Page 36 of Stripping Bare

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“Oh my God,”Tessa breathed, shock ricocheting throughher.

“What?” Jonah moved quickly, hooking his arm in front of her and sweeping her behind him in one smooth move. “Shit!”

That was one word to describe her formerly ecru living room wall. On it, someone had spray-painted the words PLAY OR DIE. The strokes were so heavy that the paint had run in fat drips like the title of a cheesy horrormovie.

The nausea that had threatened Tessa earlier made a reappearance. To tamp it down and calm her breathing, she leaned her forehead against Jonah’s back. His muscles were rigid beneath his jacket. The leather was cool, bringing momentary relief, so she pressed her cheek againstit.

But the comfort didn’t last long because Jonah shoved her back out into the hallway and tried to shut the door onher.

Panic swarmed over her. “Wait. I have to get Badger.” He hadn’t made a sound when they’d entered the door. What if someonehad—

“I’ll get your damn dog. Stay here until I come back.” Without another word, he quickly closed the door in herface.

She blinked. Had he just tossed her out of her own home? Who did he think he was to walk in and take over? She tried the doorknob only to discover it was locked from theinside.

She was fumbling with her keys when the door opened again and Jonah stood there holding a lethargicBadger.

“He’s sick. Someone hurt him. I will killwhoever—”

“Based on the smell of the cheese in his kennel, he was drugged, but he’s already comingaround.”

Sure enough, Badger’s brown eyes opened and he wiggled his way out of Jonah’s hold and jumped. Used to his antics, Tessa grabbed him mid-flight.

Jonah said, “Whoever was here is long gone, but why don’t you waitout—”

“No. I get why you pushed me into the hall, but it’s my house and I want to see if there’s any otherdamage.”

“The front door was locked, but that obviously doesn’t mean shit, seeing as the building manager just handed over your key tome.”

“You said I was right outside. He wouldn’t have given it to justanyone.”

Jonah grunted with obvious skepticism. “Anyone else have a key to yourcondo?”

“Besides me, just my parents.” Yeah, and the spray-painted message on her wall, although done with red and green, didn’t exactly look like the type of holiday greeting her parents would sendher.

Badger seemed to shake his daze enough to realize there was another human in his midst because he did a gymnastic move that allowed him to brace his paws on Tessa’s shoulder and stare at Jonah. He gave one bark as if to say, “Stay back until I decide if I approve ofyou.”

“Who would’ve done something like this?” she asked. “I haven’t been back in Asheville long enough to upset anyone. Maybe it waskids.”

“Maybe.” But Jonah’s tone was doubtful as he stroked Badger from head to hindquarters. That was all it took for her dog to decide he wasn’t the enemy. He scrabbled in her hold trying to fling himself towardJonah.

Thinking about anyone, especially a pack of teenage boys, invading her space sent a chill through her and she hugged Badger to her chest. Okay. She would be okay. She’d faced much worse in the past. Yes, someone had come into her home, had defiled it. But it was just paint. It could be fixedeasily.

Still, physical damage could have lasting emotional effects even when all the signs of it were gone. She might be able to paint over that wall, but she’d still be able to imagine the words under the new coat for a long time tocome.

Jonah must’ve seen how torn she was, because he wrapped his arms around her and Badger. How could one man exude so much fierceness and gentleness at the same time? It didn’t escape her that he was blocking her from seeing the message again through the open doorway. Standing between her and uglywords.

“You’re not staying here tonight,” he said evenly. “Close youreyes.”

“What?”

“Close your eyes so you don’t have to see that shitanymore.”

“I’m not achild.”

“Then do it forme.”