Read Love Inspired Suspense January 2014 for Free Online

up the water and get her emotions in check.
    But she looked vulnerable and young, her shoulders slumped as she halfheartedly swiped at the drops of water. She’d given up her family to testify. Given up the friends and support system she’d had before her husband’s murder.
    She’d been cautioned against making too many friends in Milwaukee. Until the trial, they wanted her disconnected, free from the temptation to say too much, the danger of slipping and revealing her identity.
    She had no one.
    Except for him.
    For some reason, that mattered to Hunter more than he wanted it to. He told himself it was because he had a younger sister, and that he’d have wanted someone to take care of her emotionally if she’d been in the same situation. He thought the reason might be a lot more complicated than that. Annie was a beautiful woman with a beautiful spirit. That was a difficult combination to resist.
    He knelt beside her, took the cloth from her hand. “I’ll clean it up.”
    â€œYou’re a U.S. marshal. Not a maid,” she replied, but she scooted away and sat on the floor, her back resting against the cupboards, her arms around her knees.
    â€œI’m whatever I need to be.” He finished wiping up the water and dropped the cloth into the sink.
    When she didn’t move, he sat beside her. “Right now, I think you need more than a U.S. marshal. I think you need a friend.”
    â€œDon’t be nice to me, okay?” Her voice broke, and she dropped her head to her knees.
    â€œAren’t I always nice?” he responded, knowing he wasn’t. Hoping the comment would make her smile.
    Or at least keep her from crying.
    â€œNice?” She turned her head, eyeing him dispassionately. “I suppose some people would call you that.”
    â€œWhat would you call me?” he asked, more curious than he should be. She was a witness, and her opinion of him shouldn’t matter. Right at that moment, though, it did.
    â€œEfficient.”
    â€œNot hard-nosed or cold, huh?” He’d been called both on a number of occasions. He’d thought the descriptions apt and had taken them as compliments. They wouldn’t be compliments coming from someone like Annie.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThat’s your problem, then, Annie. You’re too nice. Instead of getting mad at people who treat you badly—”
    â€œYou’ve never treated me badly,” she cut in, and for some reason her continued kindness annoyed him. He’d rather she be like everyone else he’d protected. Convinced that he was as cold as he pretended to be.
    â€œI’ve never treated you kindly, either,” he pointed out. “I’ve done my job. That’s what I get paid for, but you continue to act like I’m doing you a huge favor.”
    â€œIs that what I’m doing?” She stood, and she didn’t look vulnerable or young anymore. She looked angry. “Acting?”
    â€œThat wasn’t what I was saying.”
    â€œThen what were you saying, Hunter? That I’m too foolish to know that you’re just here doing what you’ve been paid for? That I’m too stupid to realize that the only reason you’re talking to me right now is because you want answers about the doll and you’re afraid I’m going to have some kind of mental breakdown before I give them to you?” Her voice was soft, her tone light, but there was heat in her gaze.
    â€œThat’s not why—”
    â€œYou want to know the truth? A year ago, I might have been a fool and I might have been stupid. I trusted people because I wanted to think the best of everyone. After what I learned about Joe, I’m not that naive. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be kind.” She grabbed the folder and thrust it at him. “Yes, it’s Sophia’s doll. That’s the dress I made for it. Check the stitching. I didn’t have any pink