Page 20 of Abandoned

“Thanks for taking us seriously enough to come with me.” His eyebrows shot up twice.

He opened the door and stepped out then turned and offered her his hand.

This gentlemanly behavior was going to do her in. No one, absolutely no one, had ever done that kind of thing for her before.

Holding her hand, he walked her to the door.

Her heart pounded in anticipation. She wasn’t sure they were ready for the first kiss. Should they wait longer? They hadn’t even actually defined what was going on between them, but was that necessary? It wasn’t like they were sixteen.

In front of her door, they turned to face one another.

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face and wordlessly spoke of his affection with his eyes.

She was a goner. Placing her hands on his chest, she broke eye contact. If she didn’t, she would end up kissing him. But she kept trying to remind herself to let him lead.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips against her forehead.

Her heart launched into the stratosphere and soared above the darkness of the night.

Pulling her against his chest, he wrapped her in his arms. “Thanks for a great evening. I’ll call you in the morning.”

All she could do was nod and hug him.

She drew her keys from her pocket and unlocked the door. With one more glance between them, she said, “Good night.”

“G’night.” Will turned and walked toward his truck.

She went inside and closed and locked the door. Leaning back against it, she let all the coiled emotions release. A giant giggle and gleeful eek escaped her lips. She was falling hard and fast, and she didn’t care if her parachute deployed.

But the apartment was quiet. Too quiet.

She flipped the light switch on. Two bins that lived in the top of her doorless coat closet to her left were dumped all over the floor—hats, gloves, sunscreen, goggles, and other such things. How on earth would those have fallen out? Her jackets were dropped from the hangers, and her shoes were scattered.

Had someone been … was someone … here?

A third bin fell and slammed into her shoulder.

She screamed. Then smacked her own hand over her mouth. If someone was inside here, she shouldn’t scream.

Her hand went to her thigh. No gun. When would she start carrying off duty too? It wasn’t like she didn’t have a purse designed for that.

What should she do?

She crept forward. If anyone was here, they already knew she was too.

Chapter Six

Will had walked slowly back to his truck, but Zara screamed. He spun around and bolted to her door. But it was locked. “Zara!” He knocked on the door. She didn’t respond.

What happened? Was she okay?

He knocked again. “Zara!”

Nothing.

He tried the door again, but it was definitely locked. He stepped away from the door to go look around back, but her door opened.

“Will?”