Lucy #2
“Lucy, I’ve got you, baby. Just stay where you are. Do not go inside.”
I snorted despite myself. “Wasn’t planning on it. I’m not one of those dumb girls in a horror movie who runs up the stairs instead of out the front door. That plotline annoys me so much.” I was rambling, but my nerves were getting the better of me.
“I wouldn’t think you would be,” he assured me. “I’ve got to call Griff, baby. Stay where you are. I’ll be right there.”
“Drive carefully.” I could hear his truck accelerating as he sped to get to me.
“I will. Two minutes, baby.” Then the line went dead.
The silence that followed was deafening. My heart pounded as I stared at my open door, trying not to let fear consume me.
Griff had mentioned there’d been some petty theft lately. Could this be random? Honestly, the thought was more welcome than the alternative.
Ranger sat in the passenger seat, looking confused as to why we weren’t going inside. I reached over to pet him, his presence offering some measure of comfort.
It felt like a lifetime, but it had only been a matter of minutes when Hudson pulled up behind me, his headlights lighting up my dash before he cut the engine.
Despite knowing he was there, I still jumped when he appeared at my window and tapped on the glass.
I pulled myself together and unlocked the door. Ranger wriggled beside me, excited to see his dad.
Hudson opened my door, took my hand, and pulled me into his arms. I melted into him as his intoxicating scent washed over me. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I buried my nose in his chest.
I was distantly aware of Ranger jumping around us as Hudson pulled back and cupped my face in his large hands while angling down for a soft kiss.
“Missed you, baby,” he growled against my lips.
“Missed you too.” For a moment, I completely forgot my circumstances and considered climbing him like a tree. The late-night calls with his deep, raspy voice in my ear had done a number on my libido.
The sound of a vehicle approaching caught my attention. I turned to watch Griffin pull up in his squad truck, lights flashing. He stalked toward us, the picture of assured authority in his sheriff’s uniform.
“What have we got?” he demanded, all business as he chewed the gum I’d come to recognize as his trademark.
“All I know is my door is open, and I didn’t leave it that way.” Hudson wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into his side.
“How long you been gone?” Griffin turned a clinical gaze toward the house.
“Most of the day. I took Jo to the lake and spent some time at Daphne’s, helping her with bedtime. I just pulled up.”
“I’ll go check it out. Stay with her,” he ordered his brother, already heading up my walkway, his hand on his gun holster.
I fought to keep my breathing under control as we watched him disappear inside the house. Hudson didn’t say anything, just pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head in reassurance.
Griffin returned with an unreadable expression. Hudson loosened his hold, his gaze locked on his brother.
“Clear signs of forced entry,” Griffin confirmed, and though it had been obvious, his words sent ice sliding through my veins.
“Whoever was there is gone now. House seems in order. I can’t tell if anything was taken. You’ll want to take a careful look.”
“Tomorrow,” Hudson stated in firmly.
“Tomorrow,” Griff agreed. His expression grew grave as he turned to me. “A couple of your dresser drawers are open. You leave ’em that way?”
My heart pounded in my ears. “I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure. This morning was a little hectic. Do you think this was random?” Even I could hear the false hope in my voice.
Griffin and Hudson shared a look before Hudson’s gaze settled on me, confirming what I already knew. “Unlikely, sweetheart.”
I bit my lip and nodded woodenly. “Well, I guess I can barricade the front door for tonight. Maybe I should get some cameras….” I trailed off.
Hudson grunted in disagreement. “Baby, you’re not sleepin’ here. We’ll head in to grab some of your things, and then you’re coming home with me.”
“But—” I wasn’t even sure why I was protesting.
“You know I was planning on sleeping alongside you tonight,” Hudson rumbled in my ear, while Griffin suddenly found his notepad very interesting.
“Just happens to turn out that it’s my bed we’ll be sleeping in instead of yours.
” He shrugged. “I have ironclad security, and my house is damn hard to find if you don’t know what you’re looking for. You’ll be much safer there.”
“Okay,” I agreed quietly, knowing I wouldn’t sleep a wink in my house tonight, even if Hudson was beside me.
“Okay.” He reached down for my hand and squeezed once. “You want me to go in and grab your things?”
I shook my head. “I’ll do it.”
“I’ll come with you.” He turned to his brother. “You want to stay posted out front?”
Griffin nodded. “I’ll start on the report. We can talk more details tomorrow.”
“Alright. Thanks, Griff.” Hudson’s eyes came back to me. “Let’s get what you need and get you out of here. We can leave your car here tonight and come back for it tomorrow.”
I nodded, finding solace in the fact that whatever lay ahead, I wouldn’t be facing it alone.