Rafe stopped outside the first house and dismounted. “Everyone split up. Go door to door. See if anyone needs anything.”
Noelle released my waist and tried to move off the bike.
She lost her balance and staggered to the side, falling into Bishop’s arms when he jumped forward to catch her. “What are we doing here?”
“What Rafe said.” I held out my hand, and to my surprise, she took it. “We’ll start on the north loop.” I pointed toward the houses behind us. “Meet you in the middle.”
Bishop nodded, and we parted ways.
Rafe reached the first door and knocked.
When we reached our designated door, the woman who lived there had already spotted us and stood with the door cracked open.
She grinned up at me, her white hair waving in the breeze. “Didn’t expect to see you today. Figured the roads were too messy for you lot to be out and about.” She caught sight of Noelle. “And who’s this?”
“Mrs. Grissom, this is Noelle.” I nudged her forward. “How are things around here? Do you have everything you need?”
“I’m good.” Mrs. Grissom patted my arm. “You should go check on Robert down on the other side. I been looking out my window every day, trying to keep an eye on things, and he didn’t open his curtains this morning.”
“I’ll go there next. Are you sure you’re okay? We can bring back supplies if you tell us what you need.” I tried to ignore the way Noelle’s mouth fell open at the interaction.
She pressed her lips together and hugged her ribs. “I can go knock on his door. It’ll go faster if all four of us split up.”
“You don’t have to do that.” I waved goodbye to Mrs. Grissom when she reassured me that she was fine and had stocked up before the storm blew in. “Glad they didn’t lose electricity. These communities like this are great, but if they lose power, they’re all in danger. Not a single one of them has any other means of heating their homes.”
She turned her face away, shaking her head lightly. “Wow.”
“What?” I hooked my finger under her chin and brought her around to face me.
I’d never seen such blatant shock on a face before. “What’s that look for?”
“I just…” She blew out a long, slow breath that filled the air between us with a cloud of white. “I didn’t expect you all to have such a soft side.”
I grinned wide enough to make my cheeks ache. “Welcome to the real side of the club.” I guided her up the narrow sidewalk still covered in snow and onto the narrow porch where Robert lived.
Noelle glanced left and right toward the windows that bracketed the door. “Looks deserted.”
“Which is unusual. Robert and Mrs. Grissom have a thing.” I waggled my eyebrows. “They wave at each other every morning.”
“They like each other?” Noelle clasped a hand around her throat, her expression morphing. “That’s so sweet.”
“I’ve tried to tell them they should go on and move in with each other. They always laugh and wave me off, telling me I’m being too modern.” I knocked on the door. “Robert, it’s Ash. You okay?”
Noelle cupped her hands around her eyes and pressed her face to the window on the door. “Hard to see even though the curtains are sheer. I’m not seeing anyone.”
I knocked harder, then reached for the doorknob. “Robert, I’m coming in.”
I raised my voice over the sound of the door creaking open. “If you try to shoot me, I’m going to be very upset with you.”
A cough rattled out from the kitchen. “Wouldn’t… dream… of it.”
The wheezing breath that followed sent me rushing forward at a dead run.
My boots thudded on Robert’s brand-new hardwood floors.
Any other time, he’d shout for me to settle the fuck down.
When he didn’t, fear lodged an icicle in my chest. “Robert, what the hell?”
