Page 83 of Sheltered By Love

“How disappointing,” she says.

My back straightens and she turns her back on me, switches the lights out, and slowly walks away leaving me standing in the dark.

Felicity

One word is running around in my head, and I give it free rein lest I start screaming it. Prick!

I’m so angry I’m a prisoner, and Roger is outside somewhere, I flick off the lights and stomp up the stairs, knowing I won’t be getting any sleep tonight.

Roger’s never spent an entire night outside before. He might be a rabbit, but he’s domesticated. I have no way of knowing whether he’ll come back to the house or wander off and get lost.

All because someone may try to break in, just because they know Zane isn’t next door.

I make it to my bathroom before I hear him climbing my stairs. With a scowl, I lean over the bathtub and twist the faucets on so I can run a bath.

As the water starts to run, a little of my anger gives way to fear. Before it can take hold of me completely, I return to my bedroom, grab my pajamas, and a book so I can soak, and then have an early night.

If Zane wants to spend all night staring at a screen rather than looking for Roger, he’ll be doing it alone.

I open the bathroom cabinet, find the bubble bath, and pour in a generous amount.

As the bubbles start to creep over the surface, I think about the three thousand dollars I’m going to have to part with.

What was I thinking? Bidding on Zane of all people. The most sufferably single-minded, confounding man I’ve ever met.

Because of him, I’ve given up my home, my privacy, and now a sizable chunk of my savings account.

I sit on the edge of the tub and gaze out the window at Viola’s old house.

Everything was simple when she lived next door. I knew where I stood with her, and she didn’t play games, give me the cold shoulder or confuse me.

The fence had been more of a formality, but if Zane is going to stay…

I freeze mid-thought and press my nose against the glass as I squeak in happiness.

The gate between the two properties has also been left open, and a little white blur is hopping around Viola’s backyard.

I’m not about to tell Zane I’m popping out the back door, so I turn the water off and poke my head out, double-checking he’s in my office.

As I sneak along the hallway, I catch a snatch of his conversation. “—wrapping things up. Tomorrow maybe?”

I hold my breath and wait until he speaks again to sneak down the stairs, avoiding the creaky one that might give me away.

When I hit the bottom one, I break into a run, pleased the alarm hasn’t been activated.

I yank the back door open, don’t bother to lock it, grab a banana, then dart across the back lawn calling Roger’s name as quietly as I can.

His ears prick up when he sees me, but he hops to the right, then starts running in a wide arc.

I groan as he starts leaping in the air, obviously enjoying his freedom and binky time in the wild.

There’s no use trying to catch him, he’s too fast, and having too much fun to come when I call him.

I glance back at the house, wishing I’d locked the back door when I spy something coming out of the shadows that makes me jump out of my skin.

Two men, one almost the size of Jaxson and a scrawnier one have crept around the other side of the house.

I have no idea whether Zane has seen them, but they’re so fixated on the door, that they don’t see me as I duck behind the closest bush.

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