Page 60 of One Kind Soul

“Jimmy’s going to patrol the area tonight.” Donovan indicated a police car slowly creeping down the road. “These guys are almost wrapping it up here so you should be good to start on clean up tomorrow. Tessa and I can help you.”

“Thanks, man.” Christian hugged his brother.

“Of course. Now you focus your attention on Nicole tonight. From what Randall told me, her sister is a real low life.”

“Sounds as if she was one when she was a kid too. Nicole said Lynda verbally abused her often. A few times it got physical, but I think the words did more damage.”

Donovan shook his head. “I don’t know how family can treat family that way.”

“We have it good, man.”

“Yes, we do. And you can show Nicole that she can have it good too.” Donovan clapped him on the back. “I’ll collect my wife.” He grinned. “Damn, I like the sound of that.”

A few minutes later, Donovan and Tessa left the farm. Christian secured the store’s door, not that there was much worth saving inside, but he did it anyway. He left a window open, hoping the bees vacated the area before they cleaned tomorrow or he’d be worried about being stung all day.

After spending a few minutes with the horses, Christian climbed the stairs to the loft. He found Nicole curled up in a ball on the small couch, a blanket over her. She looked so small and vulnerable and a drive to protect her exploded inside him. They didn’t know for sure if her sister was behind the store invasion, but he vowed right then and there no one would hurt Nicole. No one.

He stepped on a creaky floorboard and Nicole’s head popped up. “Sorry. This floor is old.”

“I wasn’t sleeping anyway.” She sat up and pushed her hair out of her face. Her eyes were red from crying, but she still looked gorgeous to him. “Maybe I should leave now. The dark is good cover. I could lose Lynda.”

He sat beside her. “I want my extra week with you, Nixen. I was promised more time and I want it.”

“But what if she comes back? What if she ruins the house?” She clutched her chest. “I feel terrible about the store, but if she touches your hard work on the farmhouse, I couldn’t bear it.”

“The horses will alert us if anyone comes onto the property. I’m willing to bet they made quite the ruckus when whoever destroyed the store was here. We weren’t here to hear it. We are now. Plus, there’s a squad car patrolling out there tonight too. No one is setting foot on this land tonight.” He pulled her onto his lap. “Hopefully they find the responsible party and that will be the end of it.”

Nicole cuddled up against him. “This is your sanctuary. I hate that someone violated that.”

“It’s still my sanctuary,” he said. “And it’s yours too.” He didn’t add the for as long as you’re here because he couldn’t deal with the fact that her extra week might only be that. Merely a few more days to fall deeper in love with her only to have to tell her goodbye.

“We should sleep here tonight,” she said softly. “So we can hear the horses better.”

“Sounds good. Why don’t you start a shower and I’ll join you in a few minutes? I’m going to make sure the cats are in the barn and the door is locked.” And he hated worrying about that. He almost never locked the barn.

But tonight he would.

Nicole got off his lap. “Can you grab my suitcase from your truck too?”

“You got it.” He kissed her then made his way down the stairs. Nina and Leaf were holed up together in the hay in Zip’s stall, but Christian had to hunt for the other three after he grabbed Nicole’s suitcase. Tibbs didn’t take too kindly to being enclosed for the night, but if Lynda was the threat and she’d had questionable behavior with a rabbit, she might target his animals next. He couldn’t have that.

“Trying to keep you safe, Tibbs.”

The cat gave him a disgruntled yowl, his feet tap dancing as his tail shook.

“Yeah, none of us like it, but it’s what we’re doing.”

Clover let out a snuffle and Zip poked his head out of his stall as Christian passed. “Keep an eye on everything, guys.” He stroked Zip’s nose. “That woman up there means a lot to me and I need your help keeping her safe.”

Zip puffed out a breath and his head bobbed.

“I’ll take that as meaning you’re up for the challenge. Good boy.” With a final pat, Christian left the horses and returned to the loft.

The bathroom door was open and the water was running. He stripped off his clothes as he walked to the bathroom and when he arrived he was naked. Nicole’s silhouette was visible through the frosted glass of the shower stall and despite the evening’s misfortunes, a jolt of excitement over having her there zipped through Christian. She’d organized another week in Maplehaven and that had to mean something about how she felt about him.

All he had to do now was convince her it was love she felt.

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