Anything but Mine (30 page)

When another couple is found murdered in her small hometown, her aunt begs her to come home and assist in the investigation.

Police Chief Cole Collins isn’t at all pleased with Katarina’s interference. Nor is he immune to her charms. Yet with someone in this little southern town is continuing the same murderous ways that killed her parents, Katarina and Cole are left with no choice but to work together.

Katarina’s vivid memories and sixth sense may stop the killing—or make her the murderer’s next victim.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
The Killer Among Them:

“Wow, Andy wasn’t kidding when he said the previous owners fixed it up. It looked nothing like this when I was here last.” She opened the door and slid out, her gaze moving to the newly constructed pier jutting out into the water. “That porch is new and the wood has been treated and cleaned.”

“Can we go fishing?” Tiffany asked excitedly. “Dad brought worms and some poles.”

“Only if you promise to stay put on the pier,” Cole warned.

“We promise. Come on, Liv.”

“I don’t know how to fish,” Olivia protested.

“That doesn’t matter, I’ll show you,” Tiffany said, urging her friend forward.

“Well, I’ll tell you right now, I’m not putting those yucky worms on the hook.”

Kat shook her head, smiling up at Cole as the girls headed to the car to get their gear. “A dollar says she’ll be baiting her own hook by the time we leave.”

He shook his head. “Not a good bet because I know you’re right.”

Kat reached in her pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “While I’m here, I might as well have a look around. Andy says it’s for sale and he has the listing,” she explained, walking up the wide steps. She couldn’t resist sitting in one of the big rockers strategically placed to view the slow moving creek.

Cole followed her slowly, noting the way the sunlight peeking through the trees turned her hair to gold and highlighted the blue of her eyes.

“I’m already in love and I haven’t even been inside yet,” Kat admitted as he walked up.

Cole had to resist the urge to run a hand through those silken strands. There was an attraction here that he wasn’t at all pleased about. He had no intention of starting another relationship when he was still smarting from the last one. “Then I suggest you unlock that door and we’ll take a look,” he said, his voice more curt than he intended.

She gave him a long, cool stare as she rose. “You certainly don’t have to accompany me, Cole. I’m a big girl, really. In fact, I don’t even have to have a man’s opinion. Imagine that,” she finished, turning her back to him as she fit the key in the lock.

He ran a hand through his hair, irritated with himself. “Hell, Katarina, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

She turned back to look up at him. “Let’s set a few ground rules here, Cole. Number one, I’m not your ex-wife. Don’t use her as a measuring stick for what I do or how I do it. Number two, I’m here because my aunt thought, as ridiculous as it sounds, that I might be able to help in some way regarding these murder investigations.”

Before she could turn back, he caught her arm, squeezing lightly. “I’ve got a few rules of my own, Kat. Number one,” he mimicked, “my ex doesn’t even stand on the same plain as you. Number two, as much as I hate to admit it, I sure as hell can use any help you can give me in regards to those murders.”

“Damn it, you’re good,” she tossed over her shoulder as she opened the door. “I like to fight and you ruined it.”

He laughed. “I’ll remember that the next time…”

She stopped so abruptly that he almost ran her over. “My goodness, will you look at this place,” she said, spinning in a circle. She pointed to the area around the fireplace. “This used to be a very small room. They’ve taken out the wall. What a difference.”

Cole liked the openness of the floor plan. The planks on the floor were a warm pine and the ceiling soared to the open rafters. A stone fireplace dominated one wall with pretty red overstuffed couches in front of it while a small but nicely appointed kitchen occupied the opposite wall. It still smelled slightly of paint and freshly sawn wood.

“The word cabin sure doesn’t seem to fit this place,” he said, examining the large round oak table next to the kitchen. “It’s obvious someone spent a lot of money sprucing things up. Wonder why they’re selling?”

Kat opened the cupboards, amazed to find them stocked with all kinds of canned goods. “Andy told me the couple that bought the place fixed it up then had a rather nasty disagreement.”

“Must have been really nasty to spend all this money and then sell.”

“It was,” she said, lips curving. “Apparently the problem was which couple was going to occupy the place, the husband and wife or the husband and mistress.”

He raised a brow then laughed. “I see.”

Kat explored the rest of the house. There was a small laundry room, a half bath and one large bedroom with its own very nice bathroom, which included a huge spa tub.

“What I wouldn’t give for sinking in that tub with a bunch of candles burning and a good book,” she sighed, running a hand along the fancy faucet.

“Funny,” Cole said, leaning against the tile wall, “my thoughts lean more toward a glass of wine and a woman.”

She could feel herself blushing at the look in his eyes. “Typical man versus woman imagination,” she scoffed, straightening.

“Oh yeah?” Before she knew it, she found herself against his broad chest. Her heart began to beat faster as their gazes locked.

It was there before she knew it. A glimpse of him, face grim and set, behind bars. Jail bars. A moment later, it was gone.

“What is it?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”