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Plastic whipped in the wind, but everything was covered. At least Carl had complied with her earlier request. He’d probably heard Mick’s voice in the background and known not to screw around.
The front door opened and a completely different woman emerged. Jeans. A black short-sleeved sweater that hugged every curve just right, and bright pink rain boots. Her long black hair was pulled back into a high ponytail that swayed back and forth with each step. She popped open a big black umbrella and started toward his truck.
He opened the door and she lifted the umbrella to cover them both. The wind gusted. Mick grabbed the handle and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his side and ducking low so less of the rain would hit her. “Thanks,” he said, his voice deeper than he meant for it to come out, but having her right next to him was warming him from head to foot.
Chapter 5
He was holding her like a man held a woman he cared about. Her ex hadn’t touched her in nearly a year. Not that she’d wanted Lance to hold her after she found out about the affair. Hell, she hadn’t wanted anyone to touch her. Ever.Okay, maybe not ever. But, at least for a good long while.
But this big burly guy made her feel small and protected and cherished, just by trying to keep her out of the rain. Hell, he was a stranger. And he’d already helped her with the desk in her office. Now he was slogging through her flooding front yard to help with the furniture and appliances the damned delivery guy had set out on her porch like a field of chess pieces.
Light pressure from his arm guided her up the steps and under the porch. He closed the umbrella and set it against the railing. The wind sprayed the rain sideways every so often, but mostly it just fell, streaming over the rafters like a waterfall.
“Thank you for coming.”
Just a hint of color reddened his cheeks. His mouth parted in a wide smile that made her insides go to mush.Not good, Laurel. Not good. He’s a client and you’re not looking for a relationship.
“Neighbors in this town help each other out.”
Three other trucks pulled into the drive behind his. The men that emerged were Mick’s size. All three of them looked like mountain men plucked from a National Geographic documentary. Flannel, beards, and all smiling and cutting up about the crazy rain. Well, one didn’t have a beard, but his five-o-clock shadow gave a nice outline of where it would be if he didn’t shave soon.
“Evenin’ ma’am.” The first to climb the stairs held out his hand. “Chuck Rieves.” He produced a Tupperware container from beneath his jacket. “My wife sent over some cookies. Says she’ll be by to properly welcome you to town as soon as you’ve had a chance to settle.”
“Laurel Hart. Thank you. I’m so grateful for the help and I look forward to meeting your wife.”
“Good,” he said, moving aside so the man behind him could introduce himself next. “You can just count on being part of her circle from now on. We live just a few minutes north in the next subdivision.”
So polite. All of them. And inviting. Where were these manners in the high society of Dallas? Those men cared about one thing. Who drove the fastest car. Who had the hottest wife. And where they could get their next drink. The women weren’t any better.What about me? Was I…Am I that shallow?
“Ma’am.” The next man stepped up and took her hand right out of Chuck’s. He was taller than Mick and his dark hair and eyes captured her gaze in a second. “I’m Adam VonBrandt. My wife Paige and I live out south of town. But if you ever need anything, just ask.”Another married guy? I’m seeing a theme here.She couldn’t help the small smile pulling at her lips. Were all of Mick’s friends married? No wonder the man was looking for a date. She’d have to get right on that, although a small voice in the back of her mind was extremely uncomfortable with that scenario.
“I can’t believe Mick called you all up and you came out in this mess. Thank you.”
“We’d have been pissed if he hadn’t. Mick sometimes tries to take care of everything himself,” Adam answered, a teasing grin splitting his face.
“Dude.” Mick growled from behind her. She jumped, having forgotten he was standing so close—almost standing watch. Again, the strangest feeling. She should feel smothered or crowded or annoyed, but all she felt was cared for.
“It’s true.” The third man shouldered past Adam. His large hand swallowed hers next. “Gary Summers. Welcome to Somewhere, Laurel. It’s a pleasure to meet you and my wife Linda would’ve come with me, but the baby had just gone down.”
Laurel smiled up at the burly giant. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it, ma’am. You’re not the only one Carl has put in a pickle.” He gave her a wink and took in a quick appraisal of her porch. “Let’s get this stuff inside, boys.” All four men moved toward the fridge, the closest item to the door.
Mick caught her gaze and nodded at the closed front door. “Laurel, can you pull the front screen door open?”
She nodded and scurried ahead of them, first fixing the front door open with the heavy phone book that had been lying in the foyer. Then she pushed open the screen and stepped around behind it, out of the men’s way. Bright orange straps had been wrapped around the unwieldy appliance and the guys had it through the door and on its way into the kitchen with barely a grunt.
These country boys had muscles made to impress.
Chuck appeared back out on the porch first, swinging the straps around in a circle at his side. Within thirty minutes the guys had moved all her appliances into place and every single piece of furniture. She wiped away a tear and gave each and every single man a hug and a thank you. “The weather would’ve ruined everything if you hadn’t—” She hiccuped and took a slow breath. Gratefulness washed through her like a rushing river sweeping away the preconceived notion that all men were self-serving jerks. They weren’t, she’d just apparently landed in a huge group of them during her last marriage. “I bought pizza and beer at the grocer on my way here, but you’d probably all rather get back to your families.”
“Another time, Miss Hart,” Gary said, flashing her a wide friendly smile. “But that was awfully nice of you. Linda said she’d have a lasagna made for me to drop off tomorrow afternoon for you.”
“There’s still a few pieces that need to be put together,” Adam said before he grabbed his coat off the back of her new couch. “Mick said he’d take care of them, though. So we’ll let you both enjoy the evening. Paige told me to let you know she’s bringing you a coffee cake by tomorrow.”
Laurel smiled and shook her head, disbelief at their kindness toward a stranger shaking her to the core.I lived with that asshole and his stuck-up friends too long. I can’t fathom a world where there are nice people. “I’ve never felt so…welcomed. Ever.” No one in her last circle of friends would’ve taken the time to personally make something for a new arrival to the neighborhood. But they would’ve expected a tour of the house and drinks and a mealfromthe newcomer.
Mick stepped up beside her. He didn’t touch her, but just his nearness gave her a jolt. Sent a tingle of unfamiliar excitement scampering across her skin, warming her cold and broken soul. She didn’t want to trust men. Appreciate men. Like men. At least not right now. But Mick Ramsey and his friends were making that very difficult.
