Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
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.
15
These guys were really taking the cake and eating it too.
She was not their business.
Her safety was not their business. And neither was her health.
But they were acting like they thought they were her guardians.
Especially Eli.
Kellan seemed more like he was reluctantly along for the ride. Did they do most things together?
Did they share women?
“Why aren’t you sitting?” Kellan asked.
“Maybe because you guys don’t get to boss me around?” she countered.
A wave of exhaustion washed over her and she carefully sat down, adjusting the heating pad. Why was she resisting them trying to help her?
Sure, it was strange and she kept questioning their intentions. But if they were just doing it to be kind . . . shouldn’t she let them?
Why fight it? She needed the help. It was clear that she couldn’t do all of this on her own. And she had no one else.
This time it was pity that washed through her.
Jeez.
She really needed a decent night’s sleep. Something that was going to be difficult with her back.
Kellan crouched in front of her, keeping some distance between them. But she thought she saw a flash of concern in his face.
He wasn’t as removed as he pretended to be.
“What else do you need? Some more painkillers? Perhaps we should take her to the doctor,” he called over at Eli.
“I was thinking that myself.”
A boom of thunder erupted outside, sounding so close that she actually jumped. Then she moaned as her back protested.
“But not the best night to take her out,” Eli added, staring at her in concern. “Did the heat of the water in the shower help?”
Drat.
She was hoping he wouldn’t ask.
“The hot water ran out,” she confessed.
“It ran out?” Eli stared at her in confusion. “How could it run out?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll try to take a look at that too. Kellan, help me get her bed set up. Do you want it in the biggest bedroom?” Eli asked.
“Oh, yes. But you don’t need to do that,” she protested, shifting on the seat as she prepared to get up.
“Stay there,” Kellan told her. “We are doing this. No arguing.”
Just let them do it.
It’s not like you can manage it.
And her back was just starting to feel better. She let out a sigh of relief as the heat began relaxing her muscles.
Closing her eyes, she felt herself getting sleepy. Horse lay on her feet and she snuggled further into the chair. She’d barely slept lately between the move and the lack of a bed.