Aspen’s scream.
CHAPTER 15
The scream had barely left Aspen’s lips when her bedroom door flew open and a very big, very angry Jesse stepped in, gun and flashlight in hand.
Her heart jumped into her throat. “Jesse!”
He scanned the room as if searching for a threat before closing the distance between them and sitting on the edge of the bed. He cupped her cheek. “Are you okay?”
Her gaze flew back to the window.
Gone. They were gone. Or at least, they weren’t at the window anymore. “I saw someone out there. Only their outline, but they were there, I swear.”
His eyes narrowed on the window. When he got up, she almost grabbed him to pull him back down. Keep him in what felt like the relative safety of her bed. But it wasn’t really safe if someone was watching her, was it?
He didn’t get too close to the glass, but his pistol remained raised, making the fine hairs on her arms stand on edge.
“I’m going to check outside.” He shut the curtains and turned toward the door. “Don’t follow me.”
She scrambled off the bed, catching his arm in the hall. “I don’t want you to go out there.”
“I have to.” There was no emotion on his face. None. It was like she was looking at a stranger. There was nothing about this version of Jesse that felt familiar.
He started to turn, but she yanked him back. “Jesse…we don’t know who’s out there. They might have a weapon.”
“So do I.”
“But—”
“Hey,” he cut her off, a sliver of emotion slipping into his features for the first time. “Remember…trust me.”
She nodded even though it was the last thing she wanted to do, but what choice did she have?
“Lock the door after me.” He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering for a second before he headed toward the back door off the kitchen. When he opened it, wind rushed inside the house, then he was gone. She clicked the lock and stepped back, wrapping her arms around her waist, digging her nails into her skin.
The house was dark. Almost pitch black. The logical thing to do was get her phone for some light. She didn’t. She couldn’t move. She needed confirmation that Jesse was safe.
Minutes ticked by, and those minutes felt like hours. God, how long did it take to check a yard? Was he okay? It would be so easy for someone to hide behind a tree or the side of a house and shoot.
But Jesse was smart. Trained. No one would get the jump on him.
A key sounded in the door and it opened, air once again whooshing inside as Jesse stepped in. He was soaking wet, his uniform sticking to his skin, water dripping down his face.
She didn’t care. She stepped forward and set her hands on his chest. “Are you okay?”
“I didn’t find anyone. They must have run while I was coming in.”
She swallowed. “I don’t understand. Who would stand outside my window in the middle of a storm? That’s crazy.”
Something flashed over Jesse’s face. He opened his mouth, but Aspen got in first.
She gasped. “Oh my God, the pizza delivery kid.”
“Pete? You think it was him?”
“No. He saw someone sitting in their car on the street. He even thought they were watching the house. He went over to talk to them, but they drove off before he could reach them.”
Jesse’s jaw visibly clenched. “I’ll talk to Pete tomorrow.”
