Page 34 of The Stone Family Warrior

Chapter 8

Liberty got ready for bed, then made herself a cup of herbal chamomile tea and wandered around the house with a soft blanket Grandmother had put on her bed. She thought about Trent Stone and how different he was now. Not that different. Sure, more mature, but still the same in some ways. She grinned and thought of him flexing.

Out of nowhere, the sound of a crash jolted her out of her thoughts, making her drop her tea. “Oh gosh!” She put her hand over her racing heart and hurried to the window over the sink, peering out to the deck. She heard another sound, like deck furniture being moved. Without thinking, she unlocked the door and rushed out. “Hello?”

Voices drifted through the air, but the sound of her gate clunking shut had her hesitating. Why had she raced out here? What if it was someone dangerous? She looked around, not sure if she should follow the voices by the fence or go back in and call the police. Had someone thought they could hang out in her yard? She thought of the other day when she’d heard the loud sound by the side of the house. Fear pricked the edges of her neck, and she held perfectly still. She waited, pulling her cell phone out of her pajamas pocket just in case. Only silence reached her ears, and she shook her head. It was probably nothing.

She walked back inside and locked the door, securing the dead bolt. Her grandmother didn’t have a security system. That was something the realtor had actually talked to her about installing; she’d mentioned that most people who bought a beach house would want security in place because it wouldn’t be their full-time home.

Liberty put her phone on the table and clasped her shaking hands together. She didn’t want to have a panic attack. She had worked on deep breathing this past year when she felt them coming on. Slowly, she inhaled and then pushed the breath out. She inhaled again and held the lungful of air, counting to five, then exhaled. Measured breaths. She could do this. It was abating. Yes, inhale, exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

It was probably just kids. She remembered what it was like being here for the holidays and having nothing to do. She gazed through the window, staring out at the full moon hanging in the clear sky. There was no one out there. The beach was empty, and the waves were still. She felt herself calm. She was fine.

Now she needed to deal with the shattered teacup. She knelt and picked up the glass, hissing when she pricked herself on one finger. Blood oozed. She put her finger into her mouth, clotting the blood.

She had to refocus her thoughts. The events of the day came back to her. Trent, in the hot tub. Trent, flexing for her and Cheryse. Trent, talking to her with such an understanding in his tone.

She smiled and felt the ache in her chest lessen. The man would like that she was thinking about him. He would like it way too much. So she wouldn’t text him. No, she would resist.

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