Valentina woke to an empty bed. Again. Three days since Connor's arrival, and Duke had barely touched her. He'd sleep on the couch, citing nightmares he didn't want to disturb her with. But she could hear him pacing at night, could see the exhaustion darkening his eyes each morning.
The distance between them was growing, and she didn't know how to bridge it.
At the bookstore, Mrs. Winters came in for her weekly romance novel fix, followed by a handful of regulars. The familiar rhythm should have been comforting, but Valentina couldn't shake the unease that had settled over her life like fog.
The bell above the door chimed at noon. Valentina looked up from restocking shelves and froze.
Sierra Blake stood in the entrance, no longer in uniform but somehow more intimidating in civilian clo
