Page 45 of Colorado K-9 Rescue

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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.

CHAPTER 29

Feeling violated and sick along with anger at whoever this was, Evan didn’t want to tell Mckenna. He finished checking his yard, and when he was satisfied no one was there, he whistled and got Mocha to follow him back toward the deck.

Mckenna stepped out. “Are either of you hurt? Was there anyone there?”

The urge to protect her surged through Evan. He didn’t like to withhold information, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell her what he’d seen either. When the evidence guy dropped off Mckenna’s work clothes in a little bit, he’d pull him aside and ask him to cast the footprint. Maybe if he knew the size and type of boot, he could narrow down who was stalking her. Evan forced a smile. “Squirrel. Again. They’re cute, but obnoxious little creatures. Everything’s fine.”

“Okay.” Mckenna tilted her head slightly and shrugged. She went back inside with Mocha, telling the Lab she had a great breakfast ready for him—the same thing he had every day—dog food.

Evan stopped the fake smile he’d put on for Mckenna after she and Mocha were inside. He stared around his yard again. Someone had seriously crossed a line. You didn’t come to an FBI agent’s house, sit outside the bedroom window to be a Peeping Tom, and expect to get away with it. The kidnapper was growing bolder and more reckless.

Mckenna telling him about the “catch and release” phrase went through his mind.

“I’m going to catch you first, you bastard,” Evan muttered. “And you’ll never be released.”

Evan insisted on following Mckenna again when they drove to the office. Ever since he’d gone outside when Mocha was barking, he’d been different. Mckenna knew he was holding something back. But what? And why? Cassidy’s words went through her head again and Mckenna cursed her sister for saying anything. And then herself for listening.

They parked next to each other, and Evan was out of his vehicle first. Mckenna caught him looking around the garage, like he was clearing a room trying to find a suspect. Yes, something more had happened this morning and he wasn’t telling her anything. Mckenna didn’t know if she should be relieved or angry.

He could be protecting me, but it’s better if I know what’s going on. Then I’m not surprised by anything.

Mocha happily walked down his portable car stairs from his crate and wagging his tail, greeted Evan and then went and leaned against Mckenna. She rubbed his ears.

At least this guy will always be honest. I wish he could talk and tell me what was really making him bark. Or who…

The journal message from her former kidnapper ran through her mind. He, whoever he was—because she wasn’t convinced it was Toby—knew about Evan. What if it was him there this morning? That would explain why Evan was on such high alert.

To say she was tired of being kept in the dark was an understatement. While she appreciated Evan wanting to keep her safe, she also craved honesty—even if it did make her afraid.

Evan put a hand on the small of her back and they headed inside, Mocha taking the lead. They entered the officeand several people stopped what they were doing, obviously wondering why Mckenna, Mocha and Evan were coming in together. Mckenna couldn’t help the heat that she felt rise on her cheeks. She was certain they were turning a bright red.

Glancing back over her shoulder, she saw Evan had his “office” expression on. Gone was the easy smile and the guy who had been nothing but tender and loving with her. Back was the intense agent that no one wanted to work with—the lone wolf, as Cassidy had called him.

Mckenna wanted to stop, kiss Evan in front of everyone and say, “There! Gossip about that today.” Whichever secretary had talked to Cassidy about the kiss outside the coffee shop was gleefully thrilled to see them together.

Good grief, it’s like high school or maybe even middle school, all over again.

They exchanged glances and Evan walked Mckenna to her office. “Stay here today. Work from here where you’ll be safe. Okay? I’ll touch base throughout the day and update you if I have anything.”

“You promise you’ll keep me in the loop?” Mckenna asked, still having that gut feeling that he wasn’t being quite truthful which bothered her a little bit. Although after their night together, she did believe he wanted to protect her. This could be his way of doing that.