The Christmas Rescue. Laura Scott
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“I want Clyde,” Brianna said plaintively.
The sounds of the dog barking actually reassured her. She couldn’t believe someone was hiding inside with Clyde home. The one thing their puppy was really good at was creating a ruckus. “He’s with Mr. Rafe and I’m sure they’ll be out soon.” Kayla watched through the windshield as Rafe flipped on the rest of the lights, making his way through the inside of her spacious home.
She bit her lip, trying to remember. She had set the security system, hadn’t she? She was almost certain she had, but couldn’t be absolutely positive. She’d resented her brother and Rafe for insisting on installing the alarm system nine months ago, but lately she’d been glad to have the extra protection. She’d fallen into the habit of using the security system on those days and nights that she and Brianna were home alone. On the nights they had guests, there was no point in using it because her guests could obviously come and go as they pleased.
The elderly couple who’d been her last guests had left this morning, and she and Brianna had left shortly thereafter. It was possible she’d forgotten to set the security system.
Besides, if someone had breached the system, wouldn’t the police have been notified?
Rafe returned a few minutes later with Clyde, their clumsy puppy, at his heels. She opened the car door when he approached and climbed out.
“I didn’t find any—ah—anything,” he said, with a quick glance at Brianna. She was grateful he hadn’t blurted out how he’d been searching for an intruder. “But you might want to check things out for yourself to make sure nothing has been disturbed.”
“I’m sorry, I must have forgotten to set the alarm,” she said softly.
“Probably,” Rafe agreed. “The system is set up so that it sends an alarm if the wiring is cut.”
That’s what she’d thought. “So the only way someone could get past my system is if they somehow figured out my code.”
Rafe scowled. “Yes. Do you change it every few weeks like I told you to?”
“I’ve changed it,” she said a little defensively, brushing past him to head up to the door. “Maybe not every few weeks, but I have changed it.”
“Check things out. I’ll be in shortly,” he said, heading over to rummage in the back of his jeep.
“Brianna, bring Clyde inside,” she said. Kayla kept Brianna close as she did a quick walk-through. The house was eerily silent. Normally she loved being out in the middle of the woods, far away from civilization, but for some reason the silence bothered her now. Maybe she was still unnerved by finding a dead body in the lake. She glanced around, looking at her things. From what she could tell, everything was exactly the way she’d left it.
Her apprehension drained away. Rafe hadn’t found anyone. Everything was fine. She was silly to be so anxious. Obviously she’d forgotten to set the alarm.
“Brianna, it’s time to brush your teeth and get ready for bed.”
Her daughter groaned, but headed toward their private rooms off the back of the kitchen.
She took the leftover box of pizza and shoved it into her empty fridge. The night out had been an extravagance she really couldn’t afford. It was very nice that Rafe had offered to pay. And now she and Brianna would have leftovers tomorrow night, which was a good thing, considering her cash reserves were pitifully low.
She tried to shrug off the gnawing concern. She’d figure out something. She always did.
“Kayla?”
Rafe’s husky voice sent her pulse skyrocketing into triple digits. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves before turning toward him. “Yes?”
“Come here. I’d like to show you something.” He reached for her hand and the warmth of his touch sent a tingle of awareness up her arm.
He shut off the living room light and she was momentarily blinded by the darkness. “Come outside for a minute, but watch your step.”
Curiously, she followed him outside. When he shut the door, she could see the small green light glowing from the keypad, indicating the system was engaged.
Rafe’s presence was noticeable, even in the darkness. He stood close. Too close. She eased back a step.
“Your passcode is 7724, right?” he asked.
She sucked in a harsh breath. “How did you know?”
He turned a switch and her porch was awash in a strange, purple glow. He aimed the black light at the keypad. “See how this black light picks up the little bit of oil residue from your fingertips? I could tell the numbers you used were 247 but I didn’t know which order. It didn’t take me long to figure it out, especially since I knew you were born in 1977. It may take a stranger a little longer, but not much. Once they have the three digits, it narrows down the possibilities immensely.”
Speechless, she could only stare at the evidence he’d presented. He was right. Again.
He tapped in the code and then opened the front door and walked back inside the living room, turning the lights back on. “That’s why I told you to change your passcode every couple of weeks. To prevent anyone from figuring it out.”
“I never realized,” she murmured, sobered by his brief experiment. Her earlier fears came rushing back. She couldn’t hide her apprehension. “Do you think it’s possible someone was here?”
He paused for a moment, and then slowly shook his head. “No, I don’t. If the intruder was smart enough to crack your code to gain entrance to your home, he’d certainly be smart enough to engage the alarm again when he left. Why advertise he was here? I believe you forgot to set it.”
She let out a sigh of relief. “You’re right. I’m just being silly. And I will change the code, I promise. And I’ll clean the keypad regularly, too, as an added measure. Thanks for checking things out for me.”
Rafe hesitated at the door, gazing down at her, his expression troubled. “Maybe I should stay. I don’t like the thought of leaving you and Brianna all the way out here alone.”
Her breath congealed in her throat and she didn’t know what to say. Having Rafe nearby would be pure torture, and she wasn’t sure her nerves could handle the stress. And Brianna would only get more attached to him than she already was. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said finally. “And besides, you work tomorrow, don’t you?”
His intense gaze was mesmerizing, his brown eyes so dark they were almost black. “Yes, but at least I could make certain you’re safe here tonight.”
“We’ll be perfectly safe,” she said with more confidence than she felt. “I’m expecting guests tomorrow and they’ll be staying through the weekend. I have lots to do to get ready. Really, we’ll be fine.”
He stared at her for a long moment, before finally nodding. “All right. But promise you’ll call if you need me. Do you have my number?”
She hoped he didn’t notice the embarrassed flush in her cheeks. Taking his number seemed so—intimate. But when he waited expectantly, she pulled out her cell phone. “No, I don’t. But I’ll program it in now. What’s the number?”
Rafe recited his cell number and she quickly entered the number into her phone. She wouldn’t call him, of course, but knowing he was within reach if for some strange reason she did need him was oddly comforting.
“Good night, Kayla.” He reached up and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. The slightest brush of his fingertips on her skin made her shiver.
She took a step back, plastering a smile on her face. She kept her tone light. Friendly. “Bye, Rafe. Drive safe.” When he left, she closed the door and then leaned against the wooden frame, her legs weak. She really had to figure out how to get a grip of her