Page 13 of Burn Point

I squinted against those troubling thoughts, because why was she any different than anyone else? Why was I so concerned about her? Of all the people I’d helped over the last twenty-four hours, why did I feel the most responsible for her? “Are you staying here again tonight?”

She wrapped her arms around herself and peered over her shoulder at the church. I didn’t miss the slight shudder that ran through her.

“Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “Do you know how creepy churches are at night?”

A smile tugged my lips. “I can imagine.”

She shifted her gaze back to me, her lips tipped up in a small smile. “Red Cross says they can put us up in a hotel, but only for a few days.”

“Do you need anything in the meantime?” I gestured to the remaining supplies. “I’ve got some supplies here if you want to go through and see if there is anything you can use.”

“You have a spare laptop charger or a spare cell phone?”

I grinned at her. “No, but I have a toothbrush and some hand wipes.”

“Oh my God, yes! I could use a toothbrush,” she blurted, pink creeping up her cheeks.

I dug one of the individual toiletry packs out of a bin and handed it to her through the fence with a smile. “There’s even a travel shampoo and conditioner in there.” I’d given these bags out all day but handing one to her was humbling.

Her blush grew brighter. Adorable. Even in the aftermath of trauma.

“It’s the little things,” she murmured, her fingers brushing mine as she took the small ziplock bag I offered her. Tingles shot up my arm at the contact, and my eyes locked with hers.

She took the bag and took a step back. “Thanks, Nate.” The sincerity in her voice rocked me.

Suddenly, I didn’t need to get home so badly. My bed and a long sleep were the least important things on my agenda. I was a selfish bastard for even having a bed to go home to when she had lost everything. Compassion for all that she’d suffered filled me.

I gripped the fence, wishing it were her hand. “I’m so sorry about your house, Jordan.”

She blinked rapidly and gave me a small smile. “Thanks Nate, I’ll be okay. I lived through it, and things can be replaced.” Hugging the bag to her, she cleared her throat and said brightly, “Well, I bet you’re tired and ready to get home.” She shook the bag at me. “Thanks again for the supplies and for, you know, saving me from a collapsing house.”

She was dismissing me, giving me the perfect opportunity to wish her well and head home.

And I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

It was rare that I ever ran into the patients I helped. I mean, I’d see them in passing along the way sometimes—it was a small town, after all—but it wasn’t often that I got to spend any significant time with them.

I wasn’t ready for this to be our last chat. I wracked my brain, trying to figure out a way to keep her here and talking to me.

“Can I check in on you in a couple of days? See how you are, see if you need anything?” It was unethical for me to ask, but I didn’t give a fuck at the moment. I just knew I couldn’t tell her goodbye and never see her again.

She shook her head.

No?

She was seriously telling me no? Did that mean she had a boyfriend? Was she married? Was she not interested in me? And why was I worried about her being interested in me? She’d just lived through a nightmare. It didn’t matter what her reasons were.

“I was serious about the cell phone,” she said. “I lost mine in the storm.”

Oh.

“Okay, well how about this…” I whipped my field notes pad out of my pocket and wrote my number down, then tore out the slip of paper and handed it to her. “Here’s my number. Keep in touch and let me know you are okay. Please. And don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.” I pierced her with a look. “I mean it. Call if you need anything.”

She took the slip of paper, staring at her hands as she folded it in half. “Thanks, Nate.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I appreciate it.”

Those emotional eyes met mine. “See you around.”

I waited until she’d backed away from the fence and turned to go into the church before turning the UTV back on. I dropped the water off at the loading area, taking a quick peak inside the large hall, row after row of cots lined up. Jordan would spend her night on one of those uncomfortable bastards. With a bunch of strangers. With my heart in my gut, I drove back to the station.

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