Damn.
Jim grinned knowingly at me. I gave him a light shove and stepped inside to follow her.
The main door led to a living room similar to Nana Wini’s. Unlike Nana’s place, no wall divided the kitchen and the living room.
“I decorated,” Jim said with false pride. The humor wafting from him made me want to groan as I eyed the battered sofa and the lamp that was on the floor beside it.
“Where’d you shop?” I said under my breath. “A dumpster?”
Michelle glanced at an old tube television that sat on a worn breakfast cart with wheels, then moved on to the kitchen. There wasn’t much to look at. The area had a breakfast bar with two mismatched stools, a fridge, a stove, and a microwave. The trio quickly moved down the hall.
The first room had a new queen-sized bed.
“I made the master bedroom into a weight room combination office,” Jim said with a huge grin.
“I bet.”
Michelle’s expression was priceless when she saw the free weights on the floor and an office chair in the corner. Nothing else.
I laughed and shook my head at Jim.
“We’ll get better furniture soon,” I told her.
“No, everything’s perfect,” she said.
Her steady pulse told me she really believed her words. Where had she come from that this was perfect?
“I’ll run down and get your things,” I said, pulling Jim along with me.
Jim waved good night to the boys, who stood staring at us.
I purposely left the door open as we left and almost regretted it.
“She’s hot,” Jim said in a normal voice.
I tried to hit him, but he dodged and took off down the stairs. I followed, almost catching him at the landing.
“I would think the two of you would have something better to do than chase each other,” Winifred said from her living room.
“Yes, Nana,” Jim said innocently and without stopping.
He and I reached the truck at the same time.
“So how’d you meet? Any more like her?” Jim said, leaning against the truck as I went to the back to lift my bike down.
“The same day I called you, I stopped at some little diner. She and her brothers came in as I was eating.”
“And was it like Dad said? You just knew?”
I set the bike on the ground and nodded.
“Yeah. One look and I knew. Then her scent...it was like I’d found home.”
“Wow. That’s really sappy.”
“Shut up.” I took the car seats out of the truck bed next.
“Want me to put the bike in the garage for you?”
“I don’t want you touching my bike.”
“Want me to bring Michelle her toothbrush?” he asked, reaching in the bed to grab the plastic bag
“I want you to go steal us some cookies and change the sheets on your spare bed.”
Jim laughed and sauntered away.
After I parked the bike in the garage and stowed the car seats, I brought the bag to the apartment. The door was still open but there weren’t any sounds coming from inside. I tapped on the door as I looked in.
They were just standing in the center of the room, studying the place like it was a palace.
I need to get them decent furniture, I sent to Winifred.
I agree. However, I don’t think you should purchase any for that apartment. The one across the hall is bigger and will work better for a growing family.
The one across the hall isn’t finished.
Do you have something better to do with your time?
She had a point. Now that Michelle and her brothers were here, I didn’t want to leave them every day to go work with Jim. Not until they were truly settled in.
“Here are your things,” I said when Michelle turned to look at me.
“Thank you, Emmitt.”
She came to take the bag from me and our hands touched briefly. It was lightning to my gut. I wanted more. But, she turned away to hand the bag to Liam.
“Can you put these in the bathroom?”
When I had her attention once more, I could see the weary set of her shoulders.
“Good night, Michelle. Come downstairs if you need anything.”
She nodded and shut the door.
* * * *
I stayed up long after Jim went to bed. Our apartment door was open, and I was listening. I figured the first night in a strange place might cause some problems. Maybe one of the boys would have a bad dream, and Michelle would need help.
The truth was that I couldn’t sleep. That touch had started a fire that wasn’t dying down. I wanted to see her, smell her, just be close to her. Instead, I was two stories away, sitting on my brother’s crappy couch.
I sighed and let my head fall back. Jim’s snores drifted from his room, making me grin. He could sleep through anything. Mom said it was because he had a carefree soul. Uncle Grey said it was because Jim knew his path. Whichever it was, I envied him at times.
A slight noise caught my attention. I moved from the couch to the door, tilting my head to listen. Someone was moving around upstairs. I silently sprinted up the steps. Just on the other side of the door, I heard the rapid beat of a heart.
I breathed deeply, smelling Michelle’s terror.
There were no other sounds. No one else was awake.
I tapped on the door.
“Michelle?” I said softly.
The door opened a second later. She was pale, shaking, and still dressed in her jeans and shirt. Her hair was a little mussed so I knew she’d been sleeping before something woke her.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. I heard someone moving around up here and wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
She swallowed, and I could see her try to pull herself together.
“The walls are that thin?”
I shrugged. “I have good hearing and couldn’t sleep either.”
She looked away and didn’t say anything more. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her close. I wanted to breathe in her scent and tell her everything would be all right. Somehow, I doubted she’d accept my touch or my words. So, I tried offering what she might agree to.
“Do you want to come down for pancakes tomorrow morning?” I asked.
She nodded, making me happy.
“Okay, then. I’ll see you in the morning.” Reluctantly, I turned and went back down the stairs.
Chapter 4
“Rough night?” Winifred asked from the doorway.
I lifted my head from the couch and nodded. After checking on Michelle, I’d only managed a few hours of sleep.
“I heard the children moving around up there and started breakfast.” As soon as she said the words, the smoky bacon aroma hit me.
“Breakfast?” Jim said, coming from his room.
“Not until our guests are ready,” she said, giving him the look.
“I’ll help wake up Michelle,” Jim said, heading for the bathroom.
A minute later, he started singing at the top of his lungs. I winced and started to leave the apartment.
“It would be better if our guests didn’t see you until you looked a bit more...yourself,” she said.
I nodded and went to my room to change. Jim either ran out of songs or heard me moving around because he stopped his awful wailing. So, I sat on my bed and listened to Michelle and her brothers make their way down the steps. The sound of her voice as she called out a tentative hello wrapped around me.