Page 71 of Noel Secrets

Gut churning immediately morphed into bile climbing her throat. Her palms began to sweat despite the chill. The note-sender was involving Travis, and this seemingly-nice guy had been following her and Gillian.

“That is disturbing and unacceptable, Travis. Please leave.” She would have the detectives talk to him. She’d call Detective Thayne after she was safely deadbolted in her house.

“But I brought you all this food. Youhaveto let me stay. The notes said this would work. I think you’re the most beautiful woman on earth, Addie. You have to let me in. You have to.”

Travis jutted out his chin and suddenly didn’t look so uncertain. He shoved the bags through the storm door even as she tried to close it. She sprang back and grabbed the wooden door, but he was already around the storm door and pushing his shoulder against the front door.

“Travis, stop,” she commanded.

“No!” he yelled.

A blur darted out of the shadow of the porch and Travis was wrenched back from the door and landed flat on his back, the food bags splatting on the porch before Addie could let out a cry of surprise.

“The lady asked you to leave,” a deep, confident voice proclaimed as the dark shadow hovered over Travis, both hands shoving Travis into the wooden deck.

“Help,” Travis squeaked.

Addie put a hand to her racing heart and ventured, “Price?”

Price glanced up at her, his mouth in a tight line, his dark eyes serious. He was wearing black sweats and a hoodie. He looked dark and dangerous and inspiring all at the same time. “Have the police found the perpetrator?”

She shook her head. She was both stunned and grateful he was here.

“Please call them.”

“Okay.” She pulled out her phone and pushed on Detective Thayne’s number.

Neither Price nor Travis moved while she made the call to Detective Thayne. She could hear Travis muttering something, but Price was stoic.

She ended the call and slid the phone into the pocket of her joggers.

“The police are on their way. They’ll take him in for questioning and Detective Thayne will come take our statements.”

“Great. Do you have some rope?” Price asked.

“Sure.”

She rushed into the semi-warmth of her house, searching with aching fingers through the junk drawer and finding a length of thin rope. Hurrying back out onto the porch, the cold seeped through her socks as she gave it to him. Price’s warm hand brushed hers and set off a chain reaction of warmth, safety, and gratitude. She had no idea how he’d come for her, but she was grateful he was there.

“Thank you.” He nodded to her, then proceeded to flip Travis over and tie his hands together and then tie his feet to his hands.

Travis squeaked a protest but only fought feebly. He looked terrified and confused. If he hadn’t been manipulated by the note sender and had just tried to shove his way into her house, she’d feel bad for him.

Price glanced up at her as he finished. “You go inside and get warm. I’ll stay with him.”

“Okay.”

She eased back through the door, shutting it firmly behind her and leaning back against it, rubbing at her fingers to restore the blood flow.

Price was here. For her. He’d rescued her. He was her personal Superman. Instead of being angry at her for accusing him, Price had come for her and protected her.

How had he been so close and known to come for her? Could he possibly be the note sender and have orchestrated all of this as she and the police originally thought?

No. She didn’t want to believe that. Couldn’t believe that. Not Price. She’d have to ask those questions and get the answers, but instinctively she trusted him.

Yet her instincts had been wrong before.

She didn’t know what to think. Right now she wanted to concentrate on her heroic rescuer. A thrill went through her thinking of how dangerously dark and handsome he’d looked with the black hoodie shadowing his face, his dark eyes intense on her, pinning Travis and saving her.