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"What? No," Jas says, giving me another confused stare. "Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

My blood runs cold, and I see my unease quickly creep into Jasmine's expression. "You didn't send a pic of me to Mom and Dad? Did they send the roses?"

"I thought Sully sent the roses," she says. "He didn't?"

My stomach churns, and I fight back a wave of nausea. "Jas, why did you think Sully came back last night?" The words are a raw whisper that emerges from my tight throat.

"Just because. The house was locked up, your bedroom door. And the window…."

"What window?" I demand.

"Your window. The screen is gone and on the ground. I thought maybe Sully thought I was home and did the whole Romeo-and-Juliet thing and climbed into your bedroom. He is a firefighter. He'd do that, no problem."

I brush past her and stalk my way to the door, barely taking the time to shove my feet into my shoes before going outside. I'm off the porch in seconds, stomping my way to the end of the house where my window screen is lying on the ground, just as Jas described. The frame is bent at one corner, like it was pulled loose to dislodge it.

I turn to study the landscape, looking for—I don't know what. Footprints? Broken twigs off the evergreen? How do I know what to look for? Is there something to look for?

"Okay, don't freak out, okay? It was really windy last night," Jasmine says softly. "I'm sure the wind caught it just right and ripped it off. That shrub's needed to be cut back for a while. A branch could've gotten caught in the corner and loosened it enough to blow off."

"Maybe," I murmur, remembering the noise I'd heard while taking a bath. That could be the answer.

But my gut?

I swing around and sweep the road with a searching gaze, looking for any sign of movement. But other than a car going through the stop sign at the end of the street, I didn't see anything.

I inhale, the last peaceful remnants of the long bath and night's sleep fading completely. I eye the screen again and pluck it up to put it back where it belongs, noting the bottom corner doesn't fit the way it should.

It was him. I know it was him.

But with no break-in, no damage and no proof?

It's just another day in paradise.

And I think he wants me to know he's watching.

Chapter 23

Sully

* * *

I spend my last day off doing the chores that pile up while I'm on shift. I clean, do a load of laundry and then head out to find my girl. I figure by now she's had time to come to terms with all I've said to her. And since I'll spend the next forty-eight hours at the station, I intend to help her food prep just so I can get some face time.

Jasmine doesn't seem at all surprised when I show up, but Vi wears her wariness like the hot pink Burger Bus Betty T-shirt on her frame.

"Morning, sunshine."

"What are you doing here?"

I make my way onboard the bus and sidle by her toward the sink. "Figured I'd make myself useful and spend some time with my girl."

I hear Jasmine release a soft squeal of approval while Vi gives me a baleful glare.

"Sully. You don’t have to…"

Her words trail off but make it perfectly clear I’m walking a boundary line—albeit a soft one. She isn't sure what to do with me being present and constant in her life.

I wink at her, and a flush rises into her silky-smooth cheeks. So I lower my head and steal a quick kiss before moving past her to grab an apron and scrub up. "Put me to work."