Texas Lightning. Gerry Bartlett

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СКАЧАТЬ it’s clam chowder or a lobster roll.” Anna still held on to that pack, clutching it to her chest. “Maybe you should just take me home.”

      “Now, that wouldn’t be right. I heard your stomach growling. You admitted you’re hungry.” He grinned. He couldn’t hear it over the roar of the air conditioner but he just bet it did it again because her pale cheeks really lit up. He bet she never got out in the sun. His own skin was dark to begin with, thanks to his Mexican mama, and he was in the sun almost every day. Anna would probably burn if she spent any time next to his pool. He pictured her in a bikini and had to clear his throat.

      “Not going to chicken out on me, are you? We don’t eat weird things. That’s not part of the ‘Keep Austin Weird’ slogan.”

      “Okay, okay. I’m starving and sick to death of eating what I can get close to my place or delivered. So why not? I’d love to see more of Austin. What is down-home cooking here?” She finally set her pack on the floor and fastened her seat belt.

      “Chicken fried steak.” King hit the gas. “Thanks for trusting me, Anna. You won’t be sorry.”

      * * * *

      Anna was sorry. Not that the lunch hadn’t been delicious. It had. King Sanders had clearly been determined to charm the pants off her. Unfortunately, it was working. The sad truth was that Anna had been lonely in Austin. This man, with his tall good looks and easy smile, made her want to do something foolish, like invite him upstairs when he drove into her apartment complex.

      But she didn’t know him. Yes, he’d told her about his ranch and his family, even his twin sister. He’d shown a real interest in getting to know her as well. So she’d laid it on a little thick about her big brothers, all in law enforcement back home. Yes, she had a local lawman on speed dial now, but he wasn’t the only one she could call if King Sanders tried any funny business. Her brother Chance was FBI. What did King think about that? Actually, he seemed to want to know more. Like she was fascinating. Which she wasn’t, sitting at a computer all day. Crap. A handsome man totally focused on her? She was finding it downright seductive. Oh, this was trouble.

      No, no, no. She wasn’t that easy. Was she? Anna gave him the gate code, then directions to her building. It was a big contemporary complex and impersonal, as different from her old apartment in an aging brownstone in Boston as it could be. The only reason she’d rented here was because it was literally across the street from her office. She’d never learned to drive, thanks to the great public transportation system back home, and she wasn’t eager to learn now. A bike was perfect for her. She kept it chained on her balcony.

      He slowed the truck. “Building C? This it?”

      Anna dragged her gaze from the way his hands rested on the leather-covered steering wheel. Strong, competent hands with neatly trimmed nails. Tanned, masculine. She could imagine…

      “Uh, yes. Pull into one of the unmarked spaces.”

      The truck jerked when he braked suddenly. “Damn it. Who lets their dog just run loose like that? I could have killed the little thing. Squashed it like a bug.”

      Anna sat up straight. There were rules. Leash laws. Then a white ball of fur raced past and stopped at the bottom of the stairs to her apartment. It started barking, obviously upset.

      “Oh, my God! YoYo!” She grabbed the handle and tried to open the door. Locked. “Let me out! Now!” She released her seat belt.

      “What the hell?” But he unlocked the doors with a click.

      Anna almost fell out as she jerked the door open and jumped down. “YoYo! Come here, boy!” She ran toward him and scooped up the dog, frantically checking him for injuries. “How did you get out?” She realized King was right behind her. “I locked up tight when I left. He was inside.”

      “Which apartment is yours?” King held out his hand and YoYo licked his fingers.

      “Top of the stairs. Two C.” Anna hugged the dog and started up. She could see the door was closed, just like she’d left it. This didn’t make sense.

      “Stop! Stay here. The only way the dog got out is if someone let him out. You did say you live alone, right?” When she nodded, King ran to the truck, then came back with a handgun.

      “Are you kidding me?” She gawked at him. “Put that away!”

      “What if someone is still inside? They could be loading up, robbing you blind.” He gently moved Anna aside and started up the stairs. “Who else has your key?”

      “Just a friend from Boston. She’s here for work too. But she’d never leave YoYo out in the parking lot. And I didn’t expect her. She’d text if she was coming over.” Anna stayed on King’s heels. “What are you going to do?”

      “Depends on what we find. Call the police, of course. Hold the thief till they come if someone is still in there.” He looked all business, like he was ready to take on whoever had dared leave her dog at the mercy of big trucks and the heat.

      “I hope they are here. YoYo could have been killed the way some people race through the parking lot. We need speed bumps.” Anna felt sick thinking about it. She reached for the trowel she’d stuck into a bag of potting soil next to the door. “Guess this is better than nothing. It’s got a good point on it.” She set YoYo down and told him to stay. Not that he’d do it. He’d flunked obedience school, twice. The poor thing was panting like he was feeling the heat and needed water.

      “You should wait at the bottom of the steps, Anna. Go ahead and call the police.” King stopped like he thought she was really going to just stand meekly in the parking lot while he did his macho maneuvers.

      “My phone’s in the truck, in my backpack.” Anna didn’t want to think about why someone might have broken into her place. All her work, notes, things she’d brought from home were in there, along with her computer system. They were the only things of value. “The dog’s not barking now. That’s a good sign. If someone is still here, I think YoYo would be going crazy. Look at him.”

      King reached down to pat the tiny dog who sniffed his boot, then scratched against the door. “I hope you’re right. I don’t hear anything. Stand back anyway.” He tried the door and the knob turned easily. “You did lock this when you left?”

      “Of course. I have a computer system worth a fortune in there. It’s my livelihood. I do a lot of work from home.” Anna stayed close. No way in hell was she just going to obey him.

      “Last chance to wait by my truck.” He gave her a look, still not opening the door.

      “If you’re scared, hand me your gun. I’ll use it on whoever might be lurking inside. I know how to shoot. Remember those brothers I told you about? They taught me.” Anna tried to push past him.

      “Now you’re scaring me.” He threw open the door. “Police!”

      Anna gasped when she saw the chaos inside. Whoever had let out her dog had obviously been looking for something. Her gaze went right to her dining room table. Her computer was gone. Her heart sank. At least she’d taken precautions with her work. But to break in like this…

      King stalked through the house, gun out in front of him as he searched every room. It didn’t take long since there was only one bedroom off the living room, a tiny kitchen, and the bathroom. She heard him open the closet door СКАЧАТЬ