“He’s kind of great,” I say, and she smiles.
“You’re kind of great with him,” she says. Then there’s a static moment between us, and we just stare at one another.
“Do you want to sleep in my room?” I ask, and she bites her lip with a smile.
“Yes,” she says, and I take her hand, leading her to my bed.
Chapter 29
Ashlyn
I wakeup in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. It’s funny how when you are used to a baby’s cry summoning you from sleep, you feel uneasy when it doesn’t happen. I’m not sure why, but something doesn’t feel right. I look over at Zane, who is sleeping soundly next to me. He’s lying on his back, one hand on his torso, one above his head, elbow bent. His hair is tousled, and his toned chest is rising and falling rhythmically with his breath.
Yet, I feel uneasy.
It feels like I didn’t just wake up on my own, but like something woke me.
It feels like someone is watching me. Watching us.
I glance out the balcony door, and my blood runs cold.
Then I scream.
Zane flies up into a sitting position and instinctively grabs me.
“What? What is it? What’s wrong?” he blurts out.
“There’s someone out there,” I cry.
“Someone out where?” he asks.
“Outside,” I point.
“On the balcony?” he asks confusedly.
“Yes. I saw someone. I saw a face,” I tell him, holding on to the arm he has wrapped around me.
“Are you sure?” he asks. “I don’t know how someone could get up there. We’re on the second floor.”
“I saw someone!” I snap back.
Then my heart drops another level in my stomach. “Oh god. Bentley…”
Before Zane can ask any more questions, I jump up, dashing down the hall in a frantic sprint to his room. I burst through his door and come to a screeching halt over his bed.
But his room is quiet other than the sound machine and his suckling.
“He’s fine,” Zane says, standing over me. “See? There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“But I saw someone,” I whisper, and I can feel him take in a careful breath.
“Ashlyn, I know it’s scary thinking about all the people who try to sneak around. The people who want photos and all that bullshit. But there’s no one out there.”
“You didn’t see them,” I whisper harshly.
“No, I didn’t. But he’s safe. Security is right down the street.”
“Security that people can get past,” I say, and he winces.
