Gut Instinct. Barb Han
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wasn’t thinking straight. You have to go.”
“Wait a minute. Are you worried about that killer coming after me, too?”
“I don’t know what could happen next. This whole experience is surreal and I don’t want to take any chances.” Julie wished she could wake up from this nightmare. Except a little piece of her felt a sense of peace at seeing Luke again. She told herself it was only because she had to know he was all right. After the way they’d left things, she couldn’t let him go completely.
“I’d feel better if you stayed with me for a few days,” Alice said.
“It’s safer for both of us if I stay with Luke. I’m sure he’ll find this guy, and when he does, I can have my life back.”
“How can you stand to be around him after what he put you through?” Alice asked, incredulous.
“It’s different. This is work and our past is behind us,” Julie lied. One glance in his direction released a thousand butterflies in her stomach. She rationalized the only reason that still happened was because her body remembered the passion between them. Their sex had surpassed earth-shattering, world-exploding-into-a-thousand-flecks-of-light hotness. The physical had never been an issue. She’d even lured him into bed one more time before he left, hoping they could build from there. The sex blazed, but after was all wrong.
They never got closure on their emotional connection, she reasoned. At least she hadn’t. He, on the other hand, looked to be doing just fine.
Maybe a part of him regretted the quick marriage?
Whatever had happened overseas could’ve expedited his realization they were two strangers who had jumped too quickly into a lifetime commitment. Young people were known to be impetuous with their decisions, hearts.
Alice stared intently at Julie for a few seconds that seemed to drag into minutes. Then came “Well, if you’re sure.”
“I am.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl,” Alice reassured her.
“Yeah? Well, this guy won’t care what you are,” Julie said. The truth cut like a serrated knife. She looked to Luke for comfort, reassurance. For now, she wouldn’t stress about the fact that one glance at him stopped the invisible band from tightening around her chest. Or that his touch warmed her in places it shouldn’t.
“Tell me you’re not staying here tonight,” Alice said.
“I’m not.”
Luke motioned for her to come back toward him. He hadn’t stopped watching her since she’d stepped away, looking uncomfortable the second she left.
“Promise to stay safe,” she said to Alice.
The short blonde nodded and gave Julie another hug.
“This will all be over soon and we’ll have lunch at Mi Cocina again. Like normal people,” she said. She pulled back and saw big tears filling her friend’s eyes.
“Are you kidding?” Alice asked. “After this ordeal, we’re going out for margaritas. Or maybe I’ll skip the mixer and go straight to tequila shots.”
Julie glanced up at Luke. He’d finished his conversation with the officers but kept his distance. He looked impatient for her to wrap things up.
“Take care of yourself. I’ll be in touch,” she said to Alice.
Her friend started down the sidewalk.
Luke was by Julie’s side in a heartbeat. He must’ve noticed her shivering, not from cold but from the shock wearing off, because he put his arm around her shoulders. She fit perfectly, just exactly as she remembered. Body to body, the air thinned and then thrummed. Julie ignored the familiar rush of warmth traveling over her skin and making her legs rubbery.
“Where’s your friend parked?” he asked.
Julie scanned the vehicles lining the street. “I don’t see her car.”
“Call her back.”
Last thing Julie wanted was to witness a confrontation. “Why?”
“He’s around here somewhere.” He skimmed the street.
“Alice!”
Her friend stopped and turned.
Luke had already flagged an officer. “Do me a favor?”
“Sure thing,” the cop said.
“See to it the blonde gets into her car, locks the doors, and then wait until she pulls away.” He motioned toward Alice.
The officer nodded. “Sure thing.”
Luke turned to Julie and said, “You okay with staying over at my place tonight until we find a suitable safe house?”
The thought of being alone with Luke at his place for an entire night sent a very different kind of shiver down her body. She downplayed it as her being cold. Looking him straight in the eyes, she asked, “Do you really think that’s best?”
He didn’t answer her. He had already started walking her toward the house. “Want to grab an overnight bag?”
She nodded. He escorted her inside, washed the blood off his hands and waited while she threw together a few items to get her through the next couple of days.
“Rob’s one step ahead of me, if it’s him. I don’t want to let you out of my sight until I’m certain you’re protected,” he said low, in practically a whisper, as he walked her toward his truck.
His reasoning made sense. After the way he’d been looking at her all night, she suspected he also probably felt some sense of guilt about how he’d left things before. Maybe he could catch a killer and ease his conscience at the same time.
Maybe she’d get the closure she so desperately needed.
Too many nights Luke Campbell had shown up in her dreams, charming her. If she spent the night with him, fixed the past, then maybe she’d be able to walk away clean, too. And possibly be ready to start a life with Herb. Or someone new. She doubted Herb would want to see her again after she’d told him she needed time to think.
Luke helped her into the truck and scanned the street again before he climbed into the driver’s seat.
She glanced back at her once-quiet neighborhood.
People were on their porches or standing at their front windows watching the circus of lights. Police were urging them to go back inside and lock their doors. Knowing a cold-blooded killer stalked her, and seemed intent on never letting up, made blood run cold in her veins.
“Wanna scoot a little closer? You’re shivering again.”
“I’m fine. It’s just been a long day.”
He turned the heater up. “Shock’s wearing off. I’m sorry this happened. If we saw each other again, I’d hoped it would be under different circumstances.”
If. He’d clearly had no plans to seek her out. Why did that make her heart sink?
Because Luke was her only failure in life.
“Breathe in and out slowly,” Luke said.
She did a few times. It helped calm her fried nerves. “Where’d you learn to do that?”
He shrugged, kept his gaze focused out the front window. “I took the military up on its offer to see a shrink. She was big on breathing.”
Luke Campbell went to counseling? If he hadn’t told her himself, she never would’ve believed it. “I’m shocked. You seemed so adamant about not involving doctors or having someone poke around in your head.”
“I made a lot of mistakes when I came home from duty.” A beat passed. “Some I could fix.”
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