Yuletide Protector (Love Inspired Suspense) Read Online Free PDF Page B

chatty with my neighbors.”
    “I’m a police officer. People skills are important. So what’s your reason for wanting to stay so badly that you’d risk your life? I know it’s not bulbs in the backyard or nice crown molding in the living room. You can get that anywhere.”
    “You wouldn’t understand.”
    He opened his SUV door and climbed out, leaning his full weight against the side of his truck. “Try me.”
    Daria stared into Kevin’s face as he waited, with interest in his eyes. He had beautiful eyes, she had to admit.
    “My parents moved around when I was growing up. A lot. My last count was that I’ve lived in over thirty-five different places. I stopped counting when I got married. Although the moving didn’t end there. George always wanted a bigger place. Something more luxurious.”
    “Were your parents in the military?”
    Folding her arms across her chest, she said, “No, my dad is an artist.” She shrugged with a smile and glanced down the narrow city street as a car pulled out of the driveway. Someone else on their way to work. “They were typical children of the sixties who never quite moved beyond that era. Of course, you’d never know it to look at them now. But they still go on their occasional marches and still believe their one voice will save the world and make it a better place.”
    And unlike Daria, they believed that staying in one place too long would steal her father’s creativity and make him stagnant. Daria believed it would keep her grounded. She was just beginning to feel that way here until Kevin had dropped his bomb about George.
    “You see, when I bought this house I promised myself it would be the end of the line for me. I figured the only way I’d be leaving here is in a body bag.”
    Bad joke. She knew it the moment she’d uttered the words. The dark cloud that shadowed Kevin’s face just proved it.
    “That’s precisely what I’m trying to avoid,” he said in a voice that was much too deep and ominous to keep her from shuddering.
    She cleared her throat. “Look. I know you don’t understand. Unless you’ve lived the way I have, younever will. You won’t see why this house is so important to me. Or why I can’t leave.”
    “It’s just a house, Daria.” His words sounded so cold, although she was sure he hadn’t meant to be harsh.
    Tears stung her eyes. She knew it was impossible for him to comprehend how she felt. He’d probably lived in the same house his whole life just like Mrs. Hildebrand.
    Daria pushed up the sleeve of her winter coat and glanced at her watch. She had to get to work. “Are you going to follow me all the way to the office?”
    “That’s the plan. As soon as I know for sure you’ve made it into your building I’ll head out.”
    “When do you get to sleep?”
    “I slept a little bit in the car last night. And when it got too cold I went for a walk and checked out the yard to make sure no one was lurking.”
    “I heard Spot barking.”
    “He’s a good watchdog. If anyone had been loitering around here, Spot would have barked and I would have been on top of it. It’s kind of nice having a dog in the neighborhood.”
    “Yeah, real swell. Maybe I should get one, too.”
    Daria sighed. Spot was a sweet dog and even though he always managed to make a mess in her yard, she liked him. It was Mrs. Hildebrand’s bark Daria hated being on the receiving end of.
    “I need to go,” she said.
    Kevin smiled, fatigue pulling at the corners of his eyes just like the morning they’d met.
    “What time will you be coming home?”
    She tossed him a wry grin. “I thought you said you were keeping tabs on me.”
    “I know your routine. In to work at nine, out the doorat five-thirty every evening. I’m asking just in case you’re planning to run errands after work.”
    “If you insist on this insane idea of watching over me, I should be home a little before six.”
     
     
    Kevin watched as Daria turned her back and walked to her truck. He