Chapter 14 #2
“I know you’re not my biggest fan,” he added as he kept an ear out for any cries of pain. “But I’m not going to hurt her.”
Was it his imagination or did Horse seem a bit happier?
Yeah. Maybe he was losing it.
“If anything, I want to help her. Okay? You and me can take care of her. Because part of me thinks she’s had some bad things happen to her. She seems sad . . . a bit like you. I guess maybe that’s why the two of you found each other, huh? Kindred spirits.”
Horse tilted his head to the side.
“Yeah, you know what I’m saying, don’t you?
You understand that you’ve hit the jackpot with her and you’re not going to let anything happen to her.
I admire that about you. Plus, you smell a whole lot better now.
And no farting? That’s good. Smart. That will help you in life. No one likes a farter, man.”
“Are you talking to my dog about farting?”
He spun. He should have heard her moving up behind him. He could only blame exhaustion and the noise of the storm. Plus, she was in bare feet and the hallway was carpeted.
It wasn’t really good enough, though.
He was in charge of her safety.
“Yeah, just telling him that he did a good job on cleaning up the farting and his stench.”
She shook her head. “The vet said it was because he’d been eating whatever he could. Like roadkill. And he’s had a few baths. What are you still doing here?”
It was then that he noticed that she was dressed in just a robe.
Was she naked underneath that robe?
He swallowed heavily. She had to be. She hadn’t taken any clothes into the bathroom with her.
It was thin and nearly see-through. He could see her nipples pressing against the material.
Shit.
He wanted to take those nipples into his mouth and suck. He wanted to pull the sides of her robe apart and feast.
Calm down.
Might be a bit too soon for that.
Plus, it was clear she was still in pain. She was hunched and the skin around her eyes was wrinkled, her lips pursed.
She needed some care and attention.
Not for him to pounce on her like a man starving for a taste.
“When did you take those painkillers, baby?” he asked. “Because you still look like you’re in pain.”
“What . . . what did you call me?”
“Baby,” he replied.
“I’m not a baby.” Her cheeks grew red.
He disagreed.
Her gaze moved around the hallway. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to build your furniture for you. But it might be better if you tell me where everything is going. What happened to the TV?”
“There wasn’t one here when I moved in. Although it looks like there was at some stage. Maybe it broke before I arrived? But that doesn’t matter. You can’t call me baby.”
“Why not?” he asked as he grabbed the TV and carried it into the living room.
“I hate that you make that look so easy,” she muttered.
He hid a smile as he moved the box holding the desk into the living room too.
“Oh, that’s going over here.” She gestured to a big window and he placed it down.
Then he walked over and grasped hold of her chin, making her jolt.
“Fuck. Sorry, baby,” he told her. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to check on you.” His gaze moved over her face. “You’re not doing too well, are you?”
“I’m fine.” Her face got that haughty look. The one that he now knew that she used to hide her very real and deep feelings.
“No, you’re not. And I want you to be better than fine. I want you to thrive. So, let’s get you to that place. Yeah? What medication did you take?”
“Um, I took muscle relaxers and painkillers. It really is feeling better.”
“All right, then maybe you should sit down. Have you got a heating pad?”
“Yes, but it’s in the bedroom.”
“No problem. I’ll find it. You sit down on the sofa and try to get comfortable.” He headed off down the hallway and entered one room. Empty. This was strange. The second room, which was clearly the main suite, was also empty of furniture. Hmm.
The third bedroom was clearly the one she was using. It had two opened suitcases on the floor. And a mattress.
Which was also on the floor.
What the hell?
Had she known that this house didn’t come with proper beds? If so, wouldn’t she have organized beds earlier? Before she got here?
There was no way she could sleep on the floor with her sore back.
Well, at least she had a proper bed now. He just had to get it ready for her. He looked around for her heating pad and found it by the bed, picking it up.
Eli carried it out and found her sitting in the armchair. It was the only piece of furniture in the living room. Horse had moved out of his bed and was lying over her feet.
“Did you know you had to supply your own bed?” he asked as he crouched and plugged in the heating pad.
“No, I thought the place was fully furnished. It’s weird. It’s like half the stuff is just gone. There’s no dining table, no bedroom furniture, and a tiny fridge. I don’t really understand.”
“I know who would know,” he said grimly. “Did you call the agent?”
Arabella grimaced. “I left a message. I haven’t heard back from her. I’d rather not talk to her if possible. At least she dropped the keys off to Jake.”
Eli helped her position the heating pad on her back.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome. Are you all right? I mean, other than your sore back?”
“Uh, yeah. Just a bit unsure about why you’re here and helping me and calling me baby.”
“Don’t worry about that right now. Just relax.” There was a knock on the door that made her jump and Horse started to growl.
She was very jumpy. Was it the storm? Or was there something else going on?
“It’s all right. It’s just Kellan.” He’d gotten here quickly, Eli wondered if he had gotten the tools.
Walking to her door, he peered out the side window just to make sure it was Kellan before he opened it.
Kellan glared at him as he opened the door. “Got them for you.” He held out a tool box.
“Thanks.”
Kellan stepped inside and took off his jacket, hanging it on a hook by the door. “If there’s no furniture, then where has she been sleeping?”
“She’s been sleeping on a mattress on the floor,” Arabella said as she moved over to them. “But that’s her business and not any of yours.” She glared at them both.
“I think you’re forgetting where you now live, baby,” Eli said cheerfully. “It’s most certainly our business if you’re in trouble.”
“I’m not in trouble.”
“Or in pain,” Eli added with a pointed look at her.
“In pain?” Kellan ran his gaze over her. “What’s wrong? What hurts?”
“I’m fine. I just strained my back. It will be all good by tomorrow morning.”
Kellan’s gaze narrowed. “Have you taken some muscle relaxers?”
“Yes.”
“Put heat on it?” Kellan asked.
“I just got her heating pad for her and plugged it in,” Eli said as he glanced through the toolbox.
He just needed some things to put the bracket on the wall. Most of the furniture should go together with an Allen wrench.
“Then why aren’t you sitting down with the heating pad on it?” Kellan drawled.
“Because I got up to see why you would rush through a storm to come here.”
“He wanted a toolbox.” Kellan pointed at Eli. “So I brought it for him. He likes to play Mr. Fix-It. By the way, those aren’t Duncan’s. I got them from the front desk.”
“Got it,” Eli said as he got to work, unpackaging the bracket for the TV.
Kellan walked into the living room and stared around. “Why is there only one piece of furniture in here? And why have you had to sleep on a mattress on the floor? Why was there no furniture?”
“I don’t know. I guess she sold it maybe?” she said. “I thought there was furniture included but it really doesn’t matter.”
“It does if the reason you hurt your back is because you’ve been sleeping on the floor,” Eli told her.
“Eli is right, now, sit.” Kellan pointed to the chair.