Page 34 of Marrying Bonnie

"Oh, thank goodness. I hated to wake you up, but I wasn't sure what else to do." She opened the door all the way and stepped out onto the landing.

Jace took in her baggy shorts and sweatshirt. The look was genuinely adorable on her. "Never hesitate to call. It's good you did, too. Someone broke into the garage. I can't tell yet if anything was taken, but Cabe should be on the phone with the police department now." He realized he was still holding the gun and holstered it.

"Do you think they were after all the tools?"

Jace thought about Grandpa's extensive tool collection downstairs. "That's possible." He made a mental note to take full inventory but they probably stopped the guy before he had a chance to take much. There's no way he could've gotten away with many tools on foot, and he was long gone by the time they got there.

Cabe came up behind them. He put a hand on the receiving end of the phone. "You need to find out if anything has been stolen. If not, we take pictures and file a report online." He turned his attention back to the phone.

Bonnie's eyes widened. "So much for the good old days when the sheriff sent a deputy out to check on things."

"Yep." Jace hesitated. He hated the idea of Bonnie out here with the lock broken on the outer door. "You can stay in the main house for the rest of the night if you'd like."

Bonnie glanced at her watch. "You know, by the time my nerves settle, the sun will be coming up anyway. Give me a few minutes to change, and I'll come down and see if there's anything I can do to help."

He couldn't blame her. It was doubtful he'd be able to go to sleep, either. He called Noel to let her know what was happening and then started to go through the garage with a critical eye.

"Is anything missing?" Bonnie's voice snagged his attention several minutes later.

"Not a thing." Jace frowned. Tonight seemed more of a random and spontaneous event compared to the fencing. Could they be dealing with separate individuals altogether?

The unknown was driving him crazy.

An hour later, Jace finished uploading the police report. Cabe had left some time earlier, and Bonnie was sitting perched on a stool as she covered a yawn.

He offered a sympathetic smile. They would all be dragging today. "I'll have the lock replaced before the end of the day and get you a new key. I'll also have a security camera installed here as well as at both doors in the house."

"That sounds good. Thank you, Jace." She yawned again. "Looks like coffee is in order."

"I'll put a pot on at the house. That way it'll be ready when you get there. And if you need the day off to catch up on some rest, I would certainly understand."

"And miss out on all the excitement around here lately? Not a chance." Bonnie chuckled. "I appreciate it, though." She motioned toward the stairs. "I’m going to go back up. I'm glad none of your grandpa’s tools were stolen."

"Thanks, Bonnie. Me, too." He hesitated. "Call if you need anything."

"I will." With a final smile, she turned and went back up the stairs.

Jace heard her door close and lock behind her. Thank God the apartment had its own deadbolt. Still, he shuddered to think about the intruder continuing through the garage and trying to get into Bonnie's apartment.

Yes, a new lock and cameras at all outer doors were a must.

Chapter Twelve

Gunner’s cries greeted Bonnie Thursday morning. Usually, when she arrived at the main house, Gunner was happy and excited to see her.

Today, she found Gunner and Jace in the living room. Gunner sat on the floor, back against the couch, with giant tears rolling down his cheeks.

When Jace looked up, he flinched apologetically. “Happy Thursday.”

Bonnie could tell this had been going on for some time. She resisted the instinct to reach out and pat his shoulder. “I can see it started off with a bang for you.”

Jace raised an eyebrow. “Noel had to leave early this morning, and that threw his schedule off. Then I poured syrup on his pancakes instead of letting him dip them into the syrup himself. I had no idea he even wanted to do that.”

Bonnie couldn’t recall Gunner eating them that way, either. “Of all the nerve. Syrup on pancakes. What gave you that idea?” She winked at him.

The poor boy’s face was a mess between the streaks of tears and his runny nose. Bonnie got a tissue from a nearby box and sat cross-legged on the floor next to him. “Let’s get your face cleaned up. Then how about you help me load the dishwasher. Can you put the forks and spoons into the basket?”

Gunner sniffed and nodded. He squirmed when Bonnie wiped his face then ran his arm across his nose. “Put the ‘poons in.”

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