He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

at that angelic, heart-shaped face and want to hurt her?
    The killer had better hope he was captured by someone other than Logan, because the way he felt right now he knew he’d kill him, probably with his bare hands. It would be a pleasure to smash his fist into the bastard’s face, feel the bones crunch beneath his knuckles. Unprofessional, petty, sure . . . but it would make Logan feel a hell of a lot better.
    Later, when Amanda knew the killer could never hurt her again, would she be able to go on with her life? Could she be happy again? The picture he’d pieced together of her past was of a woman who had withdrawn from the world, done everything she could to avoid human contact and lock herself away in her safe little cocoon.
    He understood her need to be alone, to do everything she could to avoid being hurt again. Leaving Shadow Falls ten years ago was his way of withdrawing, of running away from his problems. None of the other officers seemed to blame him for his mistake, but it wasn’t his peers he’d run from. He’d run from himself. It took him a full decade to realize that.
    Looking back at her, he watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest, her dark curls framing her delicate cheeks and falling across the bed like a satin drape. There was no denying there was something special about her, a kindred spirit he’d recognized the moment she’d crushed his foot in her door. Everything he’d learned about her since then had only deepened his respect for her.
    When her parents died, she was legally entitled to half their estate. She was struggling financially at the time. The money would have made her life much easier. Instead, she’d given it all to her sister to fund her education.
    He’d called Amanda’s sister, Heather, as part of the investigation. Heather painted a picture of a big sister who’d always looked out for her, although they’d had some kind of falling out that Heather wouldn’t elaborate on.
    Logan couldn’t imagine how Amanda must have felt, still mentally healing from a horrendous attack, the only family she had left had abandoned her, turned away in her moment of need. And yet, she sent generous checks to her sister on the anniversary of their parents’ death and Christmas, using some bogus excuse about proceeds from a trust.
    Alone, she’d done everything she could to keep the ugly world at bay, to isolate herself. And yet, once she knew the killer was back in Shadow Falls, she’d insisted on staying, to help in any way that she could to find the killer.
    Most women he knew would have left, not given a second thought to helping the police. Amanda was scared, but she’d done everything she could to help. She had the same desire for justice that he had, the same sense of family loyalty.
    She was resting comfortably now, so he tucked the covers around her and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head before shuffling off to the guest room where he was staying.
    An hour later, he was awakened by a scream so chilling he was certain the killer had broken in and was torturing Amanda. He grabbed his gun and ran into her room, expecting to see a man standing over her with a knife. Instead, he found her in the bed, alone, whimpering in her sleep. He stroked her arm, whispered soothing words until she calmed. She let out a soft sigh before snuggling back under the covers.
    He’d just reached the doorway when she let out another agonized scream.
    Rushing back to the bed he stood in indecision. She whimpered and thrashed back and forth, her face a mask of fear as her legs kicked at the covers.
    “Ah, hell,” he swore. He checked the safety on his gun and put it in the nightstand drawer before climbing into the bed and laying down on top of the covers next to her. Crawling under the covers would be far too tempting. Circling his arm around her slim waist, he pulled her tightly against him and spooned his thighs behind hers. She immediately calmed and snuggled into his embrace, her fingers entwining with his.
    She would probably be furious in the morning when she discovered him in bed with her, but if he heard one more of those blood-curdling screams, he’d be the one having nightmares.
    When she wiggled her bottom against his groin, he gritted his teeth. It was going to be a long night.
    T he smell of bacon had Amanda hopping out of bed and rushing through her shower the next morning. She couldn’t imagine Karen cooking breakfast, but her nose told her otherwise.
    After last