Jordan parked the car in front of a weathered-looking rambler close to the beach. The yellow paint was faded but still cheery. “Sorry, it’s not much to look at on the outside, but Cara takes good care of the inside.”
“It’s fine,” Tia said. “Hopefully, I don’t have to inconvenience her too long.”
Jordan touched her arm. “It’s no inconvenience. We take care of each other here.”
Tia smiled and thanked him. She couldn’t remember a time she’d had friends like this - friends willing to help her out even though she had brought trouble to town and had a checkered past.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you and help you get settled before I jet back to work.”
He turned the engine off and walked around to Tia’s side. Before helping her out, he grabbed her crutches out of the back seat, handed them to her, and made sure she was stable. Only then did he grab her bag. Tia smiled at his thoughtfulness. She didn’t know Cassidy, but she believed the woman had been lucky finding a man like Jordan.
Jordan led the way up the short walk and pushed open the door without knocking. He must know this Cara well. “Cara? It’s Jordan and Tia, the woman I told you about.”
A woman with short spiky hair appeared in the doorway. Trim and athletic, the woman looked as if she could tangle with the boys any day with her broad shoulders and bold arm definition. “Jordan, good to see you again.” She extended a hand in greeting.
Jordan shook the woman’s hand and then turned to Tia. “This is Tia. She’s recovering from memory loss and a few attempts on her life. She’s going to need some help getting back on her feet.”
Cara extended her hand to Tia. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, and any friend of Jordan’s is welcome here as long as needed.”
Tia shook the woman’s hand and returned the smile. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“I hate to run, but I have to get to work. Cara will take good care of you, but please call me if you need anything.” Jordan squeezed her shoulder before dropping her bag and exiting out the front door.
“Okay, want to follow me and I’ll show you to your room?” Cara asked picking up the bag.
Tia nodded and followed her down the hall, her crutches tapping on the wooden floor. Cara stopped in front of a door and opened it to a small room decorated in tan and beige. It held only a bed, nightstand, and dresser, but it was better than the hospital room.
“There’s a bathroom right next door. Sorry you’ll have to walk a bit to get there, and the dining room is down the hall there. I serve breakfast at seven, lunch at noon, and dinner at seven. If you want a snack during the day, you’re welcome to the kitchen.”
“Thank you. This is more than I expected,” Tia said surprised at the hitch in her voice.
“We’ve all been there,” Cara said and though she didn’t put a hand on Tia’s shoulder, she felt the sentiment all the same.
After Cara left, Tia sat on the bed for a moment and looked around. It wasn’t home, but it would do. For now.
Brody pulled up in front of the house and turned off the car. It appeared weathered and in need of repair on the outside, but Jordan had assured him that Tia would be well taken care of. He planned to help out as much as possible as well.
A blonde woman he had never met before opened the door at his knock. Her features were stern, but kind. “You must be Brody,” she said, extending her hand. “I’m Cara.”
“I am.” He shook her hand surprised at her grip strength. Jordan had said she was ex-military, but if her physique was any indication, she still worked out as if she were active. “Did Tia get settled all right?”
“I suppose. I haven’t checked on her since I showed her to her room, but you’re welcome to now. She’s in room three down that hallway.” Cara turned and pointed behind her. “I’ve got a dinner to prepare for.”
“Thank you.” Brody headed the direction she had pointed and paused when he reached room three. He felt like a high schooler again, showing up for a first date. It was an odd feeling considering he was over thirty years old, but it didn’t change the fact that his heart thundered loudly in his chest and his palms had collected a wet sheen. He ran them down his pants leg and then curled his right hand into a fist to knock.
“Come on in. It’s open,” came Tia’s voice from inside the room. He pushed the door open to find her sitting on the bed. “I didn’t have much to unpack and nothing else to do,” she said with a shrug as if answering his unspoken question. “Cara said I could watch TV in the living room, but I didn’t feel like it. Do you think while we’re out, we can stop by an electronics store so I can get a new phone and computer?”
A grin tugged at Brody’s lips. “We can stop wherever you would like. I figured we could get dinner and then possibly hit a clothing store, but we can add an electronics store in as well.”
She pushed herself off the bed and grabbed her crutches. “You would go to a clothing store with me?”
“Yes?” he asked hesitantly, not knowing if this was a trick question or not. He hadn’t gone to many clothing stores with Rachel but only because he never really thought about it.
She laughed at him. “It’s just that most men don’t like waiting around for women to try on clothes.”
Ah, now that made sense. He supposed that would get boring if she spent too long there, but he also knew she had spent the last week in a hospital gown and had nothing except what Jordan had brought her. He would wait all night if it meant she was able to find some clothes to make her feel more comfortable. “Well, I think you’ll find I’m not most men.”
She had reached his side by the time he spoke, and she turned her blue eyes up at him. A slight smile sent the corners of her mouth twitching in an adorable manner, but her voice was low and sultry when she spoke. “I think I’ve already realized that.”
He felt the pull between them, the desire to kiss her, but it was too soon. He hadn’t kissed a woman since Rachel, and he wanted to do it right. So, instead he cleared his throat and motioned to the door. “Shall we go?”
Confusion flashed in her eyes for a moment, but then she put on a smile and nodded. He followed her out, mentally berating himself for confusing her. She’d been through enough bad experiences to last a lifetime; she didn’t need him adding to her confusion.
When they reached the car, he held the door open for her and helped her in before loading her crutches in the back. As he walked to his side, the hairs on the back of his neck rose. He felt as if someone was watching them. With a surreptitious glance, he scanned the area, but he saw no one. Perhaps it was just a nosy neighbor watching out a window. He would scan the windows as they drove off. No need worrying Tia if it was nothing. He drove past the other houses slowly glad for the low speed limit, but there was no one in any of the windows. Probably just his overactive imagination then.
Though he rarely went out anymore, Brody had scheduled a dinner at an upscale Italian restaurant. “I hope you don’t mind Italian,” he said as he pulled the car into a space. “I suppose I should have asked.”
She flashed him a wide grin. “I love Italian. In fact, I love cheese and bread and pasta of all kinds which is why I do yoga.”
“Well good,” he said with a chuckle, “we are in the right place then.”