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“Oh, God, Chase.” I sniff and realize that I have tears rolling out of my eyes. “Someone tried to break into my house.”
“Tell me what happened.” His handsome face is hard and sober, and I’m just so relieved that he’s here.
“I heard someone jiggling my door handle.” I gesture to the door. “So, I grabbed my gun and yelled at them.”
His eyes widen. “Wait, you what?”
“I’m no victim.” I firm my chin and shake my head, so mad all over again. “I scared them right off.”
“Do you have any video of your front porch?”
“No.” Damn it, I need to do that. “I’ll get it installed in the morning, for sure. It’s probably just kids, right? Because Bitterroot Valley is so safe. I’ve never heard of anyone breaking and entering around here, and I’ve been here for almost five years.”
“It doesn’t happen often,” he confirms. “And yeah, probably kids.”
Why does he look like he wants to say something else?
“Are you okay to stay here tonight? I’ll dust for fingerprints and look around outside, but without video, I don’t know how much I can do.”
I swallow hard and nod. “I can stay with a friend tonight.”
I’ll take Lily to my aunt Paula’s house. That isn’t a problem. I’m absolutely not staying here until I beef up the security and get some cameras installed. And it pisses me off that I suddenly don’t feel safe in my own home. I love my little house.
“Don’t worry,” he assures me with a soft smile. God, he’s handsome. I’ve always thought Chase was an attractive man, even more so when he’s in uniform. He’s tall and broad, with dark hair and the most gorgeous hazel eyes. That jawline is chiseled and, well…wow. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I’m sure.”
He pats my shoulder, but I pull away from him. I don’t know why I did that, and I immediately mentally kick myself.
Why did I do that? But he doesn’t even blink an eye.
“You get your things,” he suggests. “I’ll get those prints.”
“Thank you.” I sniff once more, wanting to apologize for pulling away from him, but I decide against it. “Thanks.”
I smile and turn to Lily, who’s been waiting patiently on the couch for me. I have to pack my things, along with hers, and get ready to go. I want to leave when Chase does so I’m not here alone.
It doesn’t take me long to fill a duffel with a couple of days’ worth of clothes and toiletries, and then I pack up Lily’s food, her dishes, and her favorite bed, along with my pillow, and take those out to my car in the garage. I call Aunt Paula really quick and fill her in, and she assures me that I should, in fact, get out to her place, pronto.
Just when I come back inside, Chase is finishing with his fingerprinting kit.
“I’ll take these in tonight to run them,” he assures me. “Are you all set?”
“Yeah, we’re ready to go. I don’t know if you’ve met Lily.”
“Sure, I have,” he says as he crouches down to pet my girl. “She’s usually in your shop with you. Hey there, Lily.”
She sniffs his hand and then licks it, which makes us both smile.
“She was scared tonight, with all the fireworks.”
“Damn Fourth of July,” he says with a sigh, and I notice for the first time that he looks tired around the eyes. “People don’t seem to care about fireworks ordinances around here. It’s late enough now that it should slow down.”
“I’m taking Lily to my aunt Paula’s house,” I tell him. “She lives out of town, so there isn’t much noise out there.”
“Miss Paula is a gem,” he says with a grin. “I’m glad that’s where you’re headed. Do you want me to help coordinate the installation of the security for you?”
I blink at him and frown. “Well, I guess I’m not sure who to call, but I can google it and figure it out.”
