The Marine Meets His Match by Cathie Linz

Author:Cathie Linz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Serena sat up, her heart pounding in her throat, unsure what woke her.

Then she heard the noise again.

Footsteps.

Directly above her bed.

Wait a second! Disoriented, she looked around. The last thing she remembered, she’d laid down on the couch in the living room. How had she gotten into bed?

Rad. He must have carried her into her bedroom.

Okay, that was one mystery solved.

She was still wearing the same clothes, thank heavens, which meant he hadn’t stripped her and put her in a negligee. That was a good thing.

But none of that explained the noise from upstairs. The third-floor apartment had been vacant since Mrs. Schuler had moved out a month ago.

Serena quickly glanced at the LED display on the radio/alarm beside her bed. Two in the morning.

Oshi and Bella lifted their heads and stared up at the ceiling. As the footsteps moved again, both cats bolted under the bed. Serena grabbed for the phone and dialed 911.

“Someone has broken into the apartment above me,” she whispered to the dispatcher even as she hopped out of bed and quietly hurried to make sure all the dead bolts on her apartment door were latched. They were.

She also checked the door from the kitchen that led out onto the fire escape. Bolted, too. Good.

She gave her information to the police and was assured that officers would be there shortly. As she talked, Serena walked back and forth, too nervous to sit still.

All the while she kept the lights off. She didn’t want the intruder upstairs noticing any sudden illumination coming from her place. A night-light in the hallway allowed her to see where she was going.

Exactly eight minutes later there was an emphatic knock on her door. “Police. Officer Krandell.” That was the name that the dispatcher had given her.

Even so, Serena looked through the peephole in her front door before undoing the locks and opening it. She also turned on a light. “Did you catch the intruder?”

“He says he owns the building.”

Serena blinked. “What?”

“I can’t believe you called the police,” Rad growled. He was glaring at her, his expression one of classic male aggravation.

How dare he try and make this her fault. “What else was I supposed to do when I hear noises coming from a vacant apartment?”

“It’s not vacant any more. I’m moving into it.”

“In the middle of the night?”

“Ma’am, can you verify that this man, Rad Kozlowski, is indeed the building owner?”

Serena nodded. “Yes.”

“I’m also her fiancé,” Rad added, not appreciating the way the young cop was eyeing Serena.

“Is that right, ma’am?” the officer asked.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Did you two have an argument?”

“No.”

Officer Krandell nodded at his partner who took Rad aside.

“Do you mind if I come inside for a moment, ma’am?”

“No, I don’t mind. Can I make you some coffee or something?”

“No, thank you.” Officer Krandell closed the door behind him, shutting Rad and his protests outside in the hallway. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay?”

“I’m still a little nervous.”

“Why is that?”

“Because hearing those footsteps over my bed in the middle of the night scared me.

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