Page 75 of Still Afraid

She squeezed him tighter. Breathing returned, but it shook her body in dry sobs.

“Hey, I’m here. I got ya.” Josh repositioned so he was sitting against the headboard and tugged her close again.

She curled up against him and emotions poured out, turning dry sobs into torrents.

He stroked her hair and simply held her. He didn’t try to explain away her fears or her tears.

As her sobs eased, he prayed for her. He prayed for safety and protection. Healing and peace.

Silence fell, and if Josh hadn’t been tracing her hand that rested on his chest, she would have thought he’d fallen asleep.

“I’m sorry I freaked out.”

“I’m sorry I scared you. I was trying to wake you gently.”

“Poirot was being a lousy watchdog.”

Josh’s chest shook with a chuckle. “His head popped up when I opened the door, and I petted him before I tried to wake you.”

“Of course.” She pushed up to look in his face. “Why are you here at”—she glanced over at the clock—“four-thirty in the morning?”

He drew in a huge amount of air before releasing it, then told her about the intruder.

As he spoke, her grip on his shirt tightened. He could have died. This was too much. Why were they being targeted? What was going on?

The intruder had left blood behind in the broken glass. Maybe they could peg the person with the DNA … if they were in the system. But Chloe wasn’t stupid. Getting those kinds of results took more time than it did on TV. They’d be married and probably already back from their honeymoon before it would even get close to being run. Maybe her dad, with his history of working for the police department, could make a few phone calls and get a rush on it, but he didn’t like taking advantage of his prior service like that.

But would she feel safe anywhere until this was resolved? This person bringing a gun into the situation raised the stakes even higher. She didn’t think this was a coincidence for one second.

Mom and Dad poked their heads around the door. Mom asked, “Are you two all right?”

Chloe held up a thumb, while Josh nodded.

“Get some sleep.”

Dad waved and patted the door, as if to give his approval of Josh being with her as long as the door stayed open. He understood his little girl. No doubt they had heard her screams when Josh had woken her.

Josh adjusted himself lower in the bed and held Chloe close. She settled against him, and he kissed her forehead. This was about comfort and safety and nothing else.

In Josh’s arms, she was able to breathe easily, and in a matter of minutes she was asleep again.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

After the sun had been up for a couple of hours, Josh finally padded down the stairs of the Jacobs’ house. He was glad Gabe had thought to make him grab a change of clothes and his toothbrush before they left last night. Chloe had woken up shortly after Josh had, and though temptation had not been present while she slept in his arms, it had shown up once they were both conscious.

He’d bowed out of the room and slipped to the bathroom. When he came out, he gave Chloe a quick kiss as she went in, then he headed downstairs.

He entered the kitchen and found Troy and Bonnie talking over mugs of coffee. “Good morning.”

They both greeted him. They’d been wonderful when he’d arrived last night. Gabe had called ahead and told his dad they were coming. Bonnie had been there in her fluffy robe ready to draw Josh into a hug as if he were her own son.

“Did you get some sleep?” Bonnie asked.

“Enough to function for a while. Chloe seemed to have slept finally too.”

“Good. She was fitful before you arrived. I’m worried about her after all that’s happened. Frankly, I’ll feel better once the two of you are sleeping in the same bed every night. Poirot helps her, but it’s not the same.” She gave Josh a knowing smile.

He chuckled. “I’ll sleep better then too.”