Shattered Heart (Z series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Unfortunately, her conscience wouldn’t have allowed that—not knowing what he did. William Terran killed her husband, and she refused to be linked in any way to him from this day on.
    Charlotte cut between the cafe and the small bookstore next to it, wanting to get home and lock herself inside. At least she’d be safe. For a while.
    A hand gripped her wrist and dragged her into the dark recesses of the alley, against cold concrete and the warmth of another taller, wider body. Fear and a need to escape had her pushing against the person.
    “It’s me, Charlotte.” His heated breath stirred the air around her ear.
    JT! Her heart slowed in relief for a moment.
    He smelled of spring rain on a pine tree, fresh and appealing. Forbidden thoughts accelerated her pulse, her heart now knocking painfully against her ribcage.
    “What...are you...doing skulking in an alley,” she stammered, angry with her lack of control. His body crushed hers. The contact had her nipples drawing up tight and caused them to tingle.
    “I saw William parked in front of the cafe. I was worried. I don’t like the look he gave you when you told him you weren’t ready to marry him. His threat was real, Charlotte. I’m afraid he’ll do something to make you change your mind.”
    “Like what?”
    “I don’t know, but I don’t think you should be alone. I need to stay close until all this is over.”
    The thought of him getting any closer to her caused an uncomfortable heat to creep up her body. “How are...you going to do that?” She wanted to kick herself for sounding like a babbling idiot.
    “I need to stay at your place at night. You should be safe at the cafe during the day, and I can keep an eye on Terran at work.”
    “What? How?”
    “I forgot to tell you. I have your husband’s old job. I started today.”
    Her jaw dropped. “If he knows you, then you can hardly be seen around me, especially at my place.”
    He smiled. “I’ll make sure no one sees me. I know what I’m doing. This is hardly my first cakewalk. Believe me. I’ve dealt with way worse than Terran.”
    Charlotte didn’t know what to say. How was she going to allow this man to stay with her when she could hardly deal with being next to him in a dark alley?
    “I don’t know, JT.”
    “I’m going to stay with you at night. No arguments. Now go. I’ll see you after dark.”
    She walked past him, her head still reeling with what would happen when he did show up. The two of them would be alone. Hell, even if she put him in the guest bedroom, he’d be just down the hall. Only two doors separating them and frankly, just thinking about the man sent her body into fits. How was she going to spend the night in the same house with him?
     
    * * *
     
    JT slipped behind the building and ducked under the window, keeping out of view of the neighbors. He tapped lightly on the glass and waited. When Charlotte didn’t come, he rapped again, a little louder this time. The shade came up, and she leaned toward the window pane, her eyes widening when she recognized him.
    She lifted it up. “Why didn’t you come to the door?”
    “Sssh, I don’t want anyone to hear or see me.”
    He pulled himself inside and closed the window behind him, then dropped the shade.
    “Were you sleeping?” He pointed to her pajamas, a very unsexy top and bottom that completely engulfed her.
    “I was getting ready. I have to get up early.”
    “Okay. I’ll bunk in the living room. You go on to bed.”
    “All right. Goodnight.” She hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave.
    JT ambled down the hall to the front of the house. He wouldn’t be able to sleep for hours, not knowing that Terran could, at that moment, be outside Charlotte’s, waiting to make a move. If he were the man, he’d scare her in some way, enough to get her to change her mind.
    That thought alone ignited JT’s temper. He clenched his hand into fists and squeezed tight, his nails digging into his palms.
    He walked around