“Don’t walk in here,” Kyle warns me as I take in the destruction around me. The bottom of my pool is full of glass as well.
“My pool,” I whisper.
Ty pulls me against him and hugs me tight.
“Who would do this?” I ask.
“That’s what we were just about to ask you,” Dan replies with a soft smile. “Any ideas?”
“I know who did this,” Ty replies. “Her ex-husband.”
“How do you know?” Kyle asks.
“No one else would do something like this.” I pull out of Ty’s embrace, keeping his hand firmly in my own, grateful that he’s here with me. “It’s definitely Jack. He knows how much I love this pool.”
“He must have been served with the protection order today,” Ty agrees grimly.
“Can you prove it?” Adam asks.
“That’s your job,” Ty responds coldly.
I shiver as I glance around the room again. This took work. These windows are strong, and the destruction is extensive.
“How could he have done all of this in five minutes?” I ask.
“He couldn’t have,” Kyle replies, his head tilted in thought. “There had to be at least two people doing this.”
I shake my head, at a loss.
“What do we do now?” Ty asks.
“Well, for tonight, we need to secure the house. The door between the mudroom and the pool doesn’t lock, so I’ll have someone come out and change the doorknob,” Adam replies.
“We’ll stay at my place tonight,” Ty informs me.
“No, absolutely not.”
Ty scowls at me as I shake my head stubbornly.
“We’re going to make some calls and wrap this up for tonight,” Adam continues. “Someone will be out tomorrow to check on things and continue the investigation.”
“Thanks, man.” Ty shakes all of their hands and leads me into the house and up the stairs to the bedroom.
“Lo, I really think we should stay at my place.”
As the adrenaline from the night begins to wear off, I start shivering. I wrap my arms around my stomach and shake my head. “I will never let Jack scare me out of my own home, Ty. I won’t give him the satisfaction.”
He frowns and pulls me into his arms, wraps his arms around me, and runs his hands up and down my back, as though he’s warming me up. “It pisses me the fuck off that he did that with the intention of hurting you.”
“I’m rather pissed myself,” I reply softly, and sigh as I lean into his embrace. “Stay with me?”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight, sweetness. You’re stuck with me.”
I grin against his chest and nuzzle him, relishing the scent of him, his strength surrounding me. “Thank you.”
Chapter Ten
“Come on, beautiful, let’s have a bath,” Ty suggests after the police and the locksmith have left.
My heart sinks. He wants to have sex now? I step away and frown up at him. “Really?”
He smiles softly and cups my face in his hands, pulls me in for a soft, gentle kiss, then pulls back. “As much as I would love to make love to you right now, I think I can restrain myself, Lo. You need a bath to relax. Let me take care of you.”
He leads me to the bed and, with his hands gripping my shoulders, lowers me to the side. “I’ll be right back.”
He disappears into the bathroom and I hear the water running in my large soaking tub. It’s big enough for two. I wonder, will he join me?
I’m too numb to get up and take my clothes off, and surprisingly, hearing Ty bustle about in my bathroom is strangely soothing.
He returns a few minutes later, shirtless, and my mouth goes dry.
“It should be illegal for you to walk around shirtless.”
He smirks and pulls me to my feet. “Why is that, baby?”
“Have you seen you?” I instinctively reach out and brush my fingertips over his chest, drawing a sharp inhale from him.
“Lo . . .” His voice is a warning, but I ignore him and continue to explore his chest, abs, hips, with my fingers.
“You’re so handsome.”
He takes my hands in his and brings them to his lips, kisses them softly, and watches me with hot gray eyes. “Come on, before I forget that you’ve had a traumatic evening, spread you out, and fuck you until the bed breaks.”
Well, doesn’t that sound delicious? Maybe I’ve changed my mind from earlier.
“Rain check,” he whispers, and leads me to the bathroom. Not only did he run the bathwater, but he lit several candles and poured my favorite bath oil into the water as well.
It’s soothing and soft and thoughtful.
He helps me undress and holds my hand while I step into the steaming-hot water. I lean back against the edge, close my eyes, and sigh deeply.
“Feel good?” I can hear the smile in this voice.
“Hmm. Join me.”
“I will in a minute. I want to check the house one more time. You soak.”
He kisses my forehead and is gone, and I let the heat of the water seep into my muscles, relaxing me. I’m suddenly beyond tired.
“No sleeping in the bath, sweetness.”
I open my eyes to find Ty standing over me, his arms crossed, gazing down at me with a half smile.
“I’m not sleeping,” I lie. “Join me.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” He quickly shucks his clothing. “Scoot forward.”