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Next she’d followed him upstairs, where he’d not only inspected every room, he’d even looked in closets and under the beds

Still he’d found nothing

That had led hi his heels, and finally he’d deduced it could only have been a critter that got in through the attic because every door andreed "I don’t know Maybe talk to your security co sympathetic, he asked, "Do you have soht? You probably shouldn’t be alone"

No kidding "I was just heading out," she promised him But the way he watched her made her lift her chin "I’m not usually this jumpy I’ve lived on my own for a while, actually Sure, I used to have a roohed "You know about the recent bank robbery, right?"

"A o?"

"Yes That wasyou robbed the place?"

"No!" She realized he was teasing and relaxed again "I’er there"

"Well then, no wonder you’re a little nervous"

"Right?" She didn’t tell him about her near ence had al attention But now She’d had one near miss too many for her to entirely dismiss the idea that someone was after her

Relieved that she hadn’t called her brother--or worse, Armie--Merissa walked with Officer Mead out to her car "Soyou won’t tell anyone how I totally lost it, will you?"

"You did all the right things," he promised her "And yeah, I’ll probably need to share the incident with Detective Riske since he’s working the bank robbery But I’ll only give him details, saan Riske asked her questions, she’d be coh not to embarrass herself And of course, she’d tell Cannon and Arer, they needed to know

Realistically she knew neither of thee her, but that didn’t see a certified badass as a brother, and now being intimately involved with one, had its drawbacks Comparisons could suck

"How about I wait until you’re out of the driveway," Officer Mead offered "Once you’re on your way, then I’ll take off"

Such a kind ulfed her "I would very much appreciate that"

"Protect and serve, ree

Was he flirting? It certainly seemed so

If she wasn’t already ladly flirted back, but instead she said, "I’ve held you up long enough Really, you’ve been wonderful I don’t knohat I would have done without you, so again, thank you" And with that, she got in her car and secured the doors Finally she was able to take a deep breath

With the handso her, she waved, then backed out and drove away Thinking it’d be better to get it out of the way, she tried to decide who to call first--her brother or Ar, startling her With a glance at the screen she saas Cherry

As soon as she answered, she heard a lot of boisterous laughter and knew the ladies had gotten together "Having a party without me?" she asked her best friend

"Rissy! Where are you?"

Wondering at that, Merissa explained, "I just leftto Armie’s"

"Scrap that Co, "We’re all here and just waiting on you"