He’d noticed her reaction. Of course, he had. From her observation, not much escaped military-type men. “I have security lights in the front that flick on when I pull into the driveway. They were working when I left home to drive to the meeting. I never leave lights on inside my house.”
Nikolai pulled up and turned off the vehicle ignition. “Are you positive? The light was on when we were here earlier.”
“Yes!” Ashley snapped then regathered her manners. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. The interior lights were off when I left.”
“All right.” Josh removed his arm from around her shoulders. “Stay here with Summer while Nikolai and I check out your house. Do you have your keys?”
A shiver ran through Ashley. Contrarily, she wanted his physical touch again. That’s what a fiancé did. They offered comfort—even fake ones. “I’m coming with you.” He opened his mouth, but she spoke again before he could. “Please. I hate this mind-numbing fear. I have to act.”
The two men shared a quick glance before Josh said, “Promise to stay behind me.”
“I promise,” Ashley said. “If my stalker runs past you, I’ll make sure to land a few punches so he doesn’t escape.”
Summer snickered. “I like you, but I’m still not voting Labor.”
“No worries.” Ashley slid from the vehicle when Josh opened the door for her. An old-fashioned gentleman. She couldn’t remember the last time a date had offered her this small courtesy.
“Remember, stay behind me.”
“I will,” Ashley promised. She was not the stupid blonde who ventured into a basement. Nope. Not her.
“We’ll check inside first,” Josh said.
Nikolai gave a quick nod.
Josh tried the door. Locked.
Ashley handed him the key for the front door.
“Do you have an alarm?” Josh asked.
“I’ve never needed one.”
Josh unlocked the door. The laundry light was on, and Ashley reached past Josh to switch on the hall lights.
“Tell me if anything is out of place.”
Ashley’s breath eased out as she followed Josh deeper into her house. Chill bumps pebbled her skin, but as she flicked on more lights, her tension released at the normalcy of her surroundings. Everything seemed in its place. Nikolai prowled into the kitchen while she trailed Josh and drifted along the passage.
Josh slowed. “Is this your bedroom?”
“Yes.” She rounded him and gaped at the tidy piles of underwear sitting on top of her bed. “I-I-someone else did this.” A sick feeling settled in a lump in her stomach, much like she felt after eating a portion of her sister’s meat stew. Someone had come into her house and gone through her possessions. They’d invaded her privacy, touched her things.Intimate things.She gulped and clenched her hands to stop them from trembling. “I don’t understand. I locked the door.”
An arm came around her shoulders, offering silent comfort. Josh tugged her against his muscled body. “We need to call the police, Ashley. Get this on record.”
“But I locked my door.” She felt stupid repeating the point even if it was true.
“It’s an old lock and easy enough to pick,” Josh said. “Do you leave any of your windows open?”
“I used to. Matt lectured me on security, and I lock everything. Since I told Matt about the letters I’d received.” Her brother had warned her the stalker might escalate. “Is this…” She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. “Is this the same person who’s sending the letters to me?”
“It might be unconnected, but I don’t think so,” Josh said. “Frog told me the police weren’t helpful when you reported the letters.”
Ashley shrugged. “To be honest, I understood their point of view. It was a few letters. They’re busy.” Her gaze slid to the piles of her lingerie. “They’ll laugh at this, talk behind my back. If this story gets out, I’ll look stupid. Too girlie for responsibility.” Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked hard.
“Call the police anyway,” Josh said. “Even if they can’t do anything, this breach of your security must go on record. What would your brother tell you to do?”
“That’s low,” Ashley whispered.
