapter Four
    I froze as the car bore down. Only feet away it swerved and missed me, squealing around the corner and out of sight.
    Shaking, I ran across the street and locked myself in my car. I threw my purse into the passenger seat and braced my hands against the steering wheel. Where had it come from?
    “Shit!” I said. Tears gathered at the corners of my eyes, and I gulped a few deep breaths. Was it some random bad driver? Or had he been waiting for me?

    “So wait,” Officer Len interrupted. “You were almost hit by a car?”
    “Yes.”
    “And if I understand correctly, you didn’t tell Detective Reyes about this after