Chapter 17

RILEY

The screech of a drill rattled through the cottage. I dropped my head into my hands. It had been four hours since the team from Bryant Security arrived. Four hours of non-stop drilling, banging, and endless questions.

A dark-haired man stuck his head around the doorframe. "We're turning off the power for about half an hour. Is there anything you need to do before we cut the switch?"

I looked at Matt, the person who was installing the security system, and sighed. I didn't need power; I just needed a few hours of peace and quiet. "I'm okay. Have you checked with Eric?"

"He's not here. He went to the lake with his dog."

I looked enviously through the window. If I could have picked up my canvas and worked from somewhere else, I would have.

Matt must have realized what I was thinking. "We'll be as quick as we can. I'll tell you when we've turned on the power."

"Thank you." His slow smile made me feel slightly less grumpy. Finding a company to install the security system was harder than I thought. The contractors in Boulder were all busy. When I mentioned my problem to a friend, she told me to call Bryant Security. Within two days, Matt and his team were reviewing my non-existent security and recommending different options. Eric added his thoughts, and between us, we came up with a plan that would keep the property and ourselves safe.

Finally, silence wrapped itself over the cottage like a thick, fluffy blanket. I studied my painting, dipped my brush into the gray-green paint, and added more color to the background.

Half a blissful hour later, Matt knocked on my door. "We're finished. Is it a good time to go over the setup?"

"I'll just clean my brushes. Where do you want to meet?"

"By the back door of your side of the cottage. Eric's home, so I'll show both of you at the same time."

I slid off my stool and replaced the lids on my paints. At least now we wouldn't have to worry about someone breaking into the cottage. If Eric's stalker got past the state-of-the-art security system Matt installed, we were in more trouble than we thought.

Eric smiled when he joined me at the back door. "You look comfortable."

I hoisted the bib on my overalls higher and grinned. "They're my favorite thing to wear when I'm painting." I twirled and gave him a theatrical bow. "I found them in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul." I ran my hands down the paint-splattered denim. It was so thin it felt like cotton.

"They're very…artsy."

The intense look Eric sent me made my pulse leap. "You should see my other paint clothes," I said in a husky voice. "I have a shirt for every occasion."

Matt cleared his throat and I jumped.

"I don't have any multi-colored clothes, but I've installed some flashing lights. Do you want to see how they work?"

The blush on my face deepened when I saw the gleam in Eric's gray eyes. I cleared my throat and prayed no one had noticed the heatwave turning me red. "We'd love to see them," I told Matt.

Eric placed his hand on the small of my back and nudged me forward. "I'll follow you."

With a sigh, I followed Matt. Twenty minutes later, I was in awe of what the security team had achieved.

I waved my hand in front of an infrared beam protecting Eric's French doors. "This is amazing. Are you sure it works?"

Matt nodded. "When you walk through the beam, an alarm will be activated on your cell phones. You won't hear anything inside the cottage." He pointed to what looked like a light switch. "But you will hear a piercing alarm when you press these buttons. If you set off any of these, the whole world will know about it."

Eric frowned. "Define ‘the whole world'."

"As well as the internal siren, each of your phones will let Bryant Security know you're in trouble. If you hit any of the buttons by mistake, call the number I gave you. Bryant Security will deactivate the alarm from Boulder."

"It's so simple to use," I said.

Matt took some papers off his clipboard. "That's our aim. If it's not simple, people don't use it. Here are the instructions. I've also emailed you a copy of the warranty and our contact information. If you have any issues, don't hesitate to call us."

I shook Matt's hand. "I don't know what to say except thank you."

"Remember to use the system, even if you're only planning on being away from the cottage for a few minutes. It's there to protect you."

For one brief moment, fear crept under my skin. Part of me wanted to feel safe in my own home without the additional security. The other half wanted barbed wire on all the windows. For now, I'd found a good compromise.