“That, uh, that belongs to Brady. My friend. Brady.” Elli hazarded a glance at her father, who stopped wiggling the door and frowned. He looked decidedly unhappy about her friend Brady.
“Who?” her mother asked, but then her eyes went past Elliott and focused on the tall, fit, drop-dead-gorgeous man strolling out of the kitchen.
“Brady Hutchins, ma’am.” He extended a hand in greeting to each of her parents. “Elli and I have been friends since she moved here.”
“Visiting. I’m visiting,” Elli rephrased. She turned to her mother. “I wasn’t expecting you. At all.”
“Your father wanted to surprise you.”
Or check in on me, Elli thought. That was one of the reasons why she’d been eager to move in with Neil. Her dad had hawk eyes when it came to her. While his version of smothering was nothing like Neil’s control, neither were ideal.
“We didn’t expect you to have company.” Her dad’s frown deepened when his gaze landed on her houseguest. “What’d you say your name was?”
“Brady Hutchins.”
“He’s a police officer here in the Cove,” Elli added, not sure if that would ease her father’s concern, but it couldn’t hurt.
“I knew your face rang a bell,” her mother said, all smile. “Hope you’re not in trouble, Elliott. Did he put you in handcuffs yet?”
Aaaand Elli’s mind went just where it shouldn’t while her parents were in the room. Brady’s laugh told her that his was in the same place.
“She hasn’t required restraining yet,” Brady said. Elli’s mom giggled, and her dad grumbled something about grabbing the bags from the car before he vanished outside.
“I’ll get out of here and let you visit.” Brady dipped his chin at her mom. “Good to meet you.”
“But your coffee,” Elli said, not wanting him to leave now that her parents knew about him. Uncomfortable questions were sure to follow once he left.
“Do you like coffee, Mrs. McKinley?”
“Are you kidding? Coffee’s my blood type.”
“Well, you’re welcome to mine. I have to pick up Lila. My dog,” he explained.
“We didn’t mean to run you off,” Elli’s mom told him.
“It’s all right. I was here long enough to deliver. Wasn’t I, Elli Bean?”
“Yes.” Elli’s cheeks flamed red. “You were.”
“I’ll help myself to the coffee.” Her mom bustled into the kitchen.
“Don’t look now, beautiful,” Brady murmured into Elli’s ear, “but the condom wrapper’s on the floor by the sink. I don’t think she’s seen it yet.”
“Oh, great.”
“Elli Bean. Breathe.” His low tone drew her in. He pressed a kiss onto her lips. A long, lingering kiss. The sort of kiss she didn’t want her dad to witness. But of course, he witnessed it.
“Sir, good to meet you,” Brady said smoothly. All confidence, this one. Where had he acquired so much of it?
“One of the reasons we came to see you,” her father said, ignoring Brady completely, “was to help lighten the load around the house so you could focus on job hunting.”
“I have a job, Dad.” Her smile was shaky.
“A real job.” Her father faced Brady. “I put in a good word for her where I work. There’s no guarantee, but she’s more than qualified.”
“If that’s what she wants.” Brady glanced at her meaningfully. He might’ve thought the gesture small—reminding her that she had a choice—but to her, it was huge.
Her father, unimpressed, grunted as he shuffled up the stairs with the bags.
“Hang in there, Bean,” Brady told her.
“Easy for you to say,” she joked. She shut the front door behind him and then dashed into the kitchen to retrieve the condom wrapper she prayed her mother hadn’t spotted yet.
“He’s terribly good-looking,” her mom was saying as she poured creamer into what was meant to be Brady’s cup of coffee. “And a police officer.”
“In our house. Acting awfully familiar with our daughter,” her father growled. He was making his own pot of coffee while Elli drank the latte Brady brought for her.
“I think it’s great that Elli’s met a nice man,” her mom said in her defense.
She doubted by “nice man” her mom meant a guy who’d stripped Elli down and sexed her up in the middle of her parents’ vacation home, but whatever.
“Look how happy she is.” Her mom said to her dad.
Elli hid her smile against the edge of the cup. “Why don’t I make breakfast?”
“Do you have bacon?” Her dad’s mood brightened.
“With your cholesterol, Desmond? No,” her mother said.
“I have vegetarian sausage, and I promise it’s really good.” Elli laid a consoling palm on her father’s shoulder.
He muttered a surly, “We’ll see,” as she moved to the fridge for eggs and pig-free sausage.
“How long are you visiting?”
“We thought a week or maybe two.” Her mom stood to help with breakfast prep. “We didn’t want you to be lonely, but we didn’t mean to intrude.”
Elliott nearly laughed. Her parents had totally meant to intrude.
“It’s your house, Mom. You’re paying the bills.” Even though their arrival felt like an intrusion, she couldn’t ask them to leave. “Remember, I have a summer job here, so I might not be home much.” Even less if her parents were staying.
“That’s not a real job. You can’t live on what you make at a coffee shop,” her father argued.
“Jo pays really well, actually,” Elli defended. “I like making my own money. I didn’t want to rely on your credit card the whole time I was here, even though it was a nice gesture,” she added graciously.
“Tom at the office said—”
“Dear,” her mother warned, “we have all week for that.”
Elli sighed. She knew her dad meant well. He wanted her to be successful and happy. But she hadn’t expected to enjoy her job at Jo’s so much. Hell, she hadn’t expected to enjoy Evergreen Cove so much.
That, like everything else going right, had a lot to do with Brady Hutchins. He seemed to be a big part of her happiness lately.
Chapter 16
Lou invited Elliott to girls’ night on the same Saturday Elli’s parents packed up to leave for home.
Just one week later, their departure hadn’t come a day too soon. Elli was running out of excuses not to be in the house. There was no way she was inviting Brady over with her parents hovering. She had managed to slip out and spend a few hours at his place one evening. He’d baked lasagna, which was delicious. The sex, as usual, had been even more delicious.
She’d settled in easily over the last month. Waking up to a view of the lake and enjoying her morning coffee on the deck had become a habit she wasn’t looking forward to leaving behind.
Brady was another element she wasn’t looking forward to leaving behind.
On Lou’s deck, a glass of white wine warming in her hand, Elli thought about leaving Evergreen Cove, her new friends, her job at Jo’s, and her amazing view. She loved Chicago. Loved the city vibes and the energy. But there was a different energy here—almost dreamlike. Sometimes she felt like she was on vacation, other times in suspended reality…
“Earth to Elliott.” Lou waggled a half-full wine bottle in front of Elli’s face. “Are you going to drink that wine or cradle it to your bosom all night?”
Elli swallowed the end of her wine and handed over the glass.
Lou, her friends May and Lisa, and Elli were seated on Lou’s upstairs deck enjoying the sunset. They’d already enjoyed cheese and crackers, and Devil Dogs from Sugar Hi Bakery. They’d also discussed Lou’s ex-husband, Liam. He’d cheated on Lou, which made Elli’s heart break for her new friend. May mentioned Ant, Liam’s former best friend, with a curl of her lip. According to Lou, Ant knew about the betrayal before Lou. That explained the bad blood between those two.
True to form, Lou had quickly diver
ted the subject and refilled her wineglass. Since then, they’d been chatting about fashion and the shoes Lisa purchased at Cobbler’s Cove. Elli hadn’t had a girls’ night in so long she was almost overwhelmed. Which might be why she’d zoned out, lost in her own thoughts.
“Is it new?” May asked as she topped off her own wineglass. From her ruby-red painted lips and puff of black curly hair, her bright patterned dress, and thick black eyelashes, May was positively beautiful.
“Is what new?” Elli looked down at her sandals, assuming they were still talking about shoes.
“Not your wardrobe.” May gave Elliott a playful nudge. “The man on your mind.”
“How did you—”
“Please, honey.” May clucked her tongue. “Only one thing will make you gaze wistfully off into the sunset. Must be new. When they’ve been around a while, we bitch about them.”
Elliott laughed at the truth in that statement. Both May and Lisa had offered up tales of their exes in camaraderie when Lou had mentioned Liam. Elli had remained silent, not wanting talk of Neil to ruin her evening.
“You know her guy,” Lou told May. “We all do. It’s Brady.”
“Hutchins? Oh, girl!” May elbowed Lisa. “Did you hear that? Her and the hot cop. Good for you, Elliott.” May tapped her glass against Elliott’s.
Lisa swept a lock of glossy brown hair behind her ear. Blue eyes wide with interest, she asked Elliott, “How long?”
“Are you inquiring about his package or the amount of time they’ve been seeing each other?” Lou asked with a raucous laugh.
“Both.” Lisa dissolved next to her.
“Mercy, I can tell they’re a glass ahead of us.” May’s bronze skin was practically aglow in the pink and purple sunset behind her. “So things are good?”
“I guess so. We’re seeing each other while I’m in town, which probably won’t be much longer.” Her parents’ visit had been a wake-up call. Elli needed to get her shit together. She couldn’t stay in limbo and pretend Vacationland was her life. She needed her own place. An office job—not where her dad worked. She needed to rebuild the life Neil had stolen from her.
“That sucks.” Lisa was suddenly serious. “I was hoping we could have girls’ night a few more times while you’re here.” She pouted at Lou, “I like her.”
Lou gave Elli a sad smile. “I like her, too.”
“I like you all,” Elli said honestly. “But like May said, Brady and I are new. It’s bound to go south.” Good things didn’t last, if they ever showed up. Elli was in the honeymoon phase of Evergreen Cove. “Besides, Chicago awaits. I have a business degree gathering dust. I need to find somewhere to live that isn’t my parents’ vacation house where they can come over whenever they like.”
“Oof. Say no more.” Lisa held up a hand in solidarity.
It was probably past time to end things with Brady. They’d had a good run, one that seemed to be getting better and better. But why wait for the demise of the relationship when she could end it on a high note? It was time to stop pretending he was a permanent fixture.
“I haven’t had a girls’ night in forever, and I don’t want to waste it.” Elli was here to have fun, not sing her own swan song. She drained her second glass of wine and offered her empty glass to Lou. “Fill ’er up.”
“That’s my girl,” Lou said approvingly before topping off the glass.
By the time Brady picked up Lila and drove to Elliott’s house, it was well past midnight. He knocked on her front door. No answer. Then he heard the hoots of laughter coming from the direction of Lou’s house. Sounded like girls’ night had gone longer than Elli had anticipated. That made him smile.
He led his dog through the side yard, happy for Elliott. She’d been in a bad situation and had made friends in the short time she’d been here. He counted himself on that list. Their friendship came with perks he would miss when she was gone.
He had plenty to do in her absence, though, he argued to himself. His grandfather was a handful. He had Lila to look after. Plus, he’d been considering pursuing a detective position at work. That left little time for the “wife and kids” Elliott had once asked him about. If he wanted career advancement beyond being a beat cop, he had to have his head in the game.
“The countertop!” He heard as he rounded the backyard. He craned his head to the upper deck and spotted Lou’s friends, May and Lisa. Lou was out of sight, but he heard her comment that kitchen sex was difficult.
What came next made his night.
“Not with Brady,” Elli said. The girls applauded before offering their congratulations, and he pulled his shoulders back with pride.
Lila, enthusiastic about the excitement above her, broke through the girls’ laughter with a sharp bark. Elliott’s face peeked over the railing a second later.
“Sorry to interrupt!” He waved.
“You are not,” May accused with a headshake.
“Hi, May. Lisa.” He grinned cockily. Hard not to be cocky when he was the subject of Elli’s praise. “You’re right. I’m not. I can listen in some more if Elliott would like to continue bragging about me.”
Lou’s head appeared next. “You’re so full of shit.”
“Love you, too, Lou.”
“I was about to leave anyway.” Elli’s smile was mischievous, if a little wonky. She’d probably enjoyed her fair share of wine tonight. He was glad she’d allowed herself to unwind. “Be right down.”
Hand on the railing, Elli trotted down the steps as May, Lisa, and Lou leaned over the railing to watch. Each of them offered some version of, “Take care of our girl, Hutch!”
“They’re drunk,” Elli said with a wave of her hand. “I mean, I am, too, but only a little. Sorry you had to hear that.”
“Don’t be,” Brady said.
Elliott bent to nuzzle Lila. “Aren’t you so cute! I love dogs. I couldn’t have one before. Neil didn’t like pet hair. But you’re probably too good of a girl to shed, aren’t you?”
Lila wagged her tail, pushing against Elli and almost knocking her over. Elli scratched Lila’s flank and murmured to the dog some more.
Despite the adorable scene of his girls getting along, he gritted his teeth the way he did whenever Elli mentioned her ex. In his line of work, he came across men who abused their power in relationships. It never failed to piss him off. Hell, Lila’s former owner had been one of them.
“Come on, Lila.” Elli’s tone turned somber as she walked to the patio and let herself in to the house. No kiss for him, evidently.
Inside the house, he unhooked the leash. Lila glued her nose to the floor and began blazing a trail.
“She’s house-trained,” he said when Lila disappeared around the corner. “Just nosy.”
“She’s a great dog.”
Again, he thought how Elli sounded sad. “You okay?”
“I’m going to miss girls’ night.” At the sink, she filled a glass with water. “Want anything? I have water. Beer. Wine?”
“I’m good, thanks. What do you mean, you’ll miss girls’ night? You’re not gone yet.” Lila wandered by, her nose still on the ground.
“Yeah, but…” Elli ran a fingernail along the edge of the countertop, not meeting his eyes, “I’m leaving soon.”
“Soon?” News to him. “I thought you were staying another month.”
“Well, I need somewhere to go when I leave, don’t I?” she asked a tad defensively. “I’ve been job hunting this week. Once I find a job, I can find an apartment close to work. I like the idea of living in the city. I love Chicago.”
He’d known from the beginning she would be leaving, but he hadn’t expected her to leave this soon. Or maybe what he hadn’t expected was for six weeks to zip by so quickly. And he definitely hadn’t expected to like her as much as he did.
Elli bent and addressed the dog, “Can you sit?”
Lila put her butt on the floor, tail wagging.
“Good girl!” Elli looked at Brady. “What else can she do?”
“Tell her to put ’em up.” He pointed his finger like a gun.
Elliott mimicked the gesture and repeated the command. Lila pushed to her back legs and stuck both front paws in the air. Elli’s laugh carved into his chest like a knife.
He wasn’t ready for her to leave. Now wasn’t a good time for that conversation, but hell, when would be a good time? “Were you planning on telling me you were job hunting?”
She blinked at him, looking scarily sober. “Why’s it matter? I’m sure there are plenty of women who’ll gladly fill my shoes.”
Anger spiked his adrenaline, which shot down his arms in twin lightning streaks. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
She busied herself by filling a teakettle with water. “May and Lisa think you’re hot. I’m sure finding a woman to warm your bed won’t take long after I’m gone.”
“You think that’s what you are to me, Elliott?” Still pissed, his voice was louder than he intended. “A bed-warmer?”
Her shrug was weak, her eyes tired. “I don’t know.”
“Let me enlighten you.” He stalked over and gently gripped her biceps. He needed her to hear him. She tilted her head back to look up at him, and he was floored by the vulnerability evident in her wide, brown eyes. She’d seen pain in her recent past. She’d been kept down, marginalized. Controlled. She believed she meant nothing to the asshole that had trapped her in a relationship before. Brady would be damned if he let her believe he could shrug her off as easily.
“You weren’t supposed to mean as much as you do, Elli Bean,” he said softly. Her eyelashes fluttered, but her gaze held his. “I’d never stop you from pursuing the life you want. Never. You deserve to run down your dreams the way I ran down mine. But you’re not walking away from the Cove—or me—without me giving you a few reasons to stay.”
Chapter 17
Fear trickled into Elliott’s stomach as she looked up at Brady. Big, strong, handsome, safe, fun, sexy Brady. She wasn’t scared of the way he stood over her, but she was terrified of what he was implying.
Bad Boy Blues (Evergreen Cove Book 1) Page 8
