hands together. “Oh, I need to go and call the others. I’ll be right back.”
“Here, use my phone,” Jarrett said, handing it over to her. They both watched the woman walk out of the room.
Jarrett turned back to Mia. “So how do you really feel?”
“Scared, but good.”
“You need to stop that. Your doctor said you need to relax and avoid stress.”
“Did you tell her that you lived across the hall?”
He fought a smile, but lost. “Yes. Did you tell her that you and your friends brought me there?”
She met Jarrett’s gaze. Her heart sped up and the monitor showed it. “So, I guess we’re stuck with each other for a while.”
THE next day, Mia arrived home the same way she’d left. In Jarrett’s car. He pulled into a parking spot at the front of the building. There were two heating-and-air-condi-tioning-repair trucks there, along with several uniformed workers.
“Looks like we’ll have heat soon,” she said.
Jarrett turned off the engine and glanced out the windshield. “It’s just in time. There’s a snowstorm coming in tonight.” He looked at her. “Soon you’ll be tucked into your warm bed. But be warned, Nola is heading a welcome-home committee.”
“Oh, I don’t want them to go to any trouble.”
“I doubt they think you’re any trouble. Too bad she and her group don’t run this town. A lot more would get done.” He climbed out of the SUV and walked around to her side.
He pulled open the door and the cold air hit her. She shivered as she tried to climb out, but he wouldn’t let her.
“Remember what the doctor said? Bed rest.”
“I will as soon as I get to my apartment.”
“No, as soon as I get you to your apartment.” He scooped her up into his arms.
“Please, you can’t carry me all the way upstairs.”
“Of course not. Once I get you inside, Joe’s going to take over.”
She made a face at him. “Very funny.”
Mia refused to admit she liked being taken care of by a big, strong man whose mere presence made her aware she was a woman. The way he smelled, his rock-solid chest and arms. She bit back a groan. Hormones. It was all just hormones.
She had to think of Jarrett McKane as the man who would be kicking them all out of their homes in a few months. Nothing more.
Sylvia held open the door to the building so they could come in. “Welcome home, Mia.”
She got more greetings from a group of tenants waiting in the lobby.
“Thank you everyone. It’s good to be home.”
“Okay, let’s get you upstairs.” Jarrett continued to the stairway to her apartment.
Nola was waiting there and motioned him toward the bedroom. “Bring her in here.”
“No, I can stay out here on the sofa for now.”
Jarrett stopped, then said, “Doctor’s orders are to put you to bed.” He continued through the short hallway and into her room.
Mia blinked as they entered the bedroom. It didn’t look like the same room she’d left yesterday. The dingy walls had been painted a soft buttery yellow. The furniture was rearranged and her bed was adorned with a pastel-patterned quilt.
She turned around and saw the white baby bed that had been Brad and Karen’s last purchase for the baby assembled. It was decorated with yellow-and-green sheets and an animal mobile hung overhead.
Tears flooded her eyes. “Oh, my.”
“Do you like it?” Nola asked. We were going to give you the quilt for Christmas but since you’re going to be spending so much time in bed now, we decided not to wait.” The older woman pulled back the covers so Jarrett could set her down on the snowy-white sheets.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.” She examined the intricate work. “How could you get all this done? I’ve only been gone overnight.”
Nola exchanged a look with Jarrett. “We knew we had to. The scare yesterday made us realize that you’ve been working so hard for us, you put off getting ready for the baby.” She helped Mia take off her shoes and put her feet under the blanket. “So we hope this helps you to stop worrying so much.” She stood back. “And when you’ve rested I’ll show you all the baby clothes we’ve collected.”
Nola walked to a small white dresser. “Joe found this for you. He sanded and painted it last week and Jarrett helped bring it up. Sylvia and I washed all the baby things and put them inside. If you don’t like how we arranged them, you can change it.”
“I’m sure it will be perfect.” Mia clasped her hands together. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” The older woman came to the bed and hugged her. “Just take care of yourself. We love you, Mia. You’re like family.”
“I love you all, too.”
She’d tried for a lot of years not to get too close to people, except for Brad. Starting with her parents. Whenever she’d let people in, they’d ended up hurting her. She looked across the room at Jarrett standing in the doorway. She definitely had to keep this man away.
“Tell everyone thank you.”
“I will,” Nola assured her. “Now, you rest and don’t worry about lunch. Sylvia will be here to fix you something.”
“She doesn’t have to do that.”
Nola raised her hand. “She wants to. We all want to help.” The older woman went out the door, followed by Jarrett. Mia called him back. “Mr. McKane, could I speak to you a moment?”
Frowning, he came toward the bed as Nola left. “Suddenly I’m Mr. McKane again.”
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. It’s better if we don’t become too friendly…given the situation.”
He studied her for a moment. “The situation you are referring to is that you’ve already gotten to stay here until the spring.” He shrugged. “But, hey, I won’t bother you again.”
He turned and walked out. The soft click of the front door let her know she was truly alone. She told herself it was better this way. She couldn’t get any more involved with a man like Jarrett McKane. Not that she had to worry that he’d ever give her a second look.
She rubbed her stomach. All she needed to focus on right now was her baby.
