“Holy hell,” Willow said, putting a hand to her slamming heart as she and Tripp both hurried to the kitchen.
“It’s just me,” Rafe called out over the barking a moment later from the other side of the closed front door.Neither of them had heard him come up the wooden steps, too lost in each other and the breathless moment of that almost kiss.
Rafe had shitty timing.
Willow grabbed Rufus’s collar, tried unsuccessfully to shush him as she dragged him to the front door while Tripp let Rafe in.“Sorry.”She made Rufus sit and told him to be quiet.“He’ll calm down in a minute.”
“I tell you what, he’s better than an alarm system,” Rafe said.“Heard me when I was partway up the driveway.”
“Good boy, Rufus.”Tripp reached down to stroke the dog’s head, and to Willow’s surprise, Rufus didn’t shy away from him, too busy staring warily at Rafe.
“We didn’t find anything else back there, but we’ll take another look in the morning just to make sure.”
“Find any cameras?”Tripp asked.“Or tracks?”
Yes, whoever it was must have left tracks.
“No, but we’ll get a better idea in the daylight.”Rafe looked at her.“You gonna be okay here on your own?”
“I’m staying the night,” Tripp said.
Rafe looked at him, then back at her.“All right.Good, then you’re safe as a kitten with a personal bodyguard and an early warning system,” he gestured to Rufus.“Anything else I can do before I take off?”
“Don’t think so.I appreciate you coming out.”
“I would’ve come even if it weren’t my job.I’ll send a couple deputies back in the morning to have another look around.I’m tied up in meetings again tomorrow until the afternoon, but if anything else comes up, just call the station.I’ll let you know if I hear anything on my end.”
“Sounds good.”
“Try not to worry, and get some sleep.”
“I will.”But only because Tripp was here.Although she would feel even safer with him wrapped around her in her bed.
Willow let Rafe out, then locked the door and turned to face Tripp.The moment in the guestroom had passed.Now that she was thinking clearly, it was for the best that they’d been interrupted before they’d crossed any lines.“I’m gonna take a shower.Wash the saltwater off me before I crash.”
He nodded, that penetrating stare stirring all kinds of emotions as he crossed the room and stopped in front of her.His hand settled on the left side of her waist.She felt the imprint of his long fingers as they curled around it.
He leaned in to press a gentle, lingering kiss on her forehead that she felt right to the soles of her feet.“Sleep well.”
She released a slow breath as he walked away and disappeared into the guest room, her heart aching as much as the rest of her.
Suddenly exhausted, she went to her own bedroom, reminding herself of all the reasons why she couldn’t risk crossing the line with him.The light click of toenails on the hardwood floors followed her into her room.
She shut the door, turned to find Rufus standing beside his bed under the window, watching her.
He was so damned adorable, and she loved that he was so attached to her already.And truth be known, she was extra grateful for his presence tonight, along with his natural alertness and sensitive ears—even if he could be an annoying lunatic with his reactions sometimes.
She took a hot, soothing shower, climbed into bed and patted the chenille coverlet.“All right, come on up.”
Rufus hopped up eagerly, wagged his tail as he circled the foot of her bed before flopping down and curling up at the end of it with a loud sigh.She reached down to give his soft head a stroke before switching off the lamp.
Having Rufus here was nice.But she wasn’t going to sleep anytime soon.She was too preoccupied with Tripp lying in his own bed, so close yet so far away.
