Page 4 of Sheltered By Love

I already knew that. Viola told me to make sure I take care of the house. And to the best of my knowledge, I have.

Still, my heart begins thumping against my ribcage as I look around the living room for any evidence.

“I can deal with him. You just hide the cage, and the chew toys,” I stage whisper to Nicki.

Technically he can’t come in without giving me notice, but that doesn’t make me sweat any less.

When the inevitable knock sounds at the front door, I have to hope Nicki hides everything just in case he insists on coming inside to check on the alarm.

I take a breath, cross my fingers behind my back, open the door, and try to smile. “Hello, er, Mr. Reid,” I say.

With his close-shaven head, broad shoulders, lean build, and icy blue eyes, up close he’s so intense a shiver runs down my spine.

I’d forgotten how good-looking he was.

He doesn’t even bother to be polite, just glowers at me. “You installed a security system without asking me first.”

I gulp. “I tried to reach you. I got your machine.”

He folds his arms across his chest. “You could have called Levi. I just bought two security systems for both of my properties.”

My lips form an apology, but the words stick in my throat. “Ah, oh dear. Um, maybe we could discuss it…when I’ve had more notice?”

His face twitches. “There’s nothing to discuss. And this is your notice. I’ll be around tomorrow at 0900 to uninstall yours and install mine.”

My jaw drops as I think about my nice simple alarm system. “But it’s working just fine,” I protest.

Like the neanderthal he is, he flat-out ignores me. He spins on his heel and calls over his shoulder. “Your lawn needs mowing, and the hedges need trimming.”

All my muscles clench as I refrain from mentioning I’ve had bigger things to worry about than maintaining the front yard.

I like that the hedge is overgrown. It means no one can peep in on me.

Calling on all the manners I have, I bite my tongue, close the door, and hope I can get through tomorrow morning without him realizing I have a pet.

Zane

I shake my head as I stalk back and find Levi’s decided to take a break already.

Should’ve known he wouldn’t have pulled his own weight. I’d have asked Garrett or Jax but Garrett’s working a double shift tonight and Jax’s still down a bartender at his place on the beach.

I glance at the window and see the curtain shift back into place as whoever’s been spying on me with Felicity hides again.

It’s not exactly easy seeing the quirky Felicity Michaels living in our old house.

I haven’t been back in over six months. Six months at sea, with nothing to do but think about the choices I made and what I’d do differently.

If she’s wrecked the plaster work inside the house, I’ll be adding Felicity Michaels to that list.

Levi hands me a beer and slumps on the leather sofa he’s sweating all over. “Did you interview her or did Garrett?” I ask him.

He cocks his head. “You did. Just before the hearing. She looked a bit different though. Think she had brown hair, and she was skinnier.”

At least that explains why I don’t remember her. Everything was a blur after I came home and had two funerals and a disciplinary hearing to attend.

“She’s not a natural blonde?” I ask.

He opens his hands in an ‘I dunno’ gesture. “I thought you knew she was a looker? I thought that was why you were suddenly so keen to come ashore and get a security system for her,” he says.

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