Page 12 of All the Right Things

“Don’t worry about that. I am usually up around the time the sun comes up.”

“Yuck.” My face scrunches up. “Why?”

He chuckles. “I like to get an early start on the ranch most days.”

“Not today?” I ask, wondering if my being hereis interrupting his usual routine.

Of course, it is, Andi. He probably doesn’t want to leave you alone in his house.

“No, I have a meeting with a supermarket chain a few towns over, so I’ll touch base on the ranch later this afternoon, but I’m sure they can handle things without me for a few hours.”

“Oh, okay,” I say, wondering if he is just saying that to hide the fact that he doesn’t want to leave me alone.

“You’re welcome to stay here while I’m gone,” he says as though reading my thoughts.

“I don’t want to impose.”

He sets his newspaper down and looks at me. “Andi, I don’t know how many times I have to say this before I get it through your thick skull, but you’re not imposing. If you were, I wouldn’t have asked you here. Please make yourself at home.”

Before I can get a chance to say that I probably won’t be here long enough for that, I hear my phone ringing from the bedroom.

“Sorry,” I say, but Jonas just nods and goes back to reading the paper.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Hi, Mrs. Nicholson…”Mrs. Nicholson.I don’t correct her before she continues. “This is Tina from Central Movers Inc.”

“Oh, hi,” I say, hoping for some good news.

“Good morning. It seems we have located the truck carrying your belongings.”

I interrupt. “Oh, that’s wonderful!”

“Well…”

Here we go.

“Actually, ma’am, it turns out the truck was in an accident before it even left California. Both men were taken to the hospital, and police impounded the truck. We are sending another truck to take its place, but first, our insurance agents need to evaluate the damage. It’s going to be at least a few days before we can get your things to you.” Her voice is sympathetic, but it doesn’t do anything to help my situation.

“A few days?” I question. “What am I supposed to do about not having my things for a few days?”

“I apologize, Mrs. Nicholson. I really do. Of course, we will refund all of your money and still get your things to you just as soon as we can.”

My frustration threatens to come out as anger on this poor woman, but what good would that do? It’s not going to get my stuff here any faster, and it’s not Tina’s fault. Besides, I feel guilty getting upset when two men are in the hospital from the accident.

I instead thank Tina for her time and tell her to keep me apprised of the situation before hanging up the phone and tossing it on the bed.

My head hangs low as my fingers run through my wild curls. I massage the space between my eyebrows where I can feel my head beginning to throb.

“I take it that didn’t go so well?” Jonas’ deep voice says from my doorway.

I look up and see him leaning against the door. How is it that he looks so damn good this early in the morning?

“How’d you guess?” I ask with the smallest of smiles.

He walks over and takes a seat on the edge of the bed next to me. The mattress dips under his large frame. Heat sparks through my veins as he lays his hand on my knee. It’s not sexual, more an act of kindness or condolence, but it still ignites sparks within me.

I explain to him what Tina told me about my belongings. When I finish the story, I rest my head in my hands once more asking, “What am I going to do?”

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