“I hate to ask. I know I’m going to be a huge inconvenience while we’re snowed in here.” I had to get out of this house. Being indebted to anyone, especially a bear like Griffin, wasn’tacceptable.
“Ask. You’re a welcome distraction during what would’ve been a boring week.” Chandler tucked my hand into his elbow again and turned us toward his part of thehouse.
I didn’t hear the accent. Maybe I’d imaginedit.
“Could I have some ibuprofen?” I gingerly flexed the muscles in my back as we walked into the hallway filled withphotos.
“I’ve already got some in your bedroom waiting for you. We thought you might like to nap after you got your stomachfull.”
I paused, touched by their thoughtfulness. “You guys act like you’ve been waiting for me to show up. Well, two ofyou.”
“Please, forgive Griffin. He hasn’t always been this way.” Chandler stopped and opened a door on the right. “This is the bathroom for this part of thehouse.”
I peeked in at a simple shower, toilet, and sink. The floors were tile, and the walls painted dark blue. It made the room seem tiny, but it was warm and inviting. Good thing I wasn’tclaustrophobic.
“And your room is across the hall and down one. Mine is the one directly across. If you need anything, I’ll be in my room, working on mywebsite.”
“You’re building a website?” I was intrigued. Ellion was obviously the techie of the group. I wondered what Chandlercontributed.
“I am,” he replied. “I’m an accountant by day, but by night I writebooks.”
“You’re joking.” I wondered if I should tell him who I’d become related to. Maybe anotherday.
“No. Why, is thatbad?”
“Not at all.” I opened the door to the room that would be mine until I could figure out how to escape. “I don’t know manyauthors.”
“Most people usually say they don’t know any authors, notmany.”
“I’ve met one or two in my travels,” I replied, trying to soundmysterious.
Chandler thought I was more funny than mysterious, because he let out a big laugh. “Well, great. Maybe you can help menetwork.”
“I’d be happy to.” I stepped into a room clearly decorated by a woman, or at least a man with a feminine touch. The bed and windows were covered in a tiny rose print, and the walls werelilac.
It was nauseatinglygirly.
“Oh, how nice,” I said, attempting to veil my repulsion at the frillyroom.
“I know. It’s awful, isn’t it? It was decorated a long time ago, and it’s one of the rooms we haven’t bothered to renovate. Some of the rooms, Griffin wants to leave alone. This is one ofthem.”
I raised my eyebrows,inquiring.
“Again, not my story to tell. Who knows, maybe you’ll win him over before youleave.”
I snorted. “Not bloodylikely.”
“He’s had a rough time of it.” His accent had taken on a lyrical qualityagain.
I cocked my head to try to pinpoint it while we bantered. “Being injured doesn’t give him license to treat a stranger like dirt.” My voice tightened. “I’ve spent my adult life caring for people who have been grievously injured or ill. There’s no reason to be…” The word wouldn’t come to me. “…malevolent.”
Chandler bowed his head in deference. “You’re right, it wouldn’t be. I’ll leave you to rest.” He twinkled his umber eyes at me and backpedaled out of theroom.
I sighed at the back of the white door as it closed. What a ridiculous situation I’d found myselfin.
The bed bouncedas I sat on it for the hundredth time. The ibuprofen had eased my pain, and I was bored out of my mind. There was absolutely nothing to do in the girly bedroom but stare at the roses on the walls. I’d done that for what felt like hours after taking a nap, and I was about to go nuts. Looking out the window gave me a view of a bunch of snow falling on top of more snow. I watched that for a while, too, but nothing entertaining poppedup.
I tiptoed over to the bedroom door and pressed my ear against it. Silence. Cracking the door enough to stick my head out, I dared peering up and down the hall. Nothing. I darted over to the bathroom to snoop in thecabinets.
