Free A Love to Treasure (Sunriver Dreams Book 1) by Kimberly Rose Johnson Page B

“Is that your dog?”
    Sadie sat beside his car.
    “That’s Sadie. I hated to leave her home since I’ve been away all day. Do you mind?”
    “Not at all, but she has to stay outside. I don’t think the rental agency allows pets.”
    “No problem. She can hang out on the deck.” He whistled for his dog.
    “She’s beautiful.”
    “Thanks.” He squatted and scratched Sadie’s back. “She’s a good girl.” He stood and opened the gate to the deck. Sadie sniffed the deck then stepped into the area as if it was home. “I think she likes it here.”
    “We can go in that way too.” Nicole stepped past him, then moved toward the French doors. She waved a shaky hand toward the kitchen as she led him inside.
    Interesting. It looked like she was more nervous than she let on. “Did you still want me to check things out and make sure we’re alone?”
    Her eyes widened. “If you think it’s a good idea.”
    “It can’t hurt. Wait here.” He moved to the hall and looked in the bathroom—clear. The bedrooms were clear as well. He checked all the closets and under the beds then up in the loft. “No one’s here besides us.” He turned and she bumped into him. He grasped her shoulders to steady her. “Whoa there.”
    “Sorry, I didn’t like waiting at the door. It gave me the creeps. Which is nuts since I came in on my own earlier, and I had Sadie with me, but when you thought you should check the place out, I got creeped out again.”
    He lightly squeezed her shoulder. “Relax. I think you’re perfectly safe. Whoever was here earlier is long gone. I’m sure you have nothing to worry about anymore.” He never should’ve planted a seed of doubt in her mind. It was just him being overly cautious and borrowing trouble.
    “That’s what they said at the property management place too. Speaking of which. They brought over two new television sets.”
    “Now that you mention it, I did notice the new TV’s. They move fast.”
    “Yeah. I think they were trying to make me feel better about staying here. They replaced the lock on the doors and cleaned the house too. It was nice walking into a fresh and clean smelling place again.”
    His phone vibrated, indicating an incoming text. “Hold that thought. I need to check something on my phone. Be right back.” He opened the French doors and stepped onto the deck with Sadie at his side as a woodchuck scurried across the planks then hopped onto the dirt below, staring at him as if offended. “Leave it,” he said to Sadie as he pulled out his cell and accessed the info Spencer had sent. It looked like Nicole’s place hadn’t been their lucky break like he’d hoped. He pressed in Spencer’s number. “Hey, I have the picture. Any chance the plate can be enhanced?”
    “It’s doubtful.” Spencer sighed. “Did you notice the deer is blocking the license plate?”
    He pulled up the picture again. “Good point. At least we know the make and model.”
    “We got lucky the bicyclist came forward with this photograph. Apparently he rides around snapping shots of nature all over Sunriver and said he had a bad feeling about the vehicle when he saw two men carrying a large screen TV out to it, so he snapped the shot.”
    “Too bad he didn’t get the men in the picture.”
    “No kidding. I asked him to let me look through his collection in case he inadvertently caught the thieves elsewhere.”
    “Good.” Footsteps tapped on the deck. He looked over his shoulder. Nicole held a plate with two thick steaks piled on top. “Give me a call if anything else turns up.” He pocketed his phone.
    She pressed her lips tight and studied something beyond his shoulder, then her eyes locked with his. “Do you think the thieves will return?”
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Nicole gazed toward her rental house from her seat on the deck and unease gripped her, even with Mark inside the house checking out the new TVs. This summer was turning into a rollercoaster of emotions, and right