Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Ella

I lay in bed, still angry and flustered after my dance with Noah. Why had I been restless and unsettled since the man had pulled into town? And why did he keep begging me to forgive him?

I turned on my side and squeezed my eyes, trying to force myself to go to sleep. It didn't work, so I pulled my phone off the charger and turned on an old show. Whenever I couldn't stop thinking at night, I liked to have funny shows going in the background to help me sleep. Finally, I started to drift off.

A loud bang jolted me awake. It was pitch dark, and I couldn't see anything. I turned toward the neon clock, but it was out. It looked like I'd lost power. I checked my phone, but the battery was dead.

The banging sound started up again, growing louder. I grabbed my grandparents' shotgun, which I'd stashed back beneath my bed. I put on my flip flops and opened my door. I rushed down the hallway, yelling, "Who's there?"

A flash of lightning lit everything up from outside. The screen door was bouncing against the doorframe in the wind, the bangs echoing through the house. I pulled it shut, but my adrenaline spiked even higher as I looked around. "Who's there?"

Something dropped down the hallway, and I freaked out. The shotgun slipped from my fingers as I burst through the screen door and across the porch. About halfway down the driveway, I realized I should turn back and get the shotgun, but I was too far away. Who was in my house? Clint? My ex?

I sprinted down the road, straight to the old Whipple house. I raced right up to the door and banged on it.

It wasn't long until Noah opened the door, a handgun pointed in my face. My blood turned to ice as I gazed down the barrel.

He realized it was me, cursed, and shoved the gun into the back of his pants. "What's going on?"

I pushed past him, rushing inside the house. I was shivering. "Someone's in the house. I heard banging, and it was the screen door. I had the shotgun, but I heard something, and I dropped it and ran." I pulled my hair. "I can't believe I dropped it."

His arms were around me, holding me. "You did the right thing. You're okay."

I clung to him like I was drowning and he was the only life preserver. "I shouldn't have come here."

"This is exactly where you should be." He rubbed little circles on my back, and I suddenly remembered that he'd done this whenever I was afraid. He'd liked to comfort me.

The shock of it all was wearing off. "I'm scared," I admitted.

Noah's arms tightened around me. "I got you. It's okay."

For a long time, we didn't move. I felt safe and loved in a way I hadn't in a long, long time. Probably not since the last time I was in his arms.

He pulled away. "I'm going to call Damon and McCrae. We'll get this checked out."

"Okay. My phone's dead." I felt like an idiot. "I don't even have it."

"It's fine." He pulled his phone out of his pocket and tapped on a number.

I heard Damon's voice. "This better be good."

"Her house was broken into. I know you're with the kids; do you want me to call McCrae?"

"Yeah." Damon hung up.

I was mystified. "He's so calm."

Noah shrugged. "He's the police chief."

"You're calm too. I guess that's because you're some amazing military guy who now owns a security company."

He flashed a beautiful smile. "Maybe."

He called McCrae and explained the situation. McCrae promised to be there in ten minutes. When they ended the call, Noah drew me back into his arms.

I halfheartedly shoved at him. "I don't think you should hold me. I mean, with everything between us."

His voice rumbled from his chest. "I'm holding you. You need this."

It felt too intense, but I didn't pull away.

After a few minutes, he gave me one more squeeze, then let me go. "Let's get you a coat. We'll drive back there."

I nodded uncertainly.

"Unless you don't want to go?"

I swallowed my fear and squared my shoulders. "I want to go."

Minutes later, we pulled into my driveway and waited. It wasn't long before McCrae joined us, and we all got out and walked toward the house.

"So you think someone's in there?" McCrae asked me.

I eyed my home tentatively. "I honestly don't know."

There was a murmured exchange between McCrae and Noah, and then they pulled out their guns. McCrae approached the half-open screen door, pulled it back, then led the way into the house. Noah caught the screen door and held it open for me before following us inside.

Their flashlights swept the living room, but no one was in sight. McCrae tried the light switch. It wouldn't work.

"I thought it might be a power outage, but your house had lights," I murmured.

Noah grabbed my hand and pulled me next to him. "Stay close to me."