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Feigning ignorance, he crossed his arms and studied it. “Huh. Is that what that is? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in real life.”

Summer threw her head back and laughed. “And the Bachelor of the Year Award goes to…” She tapped her hands on the tabletop, mimicking a drumroll. “Alexander Battle.” She cocked her head. “Is Lex short for Alexander?”

“It is. And you’re right. I’ve never made tea before. Coffee is my caffeine of choice, and Dad drank it his whole life. But you know what I do know how to do?” He leaned his hip against the counter. “Take care of bad guys. And I promise you, I’ll find the men who broke in here tonight and make sure they never bother you again.” He also planned on finding Scott and giving him a healthy reminder to keep his shady shit away from Summer.

She released a shaky breath, wrapping her fingers around the warm mug. “I don’t know how to thank you. But I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“Don’t worry about me. It’s kinda what I do.” He hadn’t planned on telling her about being part of a team who ran off-the-books ops for General Mitchell Evans, but maybe now was a good time to bring her up to speed.

“What do you mean—” she began, but he interrupted her as he lifted a hand and cocked his head.

He’d heard something. A low clicking sound?

He bolted upright, the chair scraping backward across the floor, and her eyes went wide. “Stay here.”

She’d barely nodded before he crept out of the kitchen and down the short hall to the foyer. Keeping close to the wall, he peered around the corner and spotted a shadow at the front door.

Click, click, click.

Someone was trying to pick the lock. Since he hadn’t made it home, he didn’t have his Glock. Sonofabitch. He couldn’t believe the men had returned so soon, and as much as he wanted to confront them, he didn’t want to put Summer in danger.

Then another, more disturbing thought crossed his mind.

What if these weren’t the same men?

And if that were the case, his Summer was in even more trouble than either of them realized.

Chapter nine

Standing up, Summer’s heart pounded harder than a herd of wild horses as she waited for Lex to return. He’d heard something and went to investigate. But what? She hadn’t heard a thing. Before she could follow him, he reappeared, grabbed her hand and tugged her straight into the living room.

“What’s going on?” she whispered.

His boots ground to an abrupt halt, and she slammed into him, bouncing off his solid frame. “Shhh,” he warned, nodding to the rear sliding glass door where a man stood, trying to see inside. She sucked in a terrified breath, stumbling back a step, and Lex yanked her back into the kitchen. “Someone’s at the front door, too. We need to get out of here.”

Trying to control her fear and think rationally, she pointed to the bathroom. “There’s a window in there.”

They rushed over, slipped inside the small half bath, and Lex quickly shut the door and hit the flimsy lock. Keeping the lights off, she watched as he quietly slid the window open and popped the screen. Since they were on the first floor, they could jump right out.

“You first.” He gave her a little push toward their escape route, but she dug her heels in.

“Flossie!” The harsh whisper tore from her mouth. She couldn’t leave without her. Maybe some people thought she was just a dog, but she was so much more. That little fluffy soul was Summer’s life, her baby. Her heart dog.

“Fuck.” He hesitated for all of two seconds. “You go outside and hide, and I’ll get Flossie.” Then he pressed a quick, reassuring kiss to her lips before helping her climb over the windowsill.

Summer’s feet hit the grass, and when she looked back, Lex was already gone. Hurrying across the side yard, she ducked into the tree line and hid behind a massive pine tree. Chewing her thumbnail, she waited nervously for him to reappear, more than a little surprised and a lot grateful he ran back in there to grab Flossie. They barely knew each other, but he seemed to understand just how important that little fluffball was to her. And she fucking loved him for it.

She hoped Flossie wouldn’t be scared and hiding. He wouldn’t know where to look or how to coax her out. Maybe she should go help him. She started to edge her way around the tree, peering across the lawn. No, he’d be angry if she climbed back in through the window after he’d been so adamant about keeping her safe. As hard as it was, she had to trust Lex and hope Flossie would cooperate.

Her anxiety soared with each passing second. What was happening? From her angle, she couldn’t see either door. Lex had said someone was trying to get in the front and she’d seen the man in the back. Was it the same men from earlier? What did they want? Why would they have returned so soon?

Clenching her clammy hands, she waited. Worry crashed through her and tension kept her on edge. She had called him, and Lex had come racing back to help her like some kind of brave warrior. Then he’d gotten her away from the present danger and dove right back in without any regard to his own safety to find Flossie. What would she have done without him?

Each second seemed to tick by slower than the last. Maybe Flossie was hiding and Lex couldn’t find her. Or maybe the men had gotten into the house and he’d run into them. What if he was hurt? Lying on the floor, bleeding, in need of help. Shit.

She stepped out from behind the tree, needing to make sure he was alright, when suddenly there he was, climbing out the bathroom window, a ball of fluff in one large hand, a gun in the other.

He saved my dog!