Free Hidden in Shadows by Hope White

they opened the back door, cheers echoed from the house.
    The door slammed on the welcoming sound, shutting Luke out. Yet he stood there for a few seconds. He wasn’t sure why.
    â€œYou got work to do.” He went back to the car and got the files. He’d take them up to his room in the garage and get started on identifying connections between mission volunteers and the drug ring.
    Working would keep his mind focused and his thoughts off of the beautiful Krista Yates.
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    Krista wasn’t sure where she got the energy to open the next day, so she thanked the Lord for the much-needed strength.
    She made a pot of coffee at home, threw in a couple of pieces of toast and was ready when Luke knocked at eight. She handed him a mug of coffee and piece of toast with peanut butter.
    He was dressed more casually today. He’d traded his dress slacks, collared shirt and tie for jeans, a Chicago Bears sweatshirt over a black T-shirt and gym shoes. He leaned against the counter as he ate, Anastasia weaving between his legs. Luckily Luke wasn’t much of a morning person either. Either that or he wasn’t sleeping well in her drafty garage.
    Guilt snagged her conscience.
    â€œYou warm enough up in the attic?” she asked, and took a bite of her toast.
    â€œI’m fine.”
    â€œYou sure?”
    â€œI can take care of myself, no worries.” He sipped his coffee.
    â€œYou’re sleeping okay?”
    â€œNot really.”
    â€œBecause it’s cold?”
    â€œBecause I’m worried about you.” He dipped his toast in his coffee. “I’ve decided to get you a dog.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œA watch dog will alert me if someone’s outside.”
    â€œI can’t have a dog. Anastasia—”
    â€œI’ll keep the dog outside with me.”
    â€œAnd when you leave?”
    â€œWe’ll deal with that when the time comes.”
    â€œI don’t need a dog.”
    â€œEverybody needs a dog.”
    That comment shocked her. Dogs were lovable and loyal and wonderfully innocent. She would have a dog except it would interfere with her travels and long work hours. It just wasn’t fair to the pet.
    Anastasia, on the other hand, was independent and low maintenance.
    â€œYou ready?” he asked, rinsing his plate and mug.
    â€œYeah.” She grabbed her purse from the counter.
    When she turned, he was standing a bit close, looking deeply into her eyes.
    â€œYou sure you’re up to this?”
    He acted like she was about to take the stage in front of a thousand people. He sounded like he really cared about her. She studied his bright blue eyes and caught herself. Silly girl. He’s a cop out to nail a criminal.
    â€œThe question is, are you sure you’re up to my handyman list?” she shot back.
    â€œAlready put tools in the car.”
    â€œAll right, then.”
    He led her out of the kitchen, triple-checked the lock on the back door, and they took off. When they pulled into the tea shop parking lot she noticed her little Ford Focus parked in the corner. She’d forgotten she’d left it behind last night.
    She’d tried to completely forget what happened last night, the shock of the intruder, his hard grip and verbal demand for her purse. But why? She didn’t carry more than twenty dollars in there.
    It wasn’t a random purse snatching and you know it.
    â€œHey, you okay?” Luke asked, pulling up next to her car.
    Great, now the guy could tell when she was sliding into the dark, scary places of her mind?
    â€œBusy day ahead,” she said and got out of the car. She didn’t want to talk about any of it anymore: Garcia, the house intruder the other night, the break-in at the shop.
    She wanted life to get back to normal. She approached the back door, deactivated the alarm and stuck her key in the door.
    â€œHang on, let me do the honors.” Luke smiled and acted as if this was a polite gesture,