I swiped out of the app and called 911. The dispatcher came on right away. I hurriedly explained the situation. “My silent alarm tripped. I can see someone moving inside the house. Can you send the sheriff right away?”

I recognized the operator as Pam Bolger. We’d handled her divorce. “You just sit tight, Beth,” she said. “Don’t try going in that house. Someone will be there within five minutes.”

She hung up. I couldn’t move. Maybe the smart thing to do would have been to leave. I felt rooted to my spot. I picked up the phone again and hit Danny’s number. He answered on the first ring.

“Danny,” I said, breathless.

“Beth, what is it?” He knew me. God. All I had to do was say his name and he knew something was wrong. Somehow, I found the words to explain what was happening.

“It’s nothing,” I said. “Probably.”

“No,” he said, his voice grim. “You did the right thing. Don’t go back in that house until I get there. I’m only about twenty minutes away. Just sit tight. Are the cops on their way?”

“I-I think so.”

“Good,” he said. “I’ll call you when I get close. It’s going to be okay, Beth.” Then he clicked off. I clutched the phone to my chest as Beckett Finch’s patrol car pulled up behind me, sirens and lights flashing. Behind him, another cruiser pulled up.

Beckett got out and shouted commands to the deputies under his command. Then he came to my window. I rolled it down.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. It’s probably nothing. At least, I hope so.”

“Well, give us a few minutes. If there’s anyone in there, we’ll flush them out. You stay put until I come back.”

I gave Beckett a thumbs up. His deputies were already circling my house, guns drawn. I squeezed the steering wheel then pressed my forehead to it. I got my breathing under control, then two things happened at once. The powerful roar of Deacon’s bike engine vibrated behind me. Then I heard the sound of breaking glass and shouts coming from the house.

I bolted upright. Deacon dismounted. He put himself in front of my window, shielding me from the house. Finch came running around the side. He stopped short when he saw Deacon standing there. Finch holstered his weapon and picked up an Alpha male swagger as he headed toward my car.

I got out. Deacon kept a hand on my arm. His eyes transmitted a warning. Let him do the talking.

“The house is clear,” he said. “No sign of a break-in.”

“You sure about that?” Deacon asked. He took a protective stance in front of me. My pulse thundered in my ears. I was scared, embarrassed, but mostly glad as hell to see him.

“Yeah,” Beckett said, setting his jaw to the side. His two deputies came from inside the house. One of them spoke into the radio he had holstered near his shoulder.

“We’re good, boss,” he said to Finch. “Looks like some raccoons tipped the garbage cans over in the back.”

I put a hand to my brow. “God. I’m so sorry. I feel like an idiot.”

“Don’t.” Beckett and Deacon said it at the same time.

Beckett cleared his throat. “I’d rather come out for a hundred false alarms than for an actual dirtbag.”

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. I put a steadying hand on Deacon’s chest. There was way too much testosterone in this street.

“You mind telling me what the hell you’re doing in Crystal Falls?” Beckett asked Deacon.

Deacon gave him a hard expression. “I was invited,” he answered. “Now if you’re done here, why don’t you get back to writing parking tickets or whatever it is you do.”

“Danny,” I said. “Come on.” I shot Beckett an apologetic look and practically dragged Danny toward my front door.

Beckett looked like he could kill Danny with just a glare. Danny didn’t look any better. But I got him inside and bolted the door behind us.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t have called you out here. I freaked.”

Danny put his hands on my shoulders and leaned in to kiss my forehead. “It’s okay, I’m glad you did. I told you too. I hate to take anything from that rent-a-cop out there, but he’s right. I’d rather come out here for a false alarm.”

I stepped away from Danny. His touch still burned through me. If I didn’t stick to boundaries, he’d have me bent over the couch in another five seconds. God, how I wanted him to. I just couldn’t go through a break-up scene with him again.

“He’s not a rent-a-cop, Danny. Beckett’s a former Navy SEAL, for crying out loud. And he’s been a good friend.”

A nerve twitched near Danny’s eye. He clenched his fist. Good lord, he was jealous. I wanted to blast him for it, but that might start another scene I didn’t have the strength to finish.

“Is everything okay with you?” I asked, desperate to change the subject. But no sooner had I said it, I wished I’d asked him anything else. Whatever answer he gave me would probably be a lie or a half-truth.

“What do I have to do to convince you to get the hell out of Texas for a little while?” he asked.

“It was raccoons,” I said. “You heard Beckett. Raccoons and my own jumpiness. I never should have had this damn alarm system installed.” I tossed my cell phone to the coffee table in my living room.

“Just for a week or two,” he said.

I turned on him. “You think this shit with the Hawks will be over by then?”

He shrugged. “I hope so. You know I can’t go into it. But Bear’s got something in the works. Something that’s going to piss half the membership off, including me. I’m glad I don’t sit where he does.”

I went to him. “If it means you’ll stay safe, then Bear Bullock is my favorite person on the planet next to you.”

It just blurted out of me. I’d spent so many of the last few days trying to keep myself together, I just wanted to fall apart in Deacon’s arms for a little while. He came to me. Hooking a finger beneath my chin, he tilted my face until my eyes met his.

“I can only say I’m sorry so many times.”

I reached up and tucked the hair behind his ear. “And I’m tired of the men in my life having to say it.”

“I should go,” he said. “But I wanna have a look around myself first.”

“You don’t trust the sheriff?”

His eyes burned bright with his answer. “No. Not a bit. I’ve already told you, I don’t like you staying here. The Hawks know where you live and how you’re connected to me. Your alarm system is a nice touch, but it’s not going to do dick if someone really wants to hurt you.”

I stood in the living room with my arms crossed as Deacon charged through my house, looking for hidden dangers. He went out the back door and rooted around in the yard, kicking aside the garbage cans. Satisfied, he came back inside.

He came to me, his eyes softer. “I think Finch was probably right. They did a shitty job picking up the garbage. The ’coons tore into it pretty good.”

“I’ll get it later,” I said. “I’m just so tired.”

“Beth, will you please let me make arrangements for you? Anywhere you wanna go. Hawaii, Europe. I can get you out of here. Just for a little while.”

I went to him. “And what are the chances you’d go with me?”

He smiled. “Maybe soon. Right now I need …”

I pressed a finger to his lips to quiet him. “Don’t say it. I already know your answer.”

He smiled. “And what about yours?”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. You win. I’ll take a vacation. You’re the second person who’s begged me to do that today. I don’t care where. Someplace where it’s not so hot.”

Danny’s smile warmed me from the inside out. If only he’d agree to come with me. His eyes gave me his answer though. He leaned down to kiss me. I should have pulled away. I just didn’t have the strength.

Danny’s kiss was soft and tender. Still, it stirred a craving in me it was getting harder and harder to deny. I reached up for him, lacing my fingers through his hair. A groan escaped from him as he fought his own cravings.

Then the world exploded in light and sound. A firecracker went off sending shards of glass flying in ten different directions. Danny went rigid in my arms, then took a staggering step backward. A red spot blossomed on his chest. He reached for me with one hand, his hip holster with the other. Then he keeled over and slumped to the ground.