She shouldn’t let him take over like this, but it felt good to just nod. “Okay.”

She’d reached her car when Edward and Polly rolled up in their Caddy. Polly got out and rushed over, concern on her face. “Oh, honey! We just heard. Are you all right? Do you need a place to stay? Surely it’s not safe here now.”

Edward had managed to get Polly’s door closed and their car parked before he came over.

“Shane mentioned that you’d had a terrible break-in when we dropped Drew off at his and Cassie’s place.” Edward took her hands, examining her face carefully.

She looked back and forth between Edward and Polly. “Royal has been here with me the whole time. Helped me clean up. The door is replaced and I have a new lock. The landlord also put a new hall light in, this one is a lot brighter.”

“This is just terrible.”

“It is. But I’ll get over it.” She shrugged, and this time Royal put an arm around her shoulders. She shouldn’t have to get over it.

“She’s staying with me for the next weeks.”

Polly beamed at him, and Edward’s brows went up but settled just as quickly. “We were heading back now. I need to wash a lot of clothes, but at least I have them. I was lucky in a lot of ways.”

Edward leaned in and kissed her forehead. He spoke quietly to her for a bit until she nodded, mute, and he took Polly’s hand and stepped back. “We’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. Be careful and let us know if there is one single thing we can do, big or small.” Polly winked at Royal and then turned her attention to Caroline again. “I mean it.”

Caroline nodded. “Of course.” Caro had regained a little color, and for that, he’d be grateful for Polly and Edward coming along right when they did.

Polly’s perceptive gaze took Caroline in from head to toe, and she gave Royal a discreet eyebrow raise that said, take care of this woman. He nodded back.

Bright smile back in place, Polly looked to Edward, who picked up several tote bags and gestured them in Royal’s direction.

“Before you go, I made a little something. Figured you’d appreciate the break from having to cook or go out.”

As heavy as they all were—all four of them—he figured they had enough food to last at least three days.

Caroline hugged Polly one more time, thanking her. They all walked back to Royal’s truck and Caroline’s car and after more hugs and admonishments to rest, they were finally back on the road to Royal’s place.

A little something—Royal discovered as he began to unload all the stuff Polly had brought—meant what appeared to be a meatloaf and also fried chicken along with mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, corn, fresh bread and two pies.

All sorts of comfort food he could hopefully tempt his woman into eating. She’d retreated a little, saying she had to put some boxes away and take her shoes off, but he knew she also needed some time and space to get herself under control again.

Caroline wandered in with bare feet. She looked at the fridge, jammed with food. “Plenty of food for dinner tonight. Who keeps spare fried chicken around?” She shook her head. “I bet she just handed over their dinner. Edward said they’d been to Cassie and Shane’s and that’s where she found out about the break-in. What they didn’t say was that they went back home, she finished up the chicken and potatoes and then brought them over.”

“Probably. She’s sneaky. Come on. You need a bath.” He picked up a bottle of red wine and two glasses, following her to the bathroom where he put it all down and got the bath filling.

She allowed it, even when he pulled her clothes off she was a little withdrawn. Which he had every intention of dealing with once they were a little more relaxed.

“No one is expected here for two hours. We will bathe. We will drink some wine and talk about today. Later, I’ll watch while you put makeup on and do your hair, and then friends will arrive and we’ll have a nice dinner.”

She looked dubious but she got in with a hiss and a groan. She sipped her wine while he got his clothes off and then into the bath, settling behind her with her body between his legs.

“I’m really glad I chose the biggest tub they had in this style.”

“It’s a great tub,” she agreed sleepily.

“So, some f**king crappy day, huh?”

She was quiet a long time, gathering herself. “Most people didn’t know about my father right away. The older I got and the older the people I met got, the less incidents I’d have with people who were hostile and never spoke to me again, or more commonly, distanced themselves slowly but surely after they found out and just disappeared from my life.”

Her gaze sharpened as she came back from her memories.

“It’s a hot button for me. I’m defensive about it.”

He scoffed. “I’m consistently amazed at how well you keep your temper. I’d be flipping tables and punching people. But you manage to say f**k you by just doing whatever you want anyway.”

Pleased at the compliment, she continued. “I’ve met a lot of different types of people over the last fifteen years or so that this has been in my life. Sometimes it’s hostile. Usually it’s curious. Open. I’ve had people yell over me when I was speaking at an event and that sort of thing. But you know before I moved back here, I had a pretty normal life. I had a great job. My coworkers are some of the smartest people I know. I had a fantastic house with a view of downtown Seattle. I had friends. I went out and did stuff.