Read Online Little Belle Gone by Stephanie Whitlock - Free Book Online Page A

out their place? I doubt there is anything there, but you never know.” He seemed almost impressed with her. The glimmer in his eye made color rise in her cheeks and she felt the need to walk past him quickly into the street to cool them in the chilling autumn air. His steps were right behind her, though, and when he drew up beside her, she couldn’t help but smile at him.
    “You have a lovely smile, Liz.” The warmth and intimacy of the simple statement made the color in her cheeks deepen and, as he moved a bit closer, he added, “and that blush isn’t bad either.” Winking at her, he jerked his head and she realized he wanted to walk. It wasn’t far and she had walked it so many times before. This was a perfect opportunity to put her new found desire to be friendly to the test. As they started down the sidewalk together, about a foot of cool air between them, he spoke again, only this time his voice was clean and crisp, his professional voice.
     
    “So, you teach Judo. When did you start that?” He kept his place light. He had several questions he wanted to ask before they reached her building. He had sent a uniform to secure the victim’s apartment before she had been able to tear herself away from Grace. This short walk would be his only chance to learn a little more about his mysterious new partner without other prying ears. His interest in her had been high since the day they met, but finding out she had hobbies, responsibilities, a nickname, not to mention that brief but overwhelmingly powerful embrace, only stood to make him more curious. Besides, the cold air was helping settle the fire that fleeting, intimate, touch had lit in his loins, and he was hoping the walk would help calm his nerves, and his libido.
    “Specifically, I teach a fourth Dan level course, black belt, I myself am a ninth Dan, red belt. As for where I learned it, I picked it up, along with a few other self defense techniques, after my parents...after it happened. I never wanted to feel helpless again.” He had tried to find information on her parent’s murder, but nothing had come up in the database, and when he had sought out her personnel file it was already taken. He knew from the drawl, she so masterfully hid, that she was most likely from one of the so called Southern states, but without more details on which one he simply didn’t have enough information to dig into it any further. He was trying to find the right moment to ask her for more, but remembering how upset she had gotten the last time they had ‘discussed’ it, he was trying to make better, safer, choices.
    “A few others? Since when is a black, sorry red, belt in Judo not enough?” She smiled this time, and what a smile it was. The cold could not help him now. He was on fire all over again.
    “Well, there’s kung fu, two schools of kung fu in truth, tiger and crane specifically. Then we have karate, just the regular kind,” she added with a chuckle. He very nearly reached out to touch her then. Never before had a woman affected him this way. He felt completely out of sorts when she was happy and close, oh so very close, to him―like now. Clearing his throat, he nodded for her to continue. “And last but not least, competitive kick boxing.”
    “Wow. Are you proficient in each, or just the Judo?” He had combat training. Two years in the army had turned him into a formidable fighter, but he had to admit her list of credentials put his to shame.
    “Ha, proficient! Well, I’m registered with the state as lethal with all but kick boxing, so, yes, I would say I’m pretty proficient .” The cocky tone to her voice was intoxicating, a dare he could not resist.
    “Well, my resume is not nearly so impressive, but what would you say to sparing sometime? Maybe you could teach me a few things.” Good lord, he was flirting with her! What had come over him. He was wishing he had more self control until he heard her response.
    “I bet I could teach you more than a