Page 53 of Passion in Bloom

Chapter 18

Roarke

There wasn’t much Icould do to salvage my home. Damn near everything was wet. Or damp. Or slightly sprayed upon that it would be hell to clean up.

Most of my clothes were a soggy mess, since my closet was close to the bathroom door. Ironically, I had one basket of clean laundry that I had procrastinated putting away, and those were dry and good to go.

My dresser was no help since there was a gap between the drawers and the frame, so many things folded and stored in there were wet too.

Heather’s cabin was smaller than mine, so it wouldn’t have made sense to bring over too much. Staying over at her place was a temporary fix, but I had no clue how temporary.

Things were shifting and changing between me and Heather at warp speed. Earlier, she’d seemed so peeved and ready to tell me off for interfering between her and David. Then we caved to have sex. And now I was moving in with her for the night. Or two.

There was absolutely no way my cabin would be dried out after forty-eight hours. I doubted it would be livable any time after that either. The wood would rot. The walls would mold. Carpet had to be hauled out. Subfloors would need to be aired out. Cabinets removed and replaced.

The list would go on and on. Even if Todd or any of the Grand River owners would want to replace this cabin with another, I was looking an extensive reno or rebuild.

I couldn’t expect Heather to put up me that long. I didn’t count on her to. I was still, as I shoved things into an old duffle bag, shocked that she’d stepped up to let me stay at her cabin instead of another empty one that was likely filthy.

This one-eighty that she showing me seemed like a dream coming true. That she was easing up and lowering her guard to not be so combative with me and eager to push me away.

But to just jump into living together? I strongly doubted that would happen.

I had realistic goals here. Having her kiss me was a good start. Falling into bed felt like another step in the right direction as well. But I had to keep my wits with this offer to stay at her place.

Once I got things as settled as I could at my drenched cabin, I left to go to hers. I locked up, smirking with a wry sense of ironic humor that my niece wouldn’t be trying to sneak in here. Nothing of value to steal. No dry couch to rest on. The damn fridge was toast, too, with an exposed wire getting wet behind it. The old appliance was unplugged for good, it seemed, too old to fix.

Shivering still, I got into my truck and drove the short distance to Heather’s cabin.

I hadn’t stalled and taken my time to pack some clothes and essentials that weren’t wet. I couldn’t delay getting to her place, not only because I was a lot happier in her company than I was out of it. But because my niece was there with her.

I wasn’t sure what to make of her looking ill. It was the season for germs to set in and cause issues. Nor was I sure what to make of her wanting to take Heather up on her offer to stay at her place when mine clearly wasn’t an option.

So when I showed up and saw her perky and smiling, standing up straight, I was confused.

She didn’t look ill. She wasn’t leaning over and looking like she’d gag or puke.

What gives?

Heather couldn’t have provided a magical cure-all.

I hadn’t seen Nevaeh look this perky and healthy, so happy and casual, in a long while. She often showed up cranky and upset, like she couldn’t handle all the stress of her life.

What’s going on?

“You look...well,” I commented.

She giggled. Giggled.

I furrowed my brow as she got up to leave. Heather caught my attention and shrugged, seeming confused as well.

“And your lips are turning blue.”

I dropped my duffle bag just inside the front door as Nevaeh started to exit. “Where are you going?”

“Well, I’m outta here. I don’t want to get in the way of you two.”

“Us two?” I asked.