I wanted to smack myself.“I think I’ll stop talking now.”
He chuckled as he lowered his head, kissing me softly.“Actually, keep talking.It’s doing wonders for my ego.”
“I don’t think you need any help in that department.”
“True,” he admitted, straightening.“My head is probablyalready too big.”
The thing was, Colton was confident and self-assured, maybeeven a little cocky, but he wasn’t arrogant.He was like a unicorn.
“You ready?”
“Just one second.”I grabbed my purse and keys off thecoffee table and then joined him outside, pulling the door closed behind me.The heat was near stifling, coating my skin as I glanced at the boarded window.I cringed.“That looks terrible.”
“Not the greatest curb appeal,” he agreed, placing his handon my lower back.We started down the short set of steps.“Did you get in touchwith anyone today after I left?”
“I called my insurance company—the one-eight-hundred number.It doesn’t make sense to file a claim, not with the deductible, but they didgive me a list of companies to call tomorrow.”Despite the heat, I couldn’tsuppress a shiver when he slid his hand to the center of my back.
He cast me a knowing side-look as we stepped onto thesidewalk.“I want someone to get out here quick.I don’t like the idea of thewindow being like that for long.”
“Me neither.I feel like—”
A loud pop caused me to jump and lose my grip on my purse.It slipped from my fingers, falling to the pavement as I whipped around.Heartracing, my frantic gaze searched for the source of the sound, terrified I wasabout to come face-to-face with the bald man.
He wasn’t there.
“Are you okay?”Colton placed his hand on my shoulder,turning me toward him.Concern was etched into his handsome face.“Abby?”
“Was that a…a gun?”The moment I spoke the question, Ialready knew the answer.If it had been a gun, I doubted Colton would just bestanding there.“I’m sorry.”My cheeks burned as I looked away.“I know thatwasn’t what that was.”
“It was a car backfiring.Probably down the street.”Hishand curved around the nape of my neck and he guided my gaze back to his.“Iget it.”
That was all he needed to say and I believed him.Noddingslowly, I forced an even breath in and then out.“I guess…I’m just a littlejumpy after Friday.When I heard that, I thought…”
“I’m not surprised.”His hand shifted and he curled his armaround my shoulders, drawing me to his chest.“You freaking amaze me, Abby,with how you’re holding it together after Friday, but I know it has effectedyou and that’s okay.That’s normal.”
The citrusy scent of his cologne surrounded me and my heartrate slowed.The embarrassment from overreacting eased off.“Thank you.”
“There is no reason you need to thank me.”Leaning back, hebrushed his lips over my forehead and then lowered his arm.He swooped down,picking up my purse.“But I want you to feel safe.Nothing is going to happento you.”
I didn’t respond as he took my hand in his other one.Stillholding my purse, he led me to where his truck was parked under a large oaktree.The leaves stirred in the warm breeze.“Reece has been keeping an eye onyour place during the night and throughout the day, doing drive-bys.”
I stared at him, floored.
“It’s not perfect, but I doubt you’re ready for me campingout in your place like I want to until we get those shitheads and put thembehind bars.”Stopping in front of the passenger door, he let go of my hand andopened it.“Up?”
I didn’t move, not even when he placed the purse in myhands.“You have Reece watching my place?”
“Yeah.And the other deputies know to keep an eye out.”Hecocked his head to the side, studying me.“You look like I just dropped mypants.”
I liked to think I’d be rocking a totally different look onmy face if he’d done that.“I’m just surprised.That’s a lot of trouble forthem.”
“It’s nothing.”His gaze met mine.“And they’re glad to doit.You’re important to me.They know that.”
For the umpteenth time since he appeared Friday night, I wasabsolutely flummoxed by Colton.I was important to him?Since when?Thatquestion sounded like such a douche-tastic thing to think, but could he reallybe telling the truth?Did I have any reason to doubt that he was?
“You have that look on your face,” he said.
I snapped out of it.“What look?”
