What weapons did I have?
Best option—a rolling pin. I slid out the drawer and felt around until my hand brushed against the curved shape of the pin.
I gripped it tightly and listened. Not one sound came from outside, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to check it out.
I crossed to the kitchen door and slowly unlocked it. I cringed when the screen door groaned and cursed silently to myself for the sound. Since the cursing was silent I figured I didn’t have to create a new word—I could use one already in existence.
Also, it wasn’t lost on me that I was only wearing yoga pants and a thin long-sleeved shirt.
The wind cut right into me, but I ignored it. The sound had come from my bedroom window. I slowly made my way to the opposite side of the house.
My heart jacked up. It took everything I had to keep my breath calm. I reached the front door and stopped at the edge of the cottage. Just around the lip was my bedroom and whoever was lurking there.
I gripped the rolling pin tightly, held my breath and took a step out. No one was there.
I exhaled a deep shot of air and finished investigating the rest of the outside.
No one.
I laughed at myself for having been so foolish and went back inside. I flipped on all the lights and checked every nook and cranny to make sure no one had come inside while I had been outside. When I was satisfied that I was alone, I headed back to bed.
The next morning I was still laughing for thinking someone had been lurking outside. I decided not to text Roan about it because there was no reason to make him worry.
Literally no reason since it had been my imagination getting the better of me.
I locked up the house and was heading for the car when I decided to check the area one more time, just to make sure. When I reached the window outside my bedroom, I stopped.
My heart hammered against my chest.
Positioned just outside my room was a set of footprints in the soft earth, and one broken stick—as if someone had stepped on and broken it.
NINETEEN
“But who would want to peep on Blissful?” Alice said.
Alice, Ruth and I sat at Southern Ghost Wranglers. It was time for the store to open, but I’d left the CLOSED sign up until I felt less shaken.
“Could be a regular lurker,” Ruth commented. “Someone who thinks she’s pretty.”
“Could be someone wanted something,” Alice said, “and maybe they were too afraid to get it.”
“Thattime.” I winced. It was a sobering thought.
Ruth’s gaze was steady on me, filling me with strength. “All we know is that someone was there. We don’t know what they wanted. If anyone plans on returning to your house, we’ll be there. Alice and me.”
Alice clapped her hands. “We’ll set a trap! That’s what we’ll do. We’ll catch whoever it is.” She rubbed her chin in thought. “I have a large net in the basement. I’m sure I could use it to grab hold of whoever it is.”
Ruth poked the air with authority. “And I’ve got an air rifle, otherwise known as a BB gun.”
“I know what it is,” I said. The image of Alice toting a net and Ruth clutching a BB gun just about made me laugh so hard I peed my panties.
“We’ll wait outside.” Alice’s eyes widened as she planned her stakeout. “Blissful, you’ll stay inside and be really loud so that whoever it is knows you’re there. Ruth will watch the bedroom, and I’ll watch another part of the house—I haven’t decided which. As soon as our guy tries anything, bam! I’ll hit him with the net!”
“And I’ll fill his butt full of BBs,” Ruth exclaimed.
I had to admit, it sounded like the perfect plan.
“What time was he around last night?” Ruth said.
