Cat Burglar in Training by Shelley Munro

Author:Shelley Munro
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Amazon
Published: 2012-10-08T04:00:00+00:00

Kahu arrived right on time. I peered out my bedroom window to confirm that the car pulling up in the drive belonged to him before turning back to cast a rueful glance at the mess of clothes on my bed. They bore mute testimony to my inner panic. A date. It was only a date. Deep down I knew this was a step into murky waters, far away from my prior, safe relationships with men.

I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t let memories of my rape affect my present. Rape was the ultimate indignity a woman could face, and it was impossible to go through the experience without change. I was no longer the trusting, open person I’d been at eighteen. But even so, I was one of the lucky victims—if you could call a victim lucky—because I’d been drugged and didn’t remember the experience. This date with Kahu was a new departure. The only man I’d trusted so far was Seth.

In the distance, a doorbell chimed. One of the terrible trio would answer the summons. In truth, they were as nervous as I was, although none of them admitted it.

“Evie! Your dinner date’s arrived.” Hannah knocked on my bedroom door and stuck her head in. Her gaze swept the tangle of clothes littering the bed and the pile of shoes by the wardrobe. She stepped inside and shut the door with a firm click. “Don’t worry. Nerves are natural. He’s a lovely young man. Thoughtful, too. He brought a present for Amber, a puzzle she can play with while she’s confined to bed and a painting set for later. You’ll be fine with him. Besides, you’re on home territory down at the local. If he steps out of line, give the nod to Reg behind the bar. He’ll sort him out for you.”

“Thanks. Are my nerves that obvious?”

“Only to me.” Hannah tugged me into her arms and patted me on the back in the same way she used to when I was a child. “You look beautiful. Black suits you,” she said, referring to my full black skirt and matching sleeveless blouse. “I look washed out in black, but you—you look lovely. Inspector Williams won’t know what’s hit him.”

“I feel guilty. I don’t want to lead him on, to give him ideas about a future. I mean, how can we have a future when we work on opposite poles of the law?”

“Don’t worry about the future. Take one day at a time. That’s all we can do at the moment. Besides, despite what Charlie and Ben say, the Shadow can go into retirement once our debt is paid off.”

Grateful for the feminine support, I hugged the woman who was mother to me. “I’d better not keep him waiting.”

“He’s in good hands. Charlie and Ben are with him.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I said dryly.

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