Free Arms of Promise by Crystal Walton

inside. “Split personality. Sméagol or Gollum?”
    Rolling her eyes, Anna unlocked the deadbolt, inched the door open, and nudged the gray tabby back with her foot. “Hang on, Bailey girl. I know you’re hungry.” Anna flipped on the lights, and the cat weaved through her legs, purring with enough gusto to rival a train on the “L.”
    Sméagol. That was a good sign. But just in case, he’d check the place out. Evan motioned toward the hallway. “I’m gonna drop your bag in your room and use the bathroom, if that’s all right.”
    “Sure.” Anna set her purse on the kitchen counter and went for the cans of cat food in the pantry.
    Down the hall, he withdrew his Sig and inched the bedroom door open. After sweeping the room, he slipped into the bathroom and checked behind the curtain. Nothing but a few paw prints. He secured his gun, washed up, and headed back to the kitchen to find Anna humming while preparing hot chocolate.
    Nothing hampered her spirits for long. She popped a few mini marshmallows in a mug with One Kitty Away From Becoming A Crazy Cat Lady written on it and turned. “Want one?”
    And stay longer with her? More than he should. “I need to get going.”
    “Right. Yeah.” Anna left her mug and shuffled across the peeling linoleum, hands in her pockets. “I, um . . . Thanks for today. All of it.” She peered up with an adorable frazzled expression on her face, as if she found saying good-bye as awkward as he did. An almost bashful grin touched her lips. “I really enjoyed hanging out with you.”
    His throat turned to cotton while he stood in front of this amazing woman looking at him with such honest vulnerability. “Me too.”
    He opened the door, stopped across the threshold, and swallowed before turning. Leaning her hip and temple against the edge of the door, Anna sent another unassuming smile his way. Man, why’d he turn around?
    A damp breeze blew in from the front door. His gaze shot from an older guy walking in back to Anna. “Don’t unlock this door for anyone. You understand me?”
    She gave a quick nod.
    “If so much as a single hair rises on your arm tonight, you call me. I don’t care what time it is. Okay?”
    “Okay.”
    He blew out a breath. Now, back away . For the first time since being around her again, his legs actually obeyed and stepped backward. “Good night, Anna.”
    “Good night.” She closed the door.
    He didn’t move again until the deadbolt clicked into place. Gripping both sides of the trim, he pressed his forehead against the door, thankful for the steel barrier keeping him from a battle he would’ve lost if he’d stayed.
    She’d be livid if she knew her dad had one of his town cars staked across the street, but at least Evan could leave with some peace of mind knowing she had surveillance for the evening. As much as he wanted to stay and make her feel safe, Anna needed him on the field, which was exactly where he was headed.

Chapter Seven
    Present
    Staked out in his Accord across from a park near Anna’s place, Evan drank the Americano he’d picked up on the way to follow the GPS tracker. The men had ditched the Suburban for an Escalade. Nothing like trying to keep a low profile.
    Evan adjusted his camera lens and zoomed in on the SUV right as Crater Face got out and lit a cigarette. What were they standing around waiting for?
    His cell buzzed in the cup holder. Harris. He swiped the screen. “Tell me you’ve got something.”
    “Yeah, I’ve got something. It’s called a warning. What are you getting yourself into?”
    Whatever he had to.
    “Is this why you asked me where to find a tracker? Jeez, O’Riley. Michelli’s not a guy to mess with. Neither are his hired guns. Let the DA’s Office handle it.”
    So, they were Michelli’s thugs. Evan swore away from the phone.
    “I’m telling ya, man. Walk away from this one.”
    “You know I can’t do that.”
    “You won’t do Anna any good if you’re dead.”
    Evan massaged his