Luke stepped back. His hands steadied me before moving to lean against the opposite corner of the counter. I was confused, lost in a moment that I didn’t want to leave. I pressed my hand to my mouth and exhaled sharply. I searched his eyes, and he smiled softly at me. Wistful and wanting, he looked at me. “God, Lily,” he whispered. “A moment more, and I wouldn’t have been able to stop.”

“Why did you stop?” I asked softly, hesitantly. I thought he wanted me.

He stared out at the darkness beyond the kitchen window and sighed. “You were right when you said we were moving too fast…”

I saw it when he did. The faint light from a flashlight, there then gone. In the trees at the rear of Gram’s yard, exactly where I’d seen it before. I nearly jumped out of my skin when there was a knock at the door.

“Holy crap,” I exclaimed and hopped off the counter. Luke caught me as I stumbled. He quickly passed me my shirt, and I pulled it over my head. I started to head for the door, but Luke caught my hand and tugged me behind him, stopping me when we reached the staircase to gently push me toward it. I took a few steps up and watched as he strode to the door while buttoning up his shirt. I eyed Gram’s baseball bat in the umbrella stand and contemplated going to get it. I jumped again when whoever it was knocked a second time.

“Who’s there?” Luke said. He sounded scary and mean and in control. Nothing would happen to me and the kids with him here. I exhaled as some of the fear dissipated.

“It’s Cade. Everything okay in there?” What was he doing here at nine o’clock at night? This checking up on me was getting ridiculous. Well, maybe not so ridiculous, considering.

Luke opened the door. “Backyard, flashlight, two minutes ago.”

Cade rushed through the house and out the back like a shot.

“Check the kids,” Luke ordered.

I turned and rushed up the stairs. Rocky stood in the middle of the hallway, alert, watching. I patted his head and peeked in at Dylan. Thankfully, he was asleep. I took the few steps to Calla’s door, asleep too. I sighed with relief and headed downstairs. Rocky glanced at me but stayed put.

Luke stood at the bottom of the staircase, eyes to the kitchen door, waiting for Cade but also guarding the staircase. He glanced at me as I approached.

“I’m glad Cade is here. He has a gun,” I whispered.

“I don’t need a gun to catch whoever is out there fucking with you,” he responded somewhat scarily.