Page 72 of Nerdy or Nice
"Yeah, well hang tight, okay?"
I slowed the pace and cut through the yard of the house directly behind her. As I moved into Gwen's back yard, I gave the property a long, careful look, taking in the patio door that she had mentioned earlier along with muted light coming from a first-floor window – Gwen's bedroom. Ithadto be.
Cash and I prowled closer as I warned into the phone, "Just so you know, that's me coming up in back."
I watched as the window blinds shifted, and Gwen's face appeared through the glass. When she spotted us moving toward her, she smiled with obvious relief and spoke into her phone. "Hang on. I'll open the patio door."
When she opened it a few moments later, she said with a shaky laugh. "Wow, you got here fast."
With Cash at my heels, I stepped into the house and shut the door firmly behind us. "Not as fast as Iwantedto."
"If it were any faster, you'd need a jet." She bit her lip. "But the noise – it was probably nothing, right?"
Nothing my ass.Near Gwen's bedroom window, I'd seen a distinct pattern of footprints in the snow. The way it looked, someone had been circling the house. How fresh those footprints were, I couldn’t say.
But Ididknow they were too close for comfort, and I wasn't ready to give the all-clear. Instead, I asked, "Hey, you wanna watch Cash for a minute?"
Gwen blinked in surprise. "Why?"
"Because I want to check things out, circle the house to see what's up." I glanced down at Cash. "And the quieter the better."
"But you shouldn't go alone," she protested. "I'll come with you."
I almost laughed in her face. "The hell you will."
She frowned. "Why?"
I flicked my gaze over her clothing. "Aside from the fact you're in your bathrobe?"
She made a show of eyeing my coat. "Andyou'rein your duffle. What of it?"
"You're kidding, right?"
Her right hand was curled into a fist, as if she'd been prepared for one heck of a fight. "I was gonna change, anyway," she insisted. "Andyoushould put up your hood."
"Why?" I asked.
"So you blend in the shadows." When I gave her a funny look, she explained, "I saw it in a movie. It'sreallyimportant, especially if you're blond."
Just then, three furballs bolted from who-knows-where and made a beeline for Cash, who perked up as if ready to play. When the vivid orange tabby tackled him from the side, Cash rolled over and gave her a big, sloppy lick that she tolerated for barely a second before dodging the tongue and going in for another pounce.
As her two little gray companions joined in, I told Gwen with a laugh, "I'll put on the hood if you stay here to referee."
"You mean withtheseguys?" she said. "But they're all buddies." Her eyes narrowed even as her lips twitched like she was trying not to smile. "And I know exactly what you're doing."
"Oh, yeah? What's that?"
"Making an excuse so I'll stay."
"Gotthatright." And then, before she could object further, I turned away and opened the back patio door. Over my shoulder I said, "Lock it behind me, alright?"
I was in the process of shutting it when she called out, "Don't forget the hood!"
Chapter 43
Drake
The trail of trampled snow led around the side of the house and toward the mailbox out front.
