Page 28 of Colorado K-9 Rescue

E arly morning sunlight filtered through the slat blinds in Evan’s room.

He woke to Mckenna’s soft breathing next to him.

She was perfect in every way, and the night before had been like nothing he’d ever experienced.

He wanted to call in sick to work and not leave the house, but the phone call he’d had with Keith Warren last night ran through his mind.

That was enough to get him out of bed and heading to the shower.

Keith had told him that Toby’s ankle monitor must be malfunctioning—he couldn’t bring up a location and neither Toby nor Rex was at their house.

Evan had been furious, but he knew that sometimes malfunctions happened with monitors.

The person might not even realize it until their probation officer showed up on their doorstep, but the fact that no one seemed to know where they were bothered Evan.

Maybe one of them had broken into Mckenna’s house.

Maybe Toby never did cover for Rex because they were working together.

There were so many maybes.

He heard Mckenna stir, and he knew he had to admit it—he was in love. He’d do anything to protect her—even give up his own life for her. There were too many unknowns with this investigation, and he wanted answers.

Now.

If something happened to her, he would never be able to live with himself. And how are you going to live with yourself if you get the promotion and move? Are you willing to break her heart for your career?

Evan sighed and started the water for the shower.

Right now, the less she knew the better, and not only about his promotion, but the case as well.

That might be a way to keep her safe. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

He knew she wanted this resolved—probably even more than he did—and he would do anything to help find the kidnappers.

He never should have let her come with him to Penny Gardner’s home, which was a big mistake.

It had brought her too close to the investigation and could be what prompted the break-in and taunting by the kidnapper.

For now, he had to separate her from the case. Maybe even talk to her boss about assigning someone else as Lily’s victim specialist, although that would make Mckenna furious. However, it would be worth it if it meant she wasn’t harmed. He could beg forgiveness later.

And he wanted her to stay with him until he could find Toby and Rex. As he waited for the water to warm up, and watched her sleeping, he realized he wouldn’t mind if she wanted to stay with him after Toby and Rex were caught.

Stretching, Mckenna woke up to Evan’s side of the bed empty again and the shower running.

She smiled and hugged a pillow to her chest. She was in love.

She was certain. There was no one else like Evan.

No one made her feel the way he did. But what if Cassidy was right…

What if he was using her and was going to break her heart by leaving?

What if once this case was over, he would move on and not want to be with her?

What-if after what-if kept running through Mckenna’s mind until she wanted to scream into the pillow.

But Cassidy couldn’t be right. Everything with Evan seemed real. Perfect. Or maybe she wanted it to be that way. Maybe she was setting herself up for a heartbreak but, for now, she’d take that risk.

She thought about last night, when she’d asked Evan about his phone call. Was he talking about Toby and Rex? He’d said no, but she knew he wasn’t being honest and that bothered her. Was he holding back to protect her? Or was he really working on another case?

Getting out of bed, Mckenna decided there was one way to get her mind off all these thoughts—she went and joined Evan in the shower.

Evan had been surprised when the shower door opened and Mckenna had stepped in with him.

They might be a little late for work, but he didn’t care.

It was worth it to explore her body more and have her do the same back.

He had to stop thinking about the things she’d done that morning or else he’d end up back in bed with her and they’d never make it to the office.

He heard her footsteps going down the stairs and knew she was going to let Mocha out.

He’d told her to wait and not do it alone, but Mckenna was worried that Mocha might have an accident.

Finishing his tie, Evan went downstairs and joined her.

Luckily, she’d waited, but Mocha sat at the door looking desperate.

“Go ahead and let him out,” Evan said as he opened the gun safe near the back door and pulled out his service weapon.

As soon as Mckenna slid the door back, Mocha took off. Evan thought he really had to go, but then he heard barking and growling. “Get back inside,” Evan told Mckenna.

“But…”

“Mckenna, please. I’ll make sure Mocha’s okay,” Evan said, drawing his gun and holding it in a low ready position.

He made sure Mckenna wasn’t in view of any window and then he cleared the deck.

His father had been the first person to teach him how to clear a room and he thought about the advice of breaking an area up into slivers like a pizza or a pie. No one was on the deck.

Evan listened. Mocha was still growling near his neighbor’s fence.

His neighbor had a big, poofy orange cat.

Hopefully, Mocha didn’t have the animal cornered.

Evan cleared each area before heading toward Mocha, who’d gone back to barking.

Just because Mocha was barking in one direction didn’t mean that there wasn’t someone else waiting to ambush him.

Especially if Toby and Rex were working together.

Gun still in ready low, Evan went over to where Mocha was now pacing and whining.

He’d recently put in landscaping and added in daylilies as a good flower for xeriscaping.

In the dirt around the daylilies, there was a boot print—right where someone could see in the window.

Evan glanced inside. The blind was down, but the slats open.

Someone had watched them last night.