Page 86 of You Were Invited
It felt like they’d drifted off for hours in each other’s arms when Julian untangled himself from their blanket.
Annie opened her heavy eyes. As sleep released her, she realized his bedroom was lighter than it had been when they’d first entered. Julian knelt on their pillows and looked out the small round window over the head of the bed.
At the slam of a car door, she flinched.
“Someone’s here.” He squinted. He cursed softly under his breath. “I don’t recognize the car.”
She sat up on her elbow, a crease forming between her brows. She glanced at the clock on Julian’s bedside table. “It’s four in the morning.”
“Maybe a neighbor needs something.” Julian stepped off the bed and yanked on his shirt and jeans. He had his shirt half on as he went to his nightstand. From the drawer, he pulled a firearm and a small box. He glanced over at her as he loaded two bits of ammunition into the gun before he tucked the weapon into the back of his pants. “Just in case. Stay here.” With the hard expression on his face, he looked so far from a man who’d just lain with his lover.
Annie quickly pulled her dress on, too. Her heart hammered in her chest, as if she’d just heard the unwelcome call of a nearby wild animal. Something didn’t feel right.
Totally not spooky at all… It’s fine... Just fine...
Nervous, she realized her phone was still downstairs with everything she’d brought into the cabin. Something told her to grab her phone. On tiptoes, she slipped downstairs.
When Julian saw her, he frowned and hissed, “Go back upstairs.”
“I wanna be able to call 911. In case.”
Looking grim, he smoothed his hair back from his forehead and waited.
Purse in hand, she started back up the creaky stairs. She flinched when her phone, still tucked inside, began to ring.
The hell…?
She sprinted up the stairs, pulling her phone out. The number was a mystery, and she let it go unanswered. To her surprise, the caller left a voicemail.
For whatever reason, a chill ran through her. Curious, she opened her inbox and listened. Although it was an unfamiliar phone number, she was greeted by a familiar voice.
“Babe, I know you’re here. Your car’s out front,”came Christopher’s voice.
A demanding knock came from the door downstairs.
“We need to talk,”the voicemail went on.“I came to bring you home.”
Someone’s determined to get our attention.Julian wasn’t a paranoid man, but given the hour of the night… They were either in a real bind, or had themselves brought a heap of trouble to his doorstep. His hand went back to the gun in his waistband. His other hand reached for a deadbolt.
“Julian. W-wait!”
He twisted around. The last thing he wanted was to put Annie in danger. A growl of exasperation escaped him. “Stay upstairs.”
“It’s Chris,” she whispered, pointing at the door. “He just called me.”
“Who? Your–”
“My ex. He’s outside.”
Julian went cold with anger. This asshole was on his property? In the middle of the damn night? “Why’s he here?”
“He’s trying to get me back. She held a hand to her forehead. “Look, he’s been to Molly’s cabin before. But I don’t know how he figured out I was here.”
“Is this something to worry about?”
“No, no. I have zero interest in hi—”
“Annie. Is he dangerous?”
