Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #1 by Terri Reed, Becky Avella, Dana R. Lynn Page B

attraction to Adam. What woman with a pulse wouldn’t be attracted? Those broad shoulders, that square jaw, those intense blue eyes...
    â€œI thought so.” Ruth wiped down the counters with a rag. “Adam’s a great guy.”
    â€œHe is,” Lana admitted. “But it’s not like that.” Ruth gave her a dubious glance. Lana rushed to explain. “We aren’t romantically involved. Never could be. He’s just doing his job. After the break-in at the museum and then my apartment, he feels that I’m in danger. I’m grateful for his protection and his support.”
    â€œRight.” Ruth’s dubious expression belied the single word. “Why never?”
    A gnawing ache built in Lana’s chest. The need to talk about her past pressed at her but she forced it back into the compartment inside her mind, stuffing all the garbage down and securing the lid. “I can barely handle the idea of becoming a mother to my nephew. The thought of adding a man to the mix terrifies me.”
    A thoughtful gleam entered Ruth’s eyes. “It’s probably just as well.”
    Miffed that Ruth would agree that Lana and Adam shouldn’t get involved made Lana’s tone sharp. “Why do you say that?” Before Ruth could answer a thought occurred to Lana. “Is he already in a relationship?”
    She’d never thought to ask him. It was none of her business, anyway. Then why did the idea of him with someone else make her chest ache?
    Ruth’s mouth quirked as if she heard and understood the conflicted emotions going on inside of Lana. “No. The last serious woman he dated was before he went to Quantico.” She moved to the sink and rinsed out the rag, then turned to lean against the counter. “Did Adam mention he’d put in for a transfer to the Colorado Springs police department?”
    The news hurt deep down inside. Lana’s mood deflated like an airless balloon. “He hadn’t mentioned it.”
    â€œHe hasn’t heard back so it’s not a done deal.”
    â€œThey’d be crazy not to snatch him up.”
    â€œYeah, well, I hope they don’t.” Ruth pushed away from the counter. “We like having him around.”
    Lana could understand that. Adam was a great guy.
    â€œAdam mentioned you haven’t had much experience with kids.”
    Trying for another attempt at getting some caffeine in her system, Lana picked up the mug. Her hands were steadier. “No, I haven’t.”
    â€œI wouldn’t have known that after seeing you with the girls,” Ruth stated. “You’re a natural. I know you’ll make a great parent to your nephew.”
    â€œFrom your lips to God’s ears,” Lana said, meaning the words as she sipped from her cup.
    She’d been praying for the past month, from the moment she’d learned that her sister had left behind an orphaned boy. Rosa apparently hadn’t confided in anyone who the child’s father was, and the birth certificate was left blank where the father’s name should have gone.
    If God’s plan was for Lana to be a mother to Juan, she prayed God would give her the know-how to be a good parent. And protect her and Juan from Mark. She wouldn’t put it past him to use Juan against her in some way.
    But first the court had to agree to allow her to have custody. “I never babysat like my friends in high school. I worked in my parents’ restaurant along with my sister.”
    Mentioning Rosa sent a shot of grief piercing her heart.
    â€œI’m sorry for your loss,” Ruth said. “Rosa was her name?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI heard about her fall off the cliffs in President’s Park.” Ruth shuddered. “I’ve never liked that part of the hiking trails. Too high up.”
    Rosa hadn’t liked heights either, which made her presence on those cliffs even more puzzling. According to what Adam