He moved to the window, pulled open the blinds, and looked out and down. There were the shoe prints in the soft dirt. She hadn’t touched the silk roses, but the wind had blown them around. He sucked in a quick breath in an attempt to calm his ire. The idea that someone was that close to her made his heart race. Surprised by his reaction, he let out a long, slow breath and continued his tour of the house.
An ensuite bathroom contained a small window that would require special consideration. Small bathroom windows were often overlooked in security assessments but could provide easy access for determined intruders.
Another almost identical bedroom and bathroom were next, and he carefully noted the windows.
Across the hall was the owner’s suite, noticeably larger than the other bedrooms and clearly her personal retreat. The windows offered what he imagined would be a spectacular view of the prairie during sunset. The attached bathroom had no exterior windows, a security advantage he appreciated.
They made their way back to the living room, where he settled onto the comfortable sofa while she chose an overstuffed chair positioned to face him. The furniture arrangement feltconducive to conversation, another indication of someone who valued genuine human connection over formal entertaining.
He lifted his gaze from the tablet and met her interested blue eyes. "Let me review what we're working with. One large window in the living room, a window over the kitchen sink, and a sliding glass door. The garage door provides another access point, but no windows there, which is good. Each bedroom has a window, with your primary bedroom featuring a wider double window setup. The hallway bathroom has a small window that we'll need to address."
She nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, that covers everything." Her eyes were bright with curiosity rather than concern. "Can I ask what you'll use that information for? I'm genuinely interested in understanding what needs to happen."
"Willow, you can ask me anything you want, anytime you want,” he offered with a dip of his chin. “This is your house, and you have every right to know what I'm doing and why." He turned the tablet toward her so she could see his preliminary layout. "I'll compile all this information and send it to my company tonight. Tomorrow, they'll ship the security equipment to the local installation company that Logan has already contracted with, who will get to work immediately."
He stood and walked to the window, gesturing toward different areas as he explained his process. "In a few minutes, I'll go back around and take precise measurements of all the windows and doors. My program will create a detailed layout of your property so we'll know every possible entrance point. Then I'll walk around the outside perimeter to determine optimal placement for security lighting and cameras. You can stay inside while I do the exterior assessment."
He paused, consulting his notes. "After that, I'll walk the entire perimeter of your property. According to the information I have, you've got about six and a half acres here?"
"That's right," she confirmed. "It's large enough to provide real privacy, but I do have neighbors. There's one family just down the road, and another across the way, though their house is set back far enough that you can't see it from here."
"Good to know." He laced up his boots again and reached for his jacket. "I'll start with the exterior evaluation now."
Walking around the outside of her house, Casper was impressed by both the property's natural defensibility and its aesthetic appeal. The architecture was refreshingly uncomplicated, with a deep front porch, a spacious back deck for enjoying prairie views, and a straightforward rectangular layout, with the garage strategically positioned on one side. No unnecessary architectural flourishes or blind spots that might complicate security coverage.
The simplicity would make his job easier while maintaining the peaceful, unobtrusive atmosphere that had clearly drawn Willow to this location. Casper sent the preliminary report to Bert, letting him know he would send the final equipment request once he’d seen the property line.
He then walked to the window outside her office and leaned over to see the shoe prints. He crouched, took several photos, then placed a ruler next to the clearest one and snapped more. It was long and wide, probably a man’s shoe, but that didn’t rule out a woman wearing it to disguise the stalker's sex. The silk roses appeared nondescript, with no identification.
Standing, he turned to look behind him at the tall grass that led to the side of her property. It would be easy for someone to park down the road, duck low enough to stay hidden in the stalks and few trees, and approach the side of the house without too much difficulty. Especially if they know she wasn’t at the house.
Feeling anger move through him, he headed to the front porch. He walked back through the front door, finding the house now warm and welcoming after the crisp outdoor air. Willowwas still curled in the overstuffed chair with what looked like a notebook in her lap.
"I'm going to walk the property line now," he announced, mentally preparing for the longer trek across her acreage. "It'll probably take me about an hour to cover everything thoroughly."
She looked up from her notebook with a grin that transformed her entire face, making her look younger and more mischievous than any of the professional photos he'd studied. "You didn't see the ATV I have parked on the far side of the garage, did you?"
He paused, one eyebrow raising slightly, embarrassed he hadn’t searched the garage earlier. "No, I missed that."
"We can take it to check the property line if you'd like. It'll be much faster than walking, and you'll get a better sense of the terrain." She was already closing her notebook and setting it aside, her enthusiasm evident. "Unless you prefer to do it on foot for security reasons?"
"You don't have to come along," he said, though he hoped she'd insist. Something was infectious about her sudden excitement over what should have been a routine security assessment.
"I'd like to," she replied, standing and stretching in a way that made his throat tighten unexpectedly. He managed to keep his eyes on her face, but that sure as hell didn’t keep the rest of her body out of his line of vision.
"I don't get many opportunities to show off my property, and I'm probably the only person who knows where the actual boundary markers are."
Twenty minutes later, they were both bundled in heavy jackets, gloves, and knit caps against the late afternoon chill. Willow led him around to the far side of the garage, where a sturdy quad-wheeler sat waiting, its deep-tread tires and reinforced frame indicating it was built for serious terrain.
"It was here when I bought the house," she explained, running an affectionate hand over the handlebar. "It's not pretty, but it's reliable. I’d never ridden one, but my real estate agent’s son came over and showed me how to use it."
Casper swung his leg over the seat and familiarized himself with the controls while Willow stood nearby, fastening a helmet over her cap.
"Ready?" he asked, starting the engine and feeling the machine's solid power rumble to life beneath them.
She climbed on behind him. "Is it okay if I hold on? I don't want to fall off if you hit a rough patch."
"Yeah… it’s the only way to make sure you're safe," he replied, his voice coming out rougher than intended.
