Liz's Luck [Appledale 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Online Free

Liz crept down her stairs slowly, trying not to make any noise. It was dark and cold. She was shivering partly from fear and partly from the cold. She should have thought to put a jacket over her thin lounge pants and tank top, but at least she had slippers on. She went slowly around the corner tiptoeing. She gasped when she saw her large picture window had a big crack in it. Suddenly she realized how foolish she had been to come down here alone. She looked nervously up and down the cold, dark street but it was empty. No one seemed to be out at this time of night. Her heart was racing fast and she felt scared. She swiftly checked her shop door and thankfully it was still locked so no one had broken in at least, but who would do this?
    Liz quickly called the police station and Ethan answered. She almost asked for someone else but didn’t want to waste time. Liz reported it to him and he told her he would be right there. Still feeling a little nervous she walked back to her apartment stairs to wait. If she saw any strangers lurking around she could run upstairs to the safety of her apartment. She frowned when she thought about the window. That would be expensive to fix. Her insurance company would not be happy with her, but at least it hadn’t shattered into a million pieces.
    It didn’t take long for Ethan to show up but he was alone. Liz stood there in front of her stairs freezing and feeling awkward, wishing another deputy had come instead, like one of the Wilson brothers—Gabe or Logan. She really didn’t want to deal with Ethan tonight or any other night.
    Ethan’s mouth tightened when he saw Liz shivering in her skimpy silk pajamas, standing on the sidewalk all alone. He took off his coat and put it around her tightly, wanting to yell at her. Why was Liz standing in the dark? Didn’t she know better than that? If she was his woman he would—he shook his head and put those tempting thoughts out of his head. He had to keep reminding himself they had nothing in common. Besides she was dating that uptight snob, Gary Peters. Stella had told him that.
    “Did you see anyone?” Ethan asked her, folding his arms across his chest and trying his best to look intimidating. His mouth was set in a grim, firm line which wasn’t unusual. Ethan hardly ever smiled. People usually stepped away from him when he got this mean look on his face. Ethan knew people wondered what he did in the military and made up stories about him. The rumors helped his reputation as a dangerous character, so he said nothing to confirm or deny them. Since he didn’t like being sociable it was fine with him.
    Liz looked up into his hazel eyes, wishing Ethan would just put his big arms around her. His body would engulf her and make her feel warm and safe. Instead she answered him in a steady voice, hoping he didn’t notice her voice was a little shaky. “I heard a noise then I came downstairs and saw this and called you. Must be bored kids, I guess. My door is still locked so I guess that is good news for me.”
    “You should have waited upstairs. What if he came back, Liz? You would have no way to defend yourself, then what?” Ethan said in a hard, firm voice that expected no arguments. He couldn’t understand why he cared so much that she put herself in harm’s way, but the thought of someone hurting her was like a punch to his gut.
    That remark got Liz angry and she let him know it. He certainly knew how to put her on the defensive. “Just because I am a woman doesn’t mean I can’t defend myself, Deputy White, so do not presume that you know anything about me.” Liz could have explained that she had taken self-defense lessons for years, but she didn’t like his chauvinistic attitude.
    Ethan was tempted to pull Liz in his arms and kiss her until she stopped arguing with him, but instead he gave her his best impatient look that made everybody stay quiet as soon as they saw it. Only it didn’t seem to work with Liz.
    Liz stood there and