Page 3 of The Bombshell and the Bodyguard
“What’s going on?”
I started to open my door, but Hap held out his hand. “Stay here. I’m gonna go find out what’s happening.”
He got out of the car but leaned back into it, meeting my eyes. “Lock the doors. I’ll be right back.”
My gaze followed him as he jogged away and disappeared into the night. The wait for his return felt like hours, and my heart raced the entire time. I’d been ready to sleep for days, but now I felt wired, filled with fight-or-flight energy.
Whatwas happening at my house?
My first thought was that there’d been a fire. But then there were no fire engines, only police cars. It had to be something else—a burglary maybe?
Chills went down my spine as I pictured breaking glass, a gloved hand slipping in and turning the back-door lock.
It wouldn’t be the first time one of my homes had been robbed. My house in California had been broken into a few months ago. Thankfully I’d been out of the country at the time, but it had still freaked me out.
What if Ihadbeen home tonight when a stranger had forced his way in? What if there wasstillan intruder in my houseright now?
Oh, where was Hap? I peered down the long, dark driveway, searching for a glimpse of my brother. Finally I saw him, striding quickly toward the car.
He got inside, and before I could even say anything, he said, “You’re staying with me tonight.”
He put the car in drive and pulled it away from the curb, a determined look on his face.
“Was it a break-in?” I asked his profile. Cold, spiky alarm clogged my throat, preventing me from saying more.
“Apparently. Attempted one at least. The police think the alarm probably scared him off. They’re checking just to make sure the house wasn’t breached and that there isn’t still somebody hanging around. After that, they’ll spread out and canvas the neighborhood, but the houses are so far apart, I doubt anyone saw anything. I gave them my number to call when it’s all clear, but you’re not sleeping there tonight.”
“You won’t get an argument from me on that one. Will Rachel be okay with me staying over? I could go to Mom and Dad’s house. I’ve still got my key.”
“Don’t be silly. Rachel loves you. We’re all family now.”
I’d only met Hap’s new bride once—at their destination wedding in Hawaii. The two of us had gotten along famously, and I’d never seen my brother so happy.
That was all I cared about really. Rachel and I could have been polar opposites and I’d still be her biggest fan as long as she treated my brother right.
She was waiting at the door when we arrived. He’d obviously texted her to give her a heads up, because she reached for me and folded me into her arms.
“Oh my goodness. You must be so upset—and so tired. This was the last thing you needed on the last night of your tour.”
“It’s an interesting homecoming, that’s for sure,” I said. “Thanks for letting me stay tonight—I know you weren’t expecting it.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m thrilled to see you. And you can stay as long as you like. I don’t want you going back to that house until we know it’s completely safe.”
Hap nodded in agreement. “You need to beef up your security.”
Hap had always been overprotective, and no doubt this incident sent his big-brother instincts into overdrive. I attempted to set his mind at ease.
“I already have a watchman at the gate and a security guard on the grounds. After the California incident my record label hired them to watch my property while I’m on tour.”
“Well, you’re not on tour anymore. You’re home now. Which means there’ll be something much more valuable there than pricey art and platinum records on the wall—you.”
He pulled a phone from his pocket. “I’ve got a friend in the security business. I’m gonna give him a call, get him to go take a look and—”
The phone in Hap’s hand buzzed, cutting him off. He looked up at Rachel and me. “It’s the police.”
Lifting the phone to his ear, he said, “Hello? Yeah. Yeah, okay. She’s right here.” He held it out to me. “They want to talk to you.”
The officer on the other end of the line told me they’d checked the entire nine acres of my estate but had found no signs of an intruder. “Sometimes these alarm systems are tricky. Even a strong gust of wind can set them off,” he explained.
