Turn On A Dime - Kade's Turn Read Free Page B

her hair teasing him with memories he’d tried to forget. She even had the same look in her eyes as she gazed at him.
    I trust you.
    “Someone’s chasing me,” she gasped, breathless from running.
    Kade scrutinized her. She was obviously terrified. Her eyes were so wide the whites were showing and her mouth was pinched with fear. Her body trembled against his and he didn’t think it was from the cold.
    Drawing his weapon, Kade pushed Kathleen behind him. “Stay close,” he ordered.
    She didn’t argue, just picked up the dog—when had she gotten a dog?—and did as he’d said, scurrying behind him. He felt her clutch a handful of his jacket as he headed back to her apartment. The gesture seemed to awaken a part of him he’d thought only Blane could touch—the protector rather than the killer.
    Kade’s eyes scanned the area for anything that wasn’t supposed to be there, even as another part of his mind processed the unbelievable fact that Kathleen implicitly trusted him to keep her safe. He wanted to reach back and take her hand, pull her up next to him so he could wrap an arm around her, but that would be unwise. If there was someone out here, he might need both hands free, so Kade resisted the urge to shield her body with his.
    But he saw no one and nothing on the way back. When they reached her apartment building, Kade holstered his gun. “There’s no one around,” he said.
    “I saw someone earlier,” she insisted, then pointed to a small knot of trees and bushes. “Over there.”
    Kade walked to where she’d indicated, crouching down to look at the ground. The snow was trampled here, the footprints large and heavy, pressing the tread of work boots into the ground. Someone had been here all right, and for a while. Kade glanced up and saw a direct line of sight into Kathleen’s front window. Cigarette butts littered the area and Kade reached for one.
    “What is it?” Kathleen asked, hovering over his shoulder.
    “Cigarette butts,” he replied, showing her one, then he stood. “Let’s get you inside.”
    This time, he didn’t hesitate to shield her body with his as they went up the stairs, though Kade would bet the guy was long gone by now.
    Kathleen tripped on the top step and Kade moved fast, snagging her around the waist and hauling her backward against him, which was a big mistake.
    Her scent clogged his throat as the silky strands of her hair brushed his neck. He had the insane urge to lean down and bury his face in the crook between her neck and shoulder and see if her skin there was as soft as he’d imagined. Kade tightened his hold ever so slightly. She was so small, seemed so fragile, her bones half the size of his, yet she was brave and strong. He admired that. She’d climbed out of the window of a burning house, fought and shot a man who would’ve killed her—and stood up to Kade when others would have quaked in fear. The bite of that stinging slap she’d given him in Blane’s study still made him grin with reluctant admiration.
    All these thoughts assailed Kade in the span of a second while Kathleen paused to catch her breath. She tried to move, but Kade’s grip was locked tight and she had to tug on his arm.
    “Thanks,” she said.
    Kade abruptly released her, startled that he’d been reluctant to do so.
    This was really becoming a problem.
    Following her inside, Kade locked the door behind him, then glanced around curiously. The last time he’d been here had been a quick in-and-out, just long enough to leave the envelope with the money on the table. He hadn’t lingered to look around so took the opportunity now.
    She had a Christmas tree in her living room, shining gaily with festive lights. There were a shit-ton of ornaments on it, family ones by the look of it, their dates stretching back to before Kathleen had been born.
    “Would you like some coffee?”
    Kade glanced at Kathleen, who was now standing in the kitchen, nervously shifting her weight from one foot to the