Page 9

“So, Gus said someone was sneaking around the property tonight,” Oliver said.
Adelia chewed on her perfect bottom lip as she nodded. “Yeah. I was sitting there,”—she pointed to the chair by the window—“and I saw a figure moving outside. I turned off the light and the one in the kitchen and moved over here.” She walked over to the light switches near the back door. “I turned on the light to scare them, and they ran off down the steps toward the beach.”
“Did you get a look at the person?”
She shook her head. “Not their face. Wait—” She interrupted herself to pull out her phone and hold it out toward him. “I got a video.”
Oliver was impressed that she’d had the presence of mind to turn her phone camera on. He moved to her side, and the scent of coconut overcame him. She smelled exactly like he imagined a California beach babe would. She pressed “play” and leaned closer to him so he could watch.
The screen was dark then the light flipped on and illuminated a figure, dressed all in black, darting across the deck and disappearing down the stairs.
He reached for the phone. “May I?”
“Of course.” She met his eyes and handed it over.
He watched the video again, pausing the second the lights came on. It wasn’t a clear shot of the person’s face, but based on size and stature and the sliver of light skin that did show, they were probably looking at a Caucasian male. “This is helpful.”
“It doesn’t really show much,” she noted.
“Every little bit helps.”
“Good.” She looked pleased.
“I’m going to get a flashlight and take a look around,” Oliver told them.
“I’ll help,” Gus offered.
Adelia stepped aside as he moved past her on the way to his vehicle. Oliver retrieved two flashlights from the back of his Jeep for himself and Gus, and they moved around the perimeter of the house, checking windows and doors. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. They went up onto the back deck, and there was some dirt that came from the back stairs, which led him to believe the man had snuck up from the beach, and as it showed in the video, he had escaped the way he’d come. He and Gus walked down the steps to the beach, shining their flashlights at the sand. It was hard to see clearly, but there appeared to be footprints moving off to the south. They split up and searched the woods on either side of the house and found nothing.
When they returned, Adelia was waiting, watching them through the window, biting her fingernails.
“So?” she asked as soon as they stepped foot inside.
“Everything looks secure,” Oliver replied. “Looks like whoever it was is long gone by now.”
“Okay,” she said with a hint of nervousness.
“Do you want me to stay here tonight?” Gus asked.
“No, that’s okay. I’ll be fine. I’ll just set the alarm. I’m sure they won’t come back since they know someone’s staying here right now.”
Oliver sensed that she was trying to sound confident about the situation, but there was just enough worry in her voice to let him know she was hiding her true feelings.
He approached her again. “Can I see your phone?”
Her eyes met his, and she took her bottom lip between her teeth as she handed her phone to him.
He added himself as a contact. “There. Now you have my number. If you need anything, call me. I’ll be here in ten minutes.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome. I’m Oliver Wood, by the way.”
“Adelia Allen.”
He smiled. “I know who you are.” He couldn’t keep his eyes from hers. They drew him in and made him feel things he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, Deals,” Gus said, pulling Oliver from the trance he was in.
“You better,” she replied with a smile. She looked over at Oliver again. “Thanks for coming all the way out here, Oliver.”
“Not a problem.”
As they headed out, Oliver couldn’t help feeling a pull to stay and make sure she was really okay. Something told him she was more scared than she was letting on.