Every Move She Makes

No matter where she goes, he knows her every move…

Long ago, Rachel Carpenter was a glamorous soap star. She gave it all up to move to Napa Valley with her daughters to open up a bookstore near her family vineyard. Her life is safe and dependable, until she encounters Kane Lafferty at a wilderness camp in the rugged High Sierra. A burned-out police detective struggling with his own demons, Kane is instantly attracted to Rachel. And like Rachel, he isn’t sure if he’s ready to open up his heart. But everything is about to change…

Someone is watching from the darkness. A fanatic obsessed with Rachel for years has decided to claim what he believes is his. It will be up to Kane to not only protect his new love and her family, but to uncover the identity of the stalker before it’s too late for all of them…

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Who’s Watching Now Series

Every Move She Makes

Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Who’s Watching Now

Jannine Gallant

LYRICAL PRESS

Kensington Publishing Corp.

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Copyright © 2014 by Janine Gallant

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First Electronic Edition: March 2015

eISBN-13: 978-1-61650-642-1

eISBN-10: 1-61650-642-3

First Print Edition: March 2015

ISBN-13: 978-1-61650-643-8

ISBN-10: 1-61650-643-1

Printed in the United States of America

In loving memory of my grandma, Lillian Watson. Strong and sweet. Generous and funny. I can only hope to be half the woman you were. You will be missed.

Fourteen Years Earlier

He stared at the television screen, his gaze riveted on the girl with the long, auburn hair. The most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. She spoke to a man—a man unworthy of her perfection—her green eyes alight with amusement.

His
hand should be the one touching her silk-clad shoulder.
He
should be the one caressing her soft skin. No one else. She should belong to him.

Need surged through him, and he pulled a magazine over his lap to cover the evidence. A commercial flashed on the screen, and the red-haired beauty was gone. He hit the arm of the couch with his fist.

“Honey, you can change the channel if you like.” His mother’s voice drifted into the room ahead of her. “I don’t mind missing my soap just this once.”

“I don’t care what’s on. I’m not watching it anyway.”

“You look a bit feverish.” She touched his forehead with a cool hand.

“I took some aspirin with my regular meds earlier.”
Why won’t she leave me alone?
He steadied his breathing while waiting through several more commercials.

An advertisement for tampons ended, and the green-eyed girl was there again. Her beauty tugged at his heart.

“Oh, good, Jordan’s on today’s show. Her character’s new, and I hope they give her a big storyline. Isn’t she just the prettiest thing?”

He tuned out his mother’s voice the way he would a buzzing mosquito and focused on the television. So...her name was Jordan. None of the other girls on the show were like her. The others didn’t feed his desire. They didn’t create a burning need inside him. Jordan was special. Perfect.

His gaze followed her every move until the scene ended. A sigh of disappointment escaped as he leaned back against the couch cushions and waited while a different storyline built. More commercials followed. He gritted his teeth.

“You look tired, honey. Maybe you should go back to bed.”

“I will in a while.”

“How about some soup? Does that sound good?”

He nodded.
Anything to get you to leave me alone.

Jordan reappeared on the screen. His stomach jumped, and the magazine on his lap twitched. God, how he wanted her.

She wouldn’t be interested in someone his age. The time wasn’t right, but someday it would be. He’d make her want him as much as he wanted her. Someday the beautiful Jordan would belong to him.

Chapter One

“My baby has pink hair.” Rachel Carpenter planted her elbows on the table and held her face in her hands. “No, I take that back. Not pink. Magenta. Her beautiful, blond hair is magenta.”

Her sister smiled from across the table, the green eyes they’d both inherited from their mother sparkling with amusement. “Magenta is a lovely color.”

“Did I mention she cut it, too? Her hair is short and spiky. She looks like a punk rocker.”

Grace Hanover covered her mouth but couldn’t hide a smile. “I bet she still looks cute, even with short, magenta hair.”

“Of course she does. Lark would be beautiful bald.” Rachel let out a deep sigh and poked at a scallop on her plate. “I don’t know what to do with her. She’s so rebellious and angry all the time. She’s only fourteen, for heaven’s sake.”

Grace reached across the table to squeeze her sister’s hand. “Lark is too smart to do anything really stupid.”

“Her actions lately haven’t shown a lot of forethought. I’m worried about this new friend of hers. Rose is the one who talked Lark into dyeing her hair. Rose’s hair is Day-Glo orange.” Rachel pleated the napkin in her lap. “Why did Bryce have to go skiing that weekend? He might have been a lousy husband, but he was good with the girls.”

“The avalanche was a freak accident—one that wouldn’t have happened to him if he’d taken the girls to Hawaii like he promised.” Grace’s tone hardened. “Oh, no, his current bimbo wanted to hit the slopes instead.” She tossed long, brown hair over her shoulder with a sharp flip of her wrist. “Too bad you wasted over ten years of your life on the bastard before you finally divorced him.”

“They weren’t wasted. He gave me three beautiful daughters. You and I both know Bryce was a cheating idiot, but the girls loved him. They miss him so much. Jade and Ivy are adjusting, but Lark broods. She’s been seeing a therapist. The woman assures me she’ll come around eventually.”

“There you have it. Your daughter just needs more time. Eat your dinner.”

If only Rachel could dismiss her worries so easily.

They dined at her favorite restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf. Through the window, the sun cast a golden glow over San Francisco Bay. To their left, the majestic span of the Golden Gate Bridge stretched northward. Farther out in the bay, Alcatraz stood sentinel on its lonely rock.

“How’s work? Do you have a full staff for the summer?”

Rachel turned to face her sister. “I think so. Ellen and Chandra are still with me, and I hired a new guy, Tim.”

Grace’s eyes held a challenge. “How about a quick fling with a young stud?”

“Very funny. I would never hit on an employee. Anyway, I think Tim’s gay, and I don’t date college boys.”

“You don’t date anyone.”

“Let’s not go there. It’s your turn for the hot seat. Who’s the new guy you’re seeing?”

“Nolan Marconi. He’s Italian and very intense.”

“What does he do?”

“Believe it or not, he’s a cop, a detective with the SFPD. Cops usually hate investigative reporters as a rule.” She sipped her wine and smiled. “But this one seems to like me—and not just in bed.”

Rachel covered her ears. “Too much information. Geez, Gracie, some things should remain private.”

“I’m trying to motivate you. Live a little. At thirty-five, you probably still have a few good years left.”

She ignored the direct hit. “Am I going to meet him before he goes by the wayside like the legions of men you’ve dated before him?”

“Yep. He’s picking me up when his shift is over.” Her eyes brightened. “In fact, here he comes now, and he has someone with him. Talk about hot.” She fanned a hand in front of her face.

Rachel glanced over her shoulder. Two men approached, and more than one woman in the crowded restaurant gave the pair a lingering look. They were definitely worth a second glance. One was of medium height with a rangy build. With his black hair tied back in a ponytail, he was movie-star handsome. The other man stood well over six feet and looked like he spent some serious time in the gym. Chestnut hair brushed the collar of his shirt, and sharp blue eyes didn’t miss a thing. When his gaze landed on her, Rachel sucked in a breath. Her sister was right about the hot factor.

Grace greeted the black-haired man with a lingering kiss.

“Grace, this is a friend of mine, Kane Lafferty.” The detective’s gaze never left her sister’s face. “Kane, this gorgeous creature is Grace.”

“Nice to meet you. Nolan and Kane, say hello to my big sister, Rachel Carpenter.”

“It’s a pleasure.” Nolan reached across the table to shake her hand. “Grace has told me all about you.”

“That can’t be good.” Rachel turned to the man at his side and smiled. When he grasped her hand in his large, warm palm, a tingle jolted through her. The last person she’d felt that kind of chemistry with was her ex.

Kane’s brow creased as he released her hand. “Rachel Carpenter... Why does that name sound familiar?”

“Not because you saw it on a rap sheet.” Grace scowled. “Her husband was Bryce Carpenter.”

The frown cleared. “Of course! I was a huge fan.”

Nolan nodded. “Everyone on the force was a fan. With that amazing arm, he led the Niners to some incredible victories. What’s not to love?”

“Plenty, but we won’t get into it. Have a seat, gentlemen.” Grace pointed to the empty chairs. “How about a drink before we leave?”

Despite the temptation to stay, Rachel lodged a quick protest. “I really shouldn’t. I have a long drive, and it’s getting late. The girls are home alone with Lark babysitting.”

“Don’t be a spoilsport. You’ve been nursing the same glass of wine all evening. The girls are fine. Lark is fourteen, and Mom and Dad are practically a stone’s throw from your house.”

Her sister was right. She was just making excuses, and it wouldn’t kill her to be social for a change. “I guess one small drink won’t hurt.”

“Darn straight. Enjoy yourself while you can. Summer vacation is just around the corner. In a couple of weeks, you’ll want to run screaming away from your children.”

“Probably.” Rachel turned when Kane took the seat beside her. “Do you have a family?”

He shook his head. “Just an ex-wife. No kids. Look, I didn’t mean to crash your evening.”

“You aren’t crashing anything.” Nolan tore his attention away from Grace. “Kane and I ran into each other at the station, and I asked him to join us.”

“The more the merrier.” Grace waved to catch their server’s attention. “What does everyone want to drink? I think I’ll have a cosmopolitan.”

After they ordered, Rachel restarted the conversation. “Do you two work together?” Her gaze wandered from Kane to Nolan and back. Strong was the word that sprang to mind. Kane had a jaw carved out of rock, and those shoulders… She squirmed in her seat. A broad set of shoulders was her secret weakness.