Page 18 of All Dressed Up

He smiled over at Bethany. “Sticking to the BFF code.”

“Something like that.”

“And was that crow sound your warning her that I’m home?”

She nodded her confession. “Will, go easy on her. She’s had a bad night.”

He didn’t like to hear that, but why did her bad night turn into her breaking in to his house? “What’s wrong?”

“I’d rather not say,” Bethany repeated, looking sheepishly. “She’ll be fine.”

He walked over to his cooler he’d packed earlier that afternoon and pulled out a bottleneck beer, popping it open. “Why don’t you enjoy this, and I’ll send Rach out.”

“Thank you.” She took the beer and sat down on the last step of his deck. “She’s going to kill me.”

“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.” Will shook his head and opened his door. Rachel in his cottage was an unexpected turn of events. Why was she here? He called out a “hello” and moved through his kitchen and living room, but no sign of her.

When he reached his bedroom, he stopped for a minute in the doorway to look around. She wasn’t in there.

Or was she? The closet door was closed.

Heneverclosed his closet door. Stepping into his room, he sat down on the edge of his bed and cracked his knuckles.

This was going to be fun.

*

Rachel closed her eyes and tried to calm down her heart as it pounded against her chest. Hiding between Will’s dress shirts in the dark was not how she envisioned this mission ending.

But when she’d heard the door open and his voice calling out a “hello,” she’d sprung back into his bedroom without thinking and hid in his closet.

Where was Bethany? She heard the bird sounds, but it hadn’t been enough time to make an escape.

Which in hindsight had been a horrible plan. What she should have done was brought her phone in with her so Bethany could text her, but she’d left it in Bethany’s car.

Was Bethany even outside waiting for her? Maybe she was in the room with Will. Rachel strained to hear her friend’s voice.

Nothing.

How long would she be trapped in here? Would she have to wait until he went to bed? Will was a heavy sleeper. She knew firsthand that once he was out, he’d sleep through a semi plowing through his cottage, let alone her tiptoeing out.

A horrible thought entered her head. What if he’d brought Amber back to his place? She sunk back against the wall, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She’d just have to wait it out.

“Hey, Ernie.”

Oh, crap!Her eyelids flew open, and she straightened. He did not just call the town cop. She stood frozen in place.

“Yeah, I’m sorry to interrupt your night, but it seems I have a bit of a situation. No. Everything’s okay, but someone broke in to my house. They’re gone.”

Rachel’s breath quickened. Did Bethany totally ditch her?

“Yeah, I don’t think I’m in any danger. Oh sure. If you think it’s a good idea to stop by and dust for fingerprints, come on over.”

She ran her thumbs over her fingertips. She wasn’t wearing gloves. Her fingerprints would be all over this house, including the front door. That’s it. There was no way she was posing for a mug shot tonight or ever. She needed to surrender.

“Sure, man. If you think that would be best. I’d really like to throw the book at whoever broke in he—”

“Wait!” Rachel busted out of the closet and was greeted by a grinning Will with his arms crossed over his chest.

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