Turner rushed his cousin and Mel away deliberately. Mel had snickered when her eyes met Annie’s.
There was definite approval in Mel’s gaze.
Annie wasn’t foolish. Turner was about to take advantage of the situation. She felt hunted. There were no other words to describe it. Every nerve in her body was on alert. She could smell him next to her—far better than smelling charred-Annie, which was exactly how she felt—and feel his heat when he brushed against her. He took the laundry basket. “I’ll help you carry everything, get you settled.”
“Thank you.” She could get her family settled just fine on her own. So why weren’t those words coming out of her mouth? Annie didn’t have a clue. At that moment all she wanted in the world was to have him right there with her, helping her just get through. Extraordinarily pitiful. Just pitiful. “What are you doing here tonight?”
“I still have no roof. Mac called. Someone stole all the roofing materials at my place, all the way down to the subroofing. My electricity is now off, thanks to damage they did.”
“That’s horrible.” His bruises were starting to fade, but she’d never forget what they had looked like. Or how he’d gotten them. “Well, we’re here. Thank you for your help.”
“No. It’s not that easy, Annie Belle. You know that. What has happened?”
“Harley Borlin’s house burned to the ground tonight. We were evacuated, since my house is so close. I didn’t want the boys staying there with the smoke, either. Jake…Jake sent my sister Josie and the boys here. Mel’s offered to let us stay here for the night.”
“Was anyone hurt?”
Annie shook her head. “I don’t think. Harley’s a long-distance truck driver. He’s in and out of the neighborhood all the time. He…it’s the first part of the week; he should be out of town right now.”
“You said Jake’s back?” His voice lowered, and he leaned closer. Syrus held up a hand, keeping Turner from getting any closer.
“Yes. He showed up tonight. He’s probably at the hospital with Izzie now.”
“I’ll find him in the morning. Have you and your family eaten dinner?”
“No.” And that was just one thing she had to deal with tonight. “I…need to feed the boys. They have to be starving. We usually eat dinner around seven-thirty; that’s when they get dinner at the daycare. I just haven’t had a chance…”
“I’ll take care of it.” He shot her a grin as Josie finally got the door unlocked and the two older boys inside. “Houghton keeps chicken nuggets on the menu for when his buddy Luc visits from St. Louis. And macaroni and cheese. Why don’t I call room service and get some food sent up for everyone? They make a great Philly sandwich here. And homemade potato chips that are my great-something-step-grandmother Jude’s recipe. They are perfect. Powell used to say she was going to build a factory to make them and sell them for money to buy houses. She was like six at the time.” He set the laundry basket down and reached out to touch her cheek. His finger brushed her lip lightly. She shivered. Her arms tightened around her baby to remind herself not to do something she’d regret.
“I’m glad you came here tonight. I…want to know you’re safe.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Everything…nothing has happened.” Damn it, she was leaning toward him instead of away. She settled a very sleepy Syrus in the large armchair in the center of the room. It was low enough to the floor he’d be able to climb down when he wanted. It would take him a moment or two to warm up to the new environment.
Josie headed to the bathroom immediately to run the boys a bath. “There’re bubbles in here, guys. Let’s get clean while we wait for the food, ok? Give Mommy time to talk to the mayor.”
Annie looked at her sister. “I should do that. Your date…”
Her sister had had the boys almost all day, since she’d picked them up at noon. Josie shot her a grin and a significant look. “I think you should talk to the mayor. I’m sure you have a bunch of things to discuss. I already texted and rescheduled.”
Her sister was a complete romantic. And very naïve with it. Annie’s cheeks flamed. “I—”
“Come on, Aunt Josie! I have my boats!” Seeley was obsessed with water of any kind. He had three plastic boats clutched in his arms and was stark naked.
Annie sputtered. “Seeley James! You’re not supposed to be naked in front of guests!”
It shouldn’t have been humanly possible for him to have gotten naked that quickly, but he had. Her children were magicians sometimes.
Turner had turned away politely, but his shoulders were shaking with silent laughter.
“Oh! Sorry, Momma! But come on! The tub is as big as a pool! Well, not as big as Uncle Hooton’s pool. But it’s huge.”
Her middle son practically ran into the bathroom. Apparently, he wasn’t as hungry as she’d thought. His brothers trailed after him, Sol giving instructions—as always—and Syrus dragging his blanket.
That blanket would have to be handwashed as soon as possible. He loved it so much.
She added it to the mental list she’d have to hit hard before she finally slept. All the boys’ clothes would need washed and dried somehow. She hadn’t grabbed any scrubs for the next day, but she had some in her locker. If not, she’d help herself to a clean pair of Izzie’s from her apartment. It wasn’t that far from the Barratt.
Little details, minute items of her life flooded at her now.
“I—give me a moment. I’ll be right back.” She carried the clean laundry into one room of the suite. She’d grabbed pajamas for all the boys right out of her dryer at home. They had laundry. She sniffed. They didn’t smell too strongly of smoke, at least.
Why was she freaking out over laundry?
Because it was something to focus on.
Annie understood just how close to panicking she was now.
Everything was starting to collapse on her.
She felt like she was still under the rubble. Only this time, there wasn’t someone there to pull her out.
She scurried into the bathroom after her sons.
Annie needed to focus again. Before she did something crazy like jump into the man’s arms and listen to him tell her that everything was going to be ok. Because Turner was going to make it that way.