Safe by the Marshal's Side. Shirlee McCoy

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      THREE

      Annie woke with a start, her heart racing, a scream dying in her throat.

      Darkness shadowed the furniture and lay deep and thick in the corners of the room. She sat up, her feet touching cool hardwood.

      It took a moment to know where she was.

      The safe house.

      Safe apartment.

      Not the kitchen of the little St. Louis rental she and Joe had chosen after their wedding. Not standing with a gun pointed at her head while Joe moaned on the floor, blood seeping from his chest. Night after night, she dreamed of that moment. The split second when the gun had misfired and the man who’d been pointing it at her had run.

      Annie shuddered.

      The sun would rise in a couple of hours. She’d feel better then, the nightmare fading, her fear fading with it.

      She eased off the bed, trying not to disturb Sophia. She could hear her deep, even breathing, knew she was soundly asleep. Not hungry or scared or cold. She was a blessed little girl. Even under the circumstances. Even without a father’s love. Even with the moves and the disruptions, she had more than so many children did.

      Annie had tried to keep that in mind during the past year.

      She paced to the window, the old wood floor creaking under her feet. Icy rain splattered against the brick facade of the building, cold air drifting in through the single pane glass. She shivered, rubbing her arms, her stomach growling. She hadn’t eaten much the night before.

      She thought about going to the kitchen to search for something to eat, but she didn’t want to face Hunter. He’d brought her the baby supplies Serena had managed to buy, asked if she needed anything. She’d told him no, but she had needed something. She’d needed someone to talk to, someone who could take her mind off the nightmare she seemed to be living in.

      She hadn’t told him that, of course. She’d just said good-night and closed the door. Otherwise, she might have burst into tears and made a total fool of herself.

      Someone knocked on the door, the soft tap barely sounding above the splattering rain.

      She opened the door and found herself looking at Hunter’s chest. His very muscular chest.

      She blushed, looking up and meeting his dark eyes.

      “Did you get the photo of the doll?” She couldn’t think of any other reason for him to knock on her door at three in the morning.

      “About an hour ago. I didn’t think it was worth disturbing your sleep, but when I heard the floor creak, I figured you might have woken up.”

      “You were right.” She sidled past him and walked out into the hall, her pulse racing, her cheeks still blazing. She’d known Hunter for over a year. For the past month, she’d seen him almost every day. Somehow, she’d never noticed just how masculine he was. Or maybe she had, but she hadn’t wanted to admit it to herself.

      “You hungry?” Hunter asked, following her as she walked into the living room. “Serena scrounged up some groceries. I’m not sure what there is. We can look around, find something to eat.”

      “I’d rather just see the photo.” Although she had to admit, food sounded good.

      “There’s no reason why we can’t do both.”

      “Except that the sun isn’t even up yet.”

      “Should that matter?” he asked, walking into the galley kitchen and opening the refrigerator. He pulled out a package of American cheese and a carton of eggs.

      Her stomach growled, and he smiled. The second smile in twenty-four hours. She was sure that was a record.

      “I guess when my stomach is growling as loudly as it is, it shouldn’t,” she murmured.

      “I’m СКАЧАТЬ