Page 58 of Holiday Surprise

“I’m over the tub and trying not to drop head first into it,” I said.

“Why didn’t you tell me it was over the bathtub?” Luke asked. “I’m going to pull you back out.”

Luke yanked but my hips just dug down deeper into the window.

“Ow,” I yelled. “Not working!”

“Sorry Sydney. I think you’ll have to keep going all the way through.”

“I told you before I wouldn’t fit.”

“You’re already through the worst of it,” Luke told me.

There was a rustling sound entering into the room, and a dark shadow was approaching. I started screaming and could feel fear through the bond, only it wasn’t all mine. A large hand reached for the shower curtain.

“Someone’s in here!” I screamed, kicking my legs and trying to back out.

I kicked something hard. Then heard Luke.

“Ow.”

The curtain flew open and there was James.

“Jesus, you scared the life out of me. What are you doing in my house?”

“Sydney?” Luke called.

“It’s okay, Luke. It’s just James.”

“James? The cop that was just out here?”

“Yeah,” I said.

James stood in the tub to give me something to hold on to as I pulled the rest of my body through the window and fell into his waiting arms.

Luke came running into the room and swooped me up to inspect me.

“You’re bleeding,” I told him. His nose was swollen and bloody.

“You kicked me. It’s probably broke, but I’ll straighten it before it heals. It’ll be fine. I just need to know you’re okay,” he said.

“I’m fine. Thanks to James.”

“Yeah, how exactly did you get into the house?” Luke asked him.

James reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. He jingled it in the air. “I used the key.”

“The key, huh?” Luke asked before giving me a look.

“Why do you have a key to my house?” I asked him.

“Thomas gave it to us years ago. Said you were always losing yours. We keep it at the office in town. When I got the call, I grabbed it just in case I needed to check the place out.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, can I get a copy of that made?” Luke asked.

“Sure. Lost yours again, huh, Syd?”

I snorted. “Like three years ago. I never lock my doors. Luke was just trying to keep me safe, and that window was the only one we could find that wasn’t locked.”

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