hadn’t had the energy for small talk or any talk. She’d just wanted to curl under the covers and sleep.
“Thank you, Ms. James,” she said, putting her hand on top of the other woman’s. “I didn’t realize you were Brody’s aunt.”
“Oh, I’m not. But he’s friends with my nephews, so I’ve known him since he was a boy. My real name is Cassie.” She offered Elle an impish grin. “But hardly anyone calls me that anymore. My nephews started calling me Aunt Sassy when they were little, and it seems half the town picked up on it, and now they all call me Sassy. I kind of like it. It suits me.”
It did. The older woman definitely carried a sassy vibe.
A light breeze picked up, carrying the scent of smoke through the air, and another shiver ran through Elle.
“You must be freezing,” Sassy said, reaching to take off her coat. “Here, honey, take my jacket.”
“No, I couldn’t.”
“Oh, don’t worry. It’s not real fur.”
Elle laughed—a real laugh that surprised even her as it burst from her lips. She didn’t do spontaneous laughter much anymore. She shook her head, trying to imagine what kind of animal would have a hot-pink coat. “Okay.” She agreed and let the woman drape the jacket over her shoulders. The fake pink fur tickled her neck, but it was warm and cut the chill of the Colorado night air.
“There’s not much we can do now but wait,” Sassy told her. “Would you like to come over to my house? I could make you a cup of tea. Or a lasagna if you’re hungry.”
Elle laughed again but tears pricked her eyes at the woman’s generosity. “Thank you. You’re very sweet. I’m ashamed I haven’t accepted your offer to stop by sooner.”
“It’s okay, honey. Everyone grieves in their own way. And until someone has gone through a loss like that, they won’t understand.”
Elle peered at the woman’s face. Sassy’s eyes, soft and kind as she nodded, displayed a kind of compassion that only another survivor of deep loss could convey.
Sassy cut off any further discussion of the topic by pointing toward the house. “Here comes Brody.”
The tall cowboy crossed the lawn, Elle’s purse and a pair of her sandals clutched in his hands.
“I’m not sure that purse matches your outfit,” she teased.
He grinned and held her charcoal-colored designer bag up to his soot-covered shirt. “Shoot. I thought these grays went together.” He passed her the items. “I saw these by the front door and figured you could use them. I found your phone and put it in there too.”
“Yes. Thank you.” Her feet had been getting cold standing in the damp grass. She balanced on one foot to put the first sandal on. Brody held out his hand, and she grabbed his forearm to steady herself. Dang, this man had muscles. Even his forearms were hard as rocks.
Stop thinking about the man’s muscles and put the shoe on, she scolded herself. But they were hard to ignore.
“I got the scoop from the fire chief. I went to school with his son and have known their family for years,” Brody told them. “He said he’d let you know when it’s safe, then you can go in the house and get anything else you might need for now. They’ve got the fire out. Most of it’s contained in the kitchen, but it’s a mess of smoke and water damage in there. You’re not gonna be able to stay there tonight.”
“It’s fine. I can stay at the motel,” she said, waving his concern away. In a town the size of Creedence, there was only one.
A grin tugged at the corners of his lips. “Good try. I was at the diner when two of the volunteer firemen got the call. Bryn recognized your address and told me to get my butt over here ASAP. She wanted to come get you herself but still had thirty minutes left of her shift and they were pretty busy. So she sent me. Under threat of bodily harm if I don’t obey, I’m to bring you to her house.” He offered her a coy grin. “I’ve grown quite accustomed to this body and would like to spare it the wrath of Bryn Callahan. So I’d appreciate it if you let me give you a ride out to her place as soon as they release you.”
“I’d better go with you then. I don’t want to be responsible for anything happening to your body.” Elle laughed, despite the surge