“What did I tell you? Don’t fight me. I know what’s best.”
“Sure you do,” I mutter.
“Don’t sass me, either. Listen to me. I’m not setting you two up. She’s not ready for that anyway.”
For some reason, I have a hard time believing her.
“I love you, Walker, but I see a lot of me in her. Right now, she needs me and you know what? I kind of need her, too. Do I think you two would be great together? Yes. And so do you, if the look on your face when you see her is anything to go by. But that’s not the point. It’s not what I’m focused on because the break up with that jerk of an ex is too fresh. She doesn’t have anywhere else to go,” she says, her voice dropping to just above a whisper.
“Shit.”
“She needs us,” she repeats quietly. Well, kind of. I apparently have been added to the list of people she needs. I can’t deny that I like the thought of that.
I sigh again, heavier this time so she knows I’m irritated—even though I’m not really. “I’ll be there tomorrow night.”
“Thank you, Walker,” she says quietly.
“Yeah, yeah. See how you’ve beaten me down? I can’t even put up a fight anymore.”
“You can’t see me, but I’m patting myself on the back.”
“I have no doubt. Can I bring anything tomorrow night?” I know the answer to that question before I ask it but it’s rude not to at least ask anyway.
“You’re so sweet to offer, but no. We’ve got it covered.”
Don’t think I didn’t pick up on the we she just used. Not setting us up, my ass.
“See you tomorrow.”
“You will. Come hungry.”
She hangs up before I have the chance to reply. I throw my pickup in reverse and back out to head home for the night.
Brutus greets me when I walk through the door, his tongue hanging out as he wags his short tail.
“Hey, buddy, how was your day?”
He licks my face so I’m pretty sure that’s his way of saying he had a great day of sleeping on the couch and looking out the window. I let him outside to do his business and decide to follow him, grabbing his favorite tennis ball from the bucket of toys I keep by the door.
We play fetch until he’s worn out, proving it by laying down on the grass at my feet, all four legs spread out as he pants. I sit down next to him, stretching out my own legs in front of me. He moves his body so his head is resting on my thigh and I scratch behind his ear.
Brutus moans and looks at me with a happy puppy face.
“Ready for some dinner, Brutus?”
His ears perk up but he doesn’t move. I chuckle and lean down, cupping his chin as I kiss the top of his nose.
We go back inside and I take a quick shower, sliding on a pair of boxers and black basketball shorts. I fill Brutus’s bowl and make myself a BLT before throwing some chips on a plate and grabbing a beer out of the fridge then settling in on the couch.
As soon as Brutus is done eating, he joins me in the living room. I glance down at his hopeful face, begging for a taste of the bacon I fried up.
Our home is quiet. Aside from the sounds of his breathing and the TV, with Grayson not here it almost feels… lonely. Unless Grayson is here, I don’t have anyone to share meals with. To tell about my day or ask about theirs. Most of my friends are now married with children and it has never bothered me before. Dedicating my life to the clinic and Grayson has left me with very little time, or desire, for bringing anyone else in my life. Now, though, I feel like I’ve been missing out on something. Which is weird. I’ve never felt that before.
Damn Polly and her meddling ways.
She’s brilliant in the way she interjects her opinions so that I don’t even realize I’m listening until it’s too late. With her soft words and quiet sniffles… now all I can think about is Ellie and her not having a family waiting for her to come back home. My parents might not be around and we aren’t incredibly close but I know they’d welcome me in their home if I had nowhere else to go.
I lean back on the couch, not really watching the show that’s on the screen before me and lift my bare feet to the coffee table.
I’m used to my thoughts revolving around the vet clinic and making sure Grayson was taken care of. Now all I can think about is a sad woman with bright blue eyes and dark blonde hair.
“Dammit,” I growl.
Abruptly I stand, Brutus glaring at me from his comfortable position on the couch, and grab some socks and tennis shoes. I just need to burn off some of this energy so I head into my garage where I have weights set up. For the next few hours I lift and curl and crunch my way to forgetting the girl who I can’t seem to get out of my head.
Too bad it doesn’t work.
WITH BRUTUS ON MY HEELS, I walk up the steps of the front porch. The front door is open, leaving just the screen door closed. Whatever’s cooking inside has my stomach growling and Brutus excited as he dances around for the invitation to go inspect. I knock three times, even though Miss Polly has told me many times to just come in without knocking.
“Come in,” I hear Miss Polly call happily.
Brutus doesn’t hesitate as soon as I open the door, his target the kitchen and Miss Polly.
“Oh my goodness. Who’s this?”
My steps falter when I see Ellie crouched down on one knee in front of Brutus as he licks all over her face. Frozen in place, I can’t take my eyes off her.
Either he’s in love or she was tasting some of whatever they’re making.
Her giggle bounces around in my head, sending off warning signs. Especially when she tilts her head back just as he attacks her, laying her flat on the floor. She continues laughing and he continues licking and I continue to stare because I’m an idiot and already lusting over a woman who I’ve known for a cumulative four hours. And yes, I’ve actually figured up the time we’ve spent together. Pathetic as that may sound.
Feeling eyes on me, I look up to see, of course, a knowing look aimed in my direction from Miss Polly.
I roll my eyes but it doesn’t faze her. She just spins around to continue working at the counter, her shoulders shaking as she does.
I clear my throat. “Brutus, let Ellie up.”
“Brutus, huh? You look like a Brutus,” she says, playing with his cheeks. He moves to get off her when I snap my fingers and I reach down a hand to help her up off the floor.
Her small hand slides into mine and I pull, her weight a little less than I expected. I tug with a little more force than I intended to and she falls into my arms with an, “Oomph.”
Her head is flat against my chest and I look down, my arms now fully wrapped around her and for some reason, neither of us seem to be moving away from each other.
I bite back a groan at how perfectly she fits—like her body was made for mine. Then another at how cliché that sounded in my head. I’m pretty sure my sister has read that exact thing in almost every single romance book she’s ever read. Every time she would talk about a book or say something about how swoony a hero was when he talked about a tingle occurring at a single touch or bodies fitting together perfectly, I would tell her it was bullshit.
I won’t be admitting that maybe all those books held some level of truth. Fiction or not.
Clearing my throat again, I gently set her upright and take a much-needed step away. “Smells great in here.”
“Ellie made lasagna.”
Of course she did. “My favorite,” I say, eyes on Miss Polly’s back.
She shrugs and looks over her shoulder. “Oh is it? I had forgotten. My memory is slipping in my old age, you know.”
“Mm hmm. I’m sure you did.” The turd. She knows damn good and well it’s my favorite. She’s been making it for my birthday dinner for as long as I can remember for that very reason. I move my eyes to Ellie and ask, “Anything I can do to help?”
“Set the table?”
“Outside or in?”
“Outside! Yes,” Ellie says loud
ly and I look to her, noticing her cheeks slightly pinking. I raise my eyebrows. “Sorry. My excitement level probably sounded a little over the top, huh? I love eating outside.”
“You don’t say?” I tease.
After I get the table set, I come back inside to help bring out the food and drinks. Not surprisingly, Miss Polly arranges us so that I’m in the middle to make sure I’m seated next to Ellie.
It bears repeating, not setting us up, my ass.
Miss Polly places an enormous amount of lasagna on my plate and winks at me. So subtle, that one. I look to Ellie and lift my fork, pointing to the meaty, cheesy goodness I’m about to slice into. “This looks delicious.”
“I hope you like it,” she says, her voice a little shy. She shifts in her seat almost like she’s a little uncomfortable and I wonder if I make her nervous or if it’s just her. I don’t know her well enough to know her signs yet but I do know it feels like there’s an elephant in the room and it’s making everyone sit on edge. Okay, so actually only Ellie and me. Brutus looks perfectly comfortable lounging in the corner and Miss Polly appears incredibly pleased with herself.
I take a bite and immediately gag, covering my mouth with the napkin that was laid on my lap.
“It’s…”
“Oh my gosh! Is it that bad? What did I do wrong?” Ellie stands abruptly from her chair, reaching over to the pan of lasagna, using the spatula to poke at it like that would bring her answers.
Miss Polly’s eyes widen and she looks at her plate, up at me, then takes a small bite herself.
“You’re ridiculous. It’s delicious!” She’s absolutely correct. It is.
Ellie’s blues dart to me and I shrug. “I guess everyone has a different palate.”
She takes a bite herself and reaches over and whacks me on the shoulder. “You brat! I thought you were serious.”
I burst out laughing. “I had to do something to welcome you to the family.”
“Ugh. You’re the worst,” she grumbles with a smile on her face.
I grin and she harrumphs, plopping back down in her chair.
And that, is how the elephant in the room becomes an ant. Because for the rest of our meal, which is the best freaking lasagna I’ve ever tasted, but I wouldn’t dream of saying that in front of Miss Polly’s company, the mood is lighter. We laugh. We eat. We talk and share stories of our childhood.
Well, I tell her stories of my childhood, she asks question after question but it isn’t lost on me that she deflects when I ask about her own. What we also don’t talk about is the day I met Ellie and what brought her here.
But with every smile she aims my way, every twinkle of her eyes and sound of her laughter, it becomes more obvious that I want to know.
“In case you were still questioning my taste buds, that lasagna was amazing,” I tell Ellie, leaning back in my seat.
“I’m glad you think so.”
Miss Polly kicks me under the table and I jerk in my seat. She then shifts her gaze dramatically to Ellie. Obviously, she wants me to get on with the job offer portion of the evening.
“I hear you’re planning to stay around for a bit?”
She smiles and it lights up her entire face. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen her smile so widely since I met her. Even earlier when her smile was the thing that kept me telling stories it wasn’t as bright as it is now. If I thought she was pretty before, I was mistaken. She’s gorgeous.
“I am. I need to take care of a few things back where I used to live, but I’m staying here with Miss Polly. For a while, anyway.”
She doesn’t explain the things she needs to take care of but I assume it has something to do with the owner of the car.
Then… she lifts her left hand and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and all I see is an empty ring finger. I can’t take my eyes off her. I don’t blink. I’m not even sure that I breathe. I simply stare.
Whoever put that ring on her finger is no longer a factor.
Asking her to work for me would be the absolute worst thing I could ever possibly do. I’ve always been pretty stingy with my feelings for other people but it seems that all went out the window when Ellie showed up.
“I have an opening at the vet clinic if you’re looking for work.”
Well, that thought didn’t stick.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Miss Polly sit up taller in her seat.
“Pardon?”
“Right. So, my office manager, Linda, who also works the front desk and basically runs my life, is retiring. Grayson knows how to do some stuff at the clinic, and Willow can help when she’s not at the hospital but I really will need to find a replacement.”
“It sounds like she’d be a hard one to replace.”
“I’m not going to lie, she will be. But I’m not worried. If you’re interested, the job is yours.”
“Don’t you like, need a resume or my background? How do you know I’d be a good fit?”
Shit. She’s right. I know nothing about her.
Aside from the fact that her face consumes my dreams.
“Okay, give me your five minutes.”
“Five minutes?”
“Tell me everything about you I need to know—you’ve got five minutes.”
“Are you joking?”
I smile at her, resisting the urge to reach for her hand. Or tug her into my lap. The urge to touch her, hold her is so strong, like something that I need to do. Make her feel some level of comfort. Or maybe it’s me who needs comforting by her touch. Instead, I lean forward, my knee brushing against hers under the table when I shift. I don’t miss the way she inhales sharply, her chest rising, her pink tongue snakes out to lick her bottom lip and… shit, I’ve been listening to Willow go on and on about the damn books she reads too much.
“Yeah, Ellie. I’m joking. Here’s the deal, though. Polly trusts you and she has the best instincts of anyone I know. As soon as I told her Linda was leaving, she said we should talk. If it makes you feel better, we can start on a trial basis. If you don’t like the work, no hard feelings. I just figured you could use…”
I let my words drift away and squirm in my seat as I watch her body stiffen. I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t finish the words I was about to say.
“I’m not a damn charity case, Walker.”
“I didn’t say…”
“You didn’t have to. I can see it in your eyes. You think I can’t help myself. That I was some kept woman or something.”
“I never said that,” I defend. I have no idea how I got myself into this or how to explain myself out of it.
“First you find me a place to stay and then… I’m not a charity case,” she repeats.
She stands abruptly and starts stacking dishes. The clang of plates clattering against each other provides a shift in the atmosphere. The quiet and calm of the backyard is suddenly loud and tense. Her jaw clenches, heat slowly creeping up her neck.
Reaching out, I place a hand on her forearm and her body stills, focus aimed on where our skin touches.
“I didn’t mean that. I’m so sorry. I don’t think of you as a charity case. Far from it.” She closes her eyes and blows out a breath before slowly lifting her bright blue eyes filled with tears to mine. “Ellie, I was simply trying to help. If you would rather not come in for the job, I won’t be upset. I mean that. I know you can find a job on your own—but I’m in need of someone to fill a suddenly open position. You’d be helping me out.”
She holds my gaze then slowly nods. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have reacted that way. It’s just… I haven’t exactly been myself for the last few years.”
I hold her gaze steadily, feeling like she wants to say more but I won’t push her.
“How about if I come to the clinic tomorrow and we can talk more?”
“Perfect. So it’s a plan.” Miss Polly claps her hands together, scaring Brutus enough that he lifts his head before groaning, stretching and laying back down.
Ellie moves to sit
next to Brutus, resting her back against the side of the house as her legs stretch out in front of her. She giggles at his laziness when he nuzzles the top of his head against her thigh and drapes one of his front legs over her. Between him and Miss Polly, I think they’re already picking out our wedding invitations.
Miss Polly’s next words cement my suspicions.
“Well, kids. This old lady is heading to bed. You two feel free to stay out here for as long as you’d like.”
She moves to start cleaning up the table but I stop her, telling her I’ll take care of it.
Ellie’s head is downturned, looking at Brutus. She scratches behind his ear and he moans. “I don’t think we’ll be moving him any time soon,” she giggles. “Have a good sleep, Miss Polly.”
She pats her on the cheek as she walks by. “You too, honey.”
“Night Polly. Thanks for dinner.”
“Don’t thank me. That was all Ellie.”
The sliding door clicks closed behind her and the air suddenly feels heavy. It’s the first time Ellie and I have been alone together since we met.
How strange that it feels like it’s been years since she joined us in our sleepy town. How she fit so seamlessly into Miss Polly’s home and, unfortunately, my thoughts, is a little unnerving.
“I’ve never worked in a vet clinic before.” Ellie’s melodic voice rings through the still air between us. The moonlight casts a glow over the backyard, lightning bugs blink their yellow lights.
“You seem pretty natural with animals.”
“Something tells me that Brutus doesn’t turn away many people from giving him attention.”
My laugh is low and quiet. “Partially true. But he seems rather taken with you.”
We have that in common, I want to tell her.
“Linda, is that what you said her name is?” She waits for me to respond, I simply nod. “She’s been with you a while?”
“Yes. She was there before I took over the practice, actually. Helps with billing, takes appointments, that type of thing. But she takes good notes on her daily duties. She’s documented everything. But, if you don’t want the job, I promise again, no hard feelings.”
“I think Miss Polly would kick me out of her home if I said no,” she jokes.
All I Need Page 6
