The previous night kicked at her belly. The blood. The dead animal and running to Zane’s apartment. Then the dream that had followed.
She scrunched her eyes, but all she saw was the decapitated mouse.
Nausea rolled in her belly.
Argh.
She sat up. Where was Zane? Had he left early just like last time?
Her gaze caught on clothes neatly stacked on top of the dresser. Her clothes. Jeans. A T-shirt. There was even a pair of neatly folded panties on top.
Her cheeks heated. Zane had gone through her underwear drawer. Why did that feel like ten million degrees of embarrassment?
She set her feet on the floor, and that’s when she saw the folded piece of paper beside her phone on the bedside table.
She lifted it, her gaze running over the masculine, slanted writing.
Morning, Bon. Stetson’s sick so I’ve had to run into work. Take your time getting ready. The apartment’s locked up. I’ve left a spare key for you on the kitchen counter. Your brother said he’d be over at nine.
She tapped the screen of her phone.
Eight forty-five! Shit. And her brother was never late.
She shot to her feet, knowing she shouldn’t care if Noah found her in Zane’s room. Actually, she didn’t. She was a grown-ass woman who could date whoever she wanted.
Okay, she cared a little bit. He’d apologized for what he’d said about her at her aunt’s house, but a part of her couldn’t help but wonder what else he thought about her and wasn’t sharing.
She was just reaching for her clothes, when she froze.
Was that the front door opening? No. It couldn’t be. Zane was at work and if Stetson was sick, he’d be there all day.
But it had definitely sounded like the door.
Her heart started to pound, fear propelling the blood in her veins to move faster.
A weapon. She needed a weapon. But where did Zane keep one? Did he even have a weapon in the bedroom?
Her gaze landed on the antiperspirant spray on top of his wooden dresser.
That could work.
Silently, she padded toward the drawers. There was a small shake to her fingers as she lifted the can. She cringed at the small click when she pulled off the cap.
Spray and run.The words whispered in her head. She ignored everything else. The fear. The panic.
Three more steps and she reached the closed bedroom door. She wrinkled her nose, setting a hand on the knob. Opening it slowly, she listened.
Silence…from her and the hall. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe the noise had been in her head.
The door opened and the first thing she saw was a big, broad chest. She screamed and lifted the can to spray, aiming for the intruder’s eyes.
He moved so quickly, she didn’t have time to react, throwing his head to the side so the antiperspirant missed and grabbing her wrist before tugging it down.
His fingers weren’t punishing though. In fact, they were oddly gentle, but still firm.
When she finally focused on him, she frowned. “I know you. Well, I don’t know you, but…Ethan, right?”
“It’s good to see you again, Bonnie.” His deep, gravelly voice was clearly amused. He didn’t seem annoyed at all that she’d almost blinded him. Was there a ghost of a smile on his face?
