Hearts & Diamonds Read Online Free

be stunned to know how he’d longed to kiss her?
    Her porch light came on, followed by lights in the living room, dining room and a few minutes later in a room upstairs.
    She’s turned on every light in the house.
    It didn’t take an agent to know that Nia was scared.
    Although he hated to know she was afraid in her own home, another part of him was glad she realised the seriousness of the case. It was much harder to protect the ones that didn’t. The odds of the robbers staying in the vicinity to track her down were not high, but experience had taught him never to rely on a gamble. The holiday season brought out the best and worst in some people. Criminals became even more ruthless and predatory, targeting unsuspecting, distracted prey focused on the joys of the season.
    Something in his gut told him to stick around. Until they had a decent lead on the whereabouts of the jewellery thieves, he’d stakeout Nia’s house. It hadn’t helped to see the moment of hesitation flashing in her eyes before she’d got out of the car.
    Another light came on in what had to be her bathroom.
    She had masked her fear with a smile…and what a beautiful smile it was. Hell, she was beautiful, all soft luscious curves and flawless brown skin. And those wide guileless eyes…no doubt about it, Nia Marie Sanders was a knockout. There was no way she could be involved in the jewellery heist as suggested by his friend and fellow agent Stephanie Tan. His instincts told him Nia was as sweet and sexy as they came.
    And wouldn’t you like to see her do just that?
    Quin shook his head, disgusted with his unprofessional, purely animalistic thoughts.
    She couldn’t be a greedy, cold-hearted criminal.
    Not when she felt so soft in my arms.
    He turned off the car and settled in for a long, cold night. His job had taught him more than once to expected the unexpected.

Chapter Three

    Nia woke up with a weary groan before the sunlight hit her face. Turning on her side, she peeked at her alarm clock. Five thirty-four. Her eyes felt grainy and the same headache from the previous evening still pounded against her temples. She sat up in bed as the sound of gunfire replayed in her mind. For a split second she’d almost believed last night’s robbery had all been a nightmare.
    She felt like she hadn’t slept at all and when she’d finally drifted off her dreams had been about Tess. Something she had said stuck out in her dream.
    Nia stared at the little clock, watching the minutes tick by as her mind raced. “No more sleep for me.” She shoved her feet into her fuzzy mouse slippers with a little shiver. She always dialled down the heat while she was gone to save on the bill and now there was a definite chill in the air. Last night she had been so tired she’d forgotten to turn the heat back up.
    Coffee.
    She needed at least two cups to even think about starting her day. The kitchen smelt of fresh hazelnut, her caffeine fix already brewing on the countertop. She grabbed a mug from the dishwasher, opened the fridge, took out caramel coffee creamer and poured a generous dollop in her cup.
    Tess had told her Scott travelled to LA and New York City on business. That’s what she’d remembered in her dream. She poured the coffee into her mug and stared out the kitchen window at her snow-covered backyard.
    Did that mean anything? Was it worth calling Quin about?
    She sipped the hot brew as she padded into her living room. The curtains were drawn and she pulled them back to look out the window as she drank her coffee. Her street was quiet, but it was Sunday. She glanced at her winter coat thrown across the couch with Quin’s card inside the pocket.
    He’d probably want to kill her himself if she called this damn early.
    I’ll wait until seven.
    With her mind made up, she flipped on the television to the morning news. One story after another of violence and mayhem had her changing the channel to an early morning talk show where last minute holiday gifts