“Of course,” Kellan replied before leaving.
“The storm sounds too dangerous for him to be out in it,” she said as Eli held the light so they could see as they made their way into the bedroom.
“He’ll be fine,” Eli told her. “There’s no storm nasty enough to take Kellan out.”
“Oh wow. You have the bedframe made already?” she asked.
“Yeah, we just need to lift the mattress on and get the bed made. Where are the spare blankets?”
“I saw some in the hall closet,” she told him. “But I can help get the mattress on the bed.”
“You will not,” he told her sternly. “You’re going to stay wrapped up and warm. Kellan and I will handle everything.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she whispered. “I can manage.”
“I’m not listening to any protests. Let’s get those blankets.”
By the time he had her wrapped up and sitting on the floor, Kellan had returned.
“Not the fuse box,” Kellan said. “Power has to be down due to the storm.”
“Damn, I figured,” Eli replied. “Help me with the bed.”
The wind was making a haunting noise outside that she found creepy. She didn’t know why she was so freaked out. She’d experienced storms before.
“I didn’t realize this storm was going to be so bad,” she said as Kellan pulled the curtains and checked the windows in the bedroom.
He then helped Eli with the mattress.
“It wasn’t meant to be,” Eli told her. “I’d say it’s caught a few people short.”
“It’s not really that bad,” Kellan said. “The wind is just a bit stronger than expected. We’ve been through worse.”
Right. Of course.
Her teeth chattered.
“Where did you live before coming here?” Eli asked as they made the bed.
She should offer to help but her back was killing her
“Austin. We had a few storms. I don’t know why I’m so scared right now. Silly, huh? B-before that I was living in Los Angeles.”
“You like the beach?” Eli asked.
“Um, sure. I didn’t spend much t-time at the b-beach. But it’s b-beautiful.”
“Must have been hard to leave everyone you knew,” he said.
Why was he mentioning all of this? And asking these questions?
Maybe to distract you.
Right. She needed to get herself together. At least she wasn’t alone. Even if the guys weren’t here, she had Horse. She wrapped her arm around him. He’d stuck close to her since the storm struck.
He was shaking slightly. Poor dog.
“It’s okay, Horse,” she whispered. “I’ve got you. Um, it was hard to leave my grandfather. He’s in a retirement home in Austin. And my friend, Wilma. She helped me with my business a lot.”
