Free Jamie Hill Triple Threat by Jamie Hill Page A

sleeping on the sofa. So we need to haul over that mattress, and anything else you want from that place.”
    She looked at him. “You can’t sleep here, Jack. What are you, crazy?”
    He smiled. “It’s been said before. But in this case, I don’t think I am. Someone ransacked the apartment next door. Pretty viciously, I might add. You have two of the residents of that apartment under your roof right now. I can’t say for sure that any of you are in danger, but I’m not putting it to a test.”
    “But—” she began, before he raised a finger to her lips.
    “No buts. You can come and stay at my house, or we can all stay here. I’m not leaving you three alone.”
    She looked into his eyes, and then allowed her head to fall forward onto his chest. “Okay,” she agreed. “I’ll trust you to know what’s best in this situation.”
    “Wow, that was easier than I thought,” he admitted.
    She smiled.
    “My house would be bigger.”
    Crystal laughed. “Now you’re pushing your luck. You know how I feel about your house. It’d be like dangling candy in front of a baby, and then yanking it back the next day.” She looked around. “And the baby is left with this.”
    “Okay.” He couldn’t argue with her, and she knew he couldn’t make her any promises. “Then I’m staying. Come with me to get their stuff.”
    She nodded and dried her hands on the dish towel, folding it neatly and setting it on the counter. “Boys, keep watching TV, please. Jack and I are going to get your stuff. We’re sleeping here tonight.”
    “Okay,” Mark didn’t glance up from the TV, but Devon stood up and whispered to Crystal .
    “Don’t forget…you know.”
    She smiled and touched his cheek. “I won’t forget. Watch TV now, okay?”
    He sat back down and Crystal followed Jack into Dave’s apartment. “Holy shit!” She looked around at the mess. Nothing had been left untouched.
    “Don’t forget what?” Jack asked as he made his way through the room.
    “He sleeps with a stuffed bunny.” She looked in the boys’ room and moaned. “God, I hope it’s in here somewhere.”
    “Whoever did this was thorough.”
    “Sons-of-bitches,” Crystal sputtered, and he chuckled.
    “Indeed. Okay, let’s make a pile of stuff to take. I don’t want to have to come back here every day for clothes. Let’s get them all.”
    She looked at him, wondering how many days he figured to be around. Then she kicked herself internally for being so foolish. He was here now. He was helping her in ways she could never repay. She needed to be grateful and accept his help. “I think they have suitcases in the closet.” She found two bags and began stuffing things in them. There’d be time to sort it all out later.
    They'd gathered all the clothes and Jack grabbed the best mattress, lifting it up. “Sheets are cut to hell, but I think this should work.”
    “I’ve actually got more sheets at my place,” she remembered. She lifted their pillows, which were now in shreds. “Guess I can scrounge up a couple pillows.”
    “Three, please.” Jack smiled at her as he hauled the twin mattress to the front room. He went back in the bedroom and sifted through what was left on the floor. “This what we’re looking for?” He held up a stuffed rabbit and Crystal grinned with relief.
    “Thank goodness!” She grabbed the bunny and inspected it. “He doesn’t look any worse for the wear.”
    “Another crisis averted.” Jack slid his arm around her waist. “This room is pretty well shot. They don’t have many toys, do they?”
    “Like, almost none.” She held on to him as they walked out. “Dave brought home a Playstation video game system once, but he had to hock it a couple months later.”
    “Father of the year material, right there,” Jack muttered.
    She stopped in the bathroom to get their toothbrushes and anything else she could locate. The harsh black marker on the mirror surprised her. “Where is it?” she read aloud.