Infamous Love: A Mountain Haven Novel

by Lea Coll

  Gray

  Something warm and tingly skidded over my skin when Elle said she wanted to help. Even if the thought of seeing her more often was appealing, nothing would come from it. At some point, she’d want to know more about my family. She wouldn’t like what I had to say.

  I hadn’t let anyone in since my high school girlfriend, Aubrey, dumped me. We were high school sweethearts. We had plans to go to the same college, continue dating, maybe get married eventually. She’d walked away as if I meant nothing to her. It wasn’t even that she walked away from our relationship. She’d walked away from me. I’d careened from having a support system to weathering the storm alone. There was speculation and gossip, and no one on my side.

  With maturity, I could see the odds were against us having a long-term relationship. We were so young. We had no idea what life would bring us or how we’d react to it. I couldn’t blame her. Her parents saw me as a criminal, an extension of my father. No one wanted their teenage daughter embroiled in controversy.

  Elle wanted to help because she needed the same thing I did: respect from the community. She hadn’t expressed any interest in me as a man, even if I felt like a live wire being near her, sparking and crackling; feeling more alive than I’d felt in a long time. Spending time with her was the only break I had from the monotony of my life. One I hadn’t realized I needed until she showed up in my exam room.

  I’d accept any help she was willing to offer because I needed her. I’d seen how Elle was at her shop. Maybe she could teach me how to be warmer, more understanding with my clients.

  If I wanted the clinic, I needed to step outside my comfort zone. I needed to be different than how I’d been in the past.

  Between appointments that afternoon, I called my contacts at the rescues to outline my plans, getting an idea of how much room they might need for boarding, their budgets for medical costs, and their plans for intake. Most of the rescues were excited at the prospect of taking in more dogs from shelters they normally had to turn away because they didn’t have any room for them.

  It sounded like the older dogs with increased health issues were overlooked more often than not. If we could raise some funds, maybe we could help with some of those costs.

  Then I called a contractor to discuss expansion costs, emailing my proposal to Ed in between my appointments for the day. Thankfully, there were no emergencies that got in my way.

  At the end of the day, I ran a hand through my hair. The next project I’d tackle would be the mobile clinic. I’d need to call other vets who had the same service to inquire about cost and feasibility. That one might be a long-term project. It never hurt to have a business plan ready. It would show Ed I was serious about my plans for the clinic. I was serious about this community.

  I ignored the nagging thought that he wanted to see me settled with a girlfriend when a home was more permanent. You couldn’t just abandon or walk away from a home.

  My phone buzzed with a text from Elle. My heart rate picked up. I’d programmed her in my phone the first time I called her, not as a client or Elle Carmichael, but Elle. No other description was necessary.

  Elle: Why don’t you have a pet?

  I leaned back in my chair. I tried to remember the guy I’d been when I was dating Aubrey. I was less serious, more easygoing.

  Gray: Why would you think I don’t? Maybe I’ve gotten one since we talked last.

  I could almost envision the narrowing of her eyes as she read my message.

  Elle: So, you do have a pet?

  I chuckled.

  Gray: I didn’t say that.

  Elle: Has anyone ever told you how infuriating you are?

  Avoiding questions was a specialty of mine. Right now, I was enjoying this playful banter with a woman.

  Gray: All the time.

  My phone rang with an incoming video call from her. Glancing at the clock, it was seven. The staff had left for the day. Ed had said goodbye on his way out, thirty minutes ago, warning me not to work too late. I wondered what Elle would think of me still being at work. Would she tell me I needed to get a life? Why did it bother me what she thought? I answered after the fifth ring. “Hey.”

  My eyes were busy scanning the screen, soaking in everything about her. She was in a kitchen, maybe her apartment, bustling around. Was she was cooking or baking?

  “Are you at home?” I asked the same moment she asked, “Are you still at work?”

  We both laughed.

  “Yes, I’m at work. I was working on my proposal for the new kennels, researching the possibility of the mobile vet clinic.”

  “I’m impressed. You work fast.”

  I was excited about my plans, eager to get started on them. Lately, I felt like I had nothing to go home to. That had never bothered me before. Consistency and routine made me feel safe in the past. Now it felt lonely.

  “If you had a dog, you wouldn’t be working so late. It would make you more approachable.”

  She picked up the phone, dropping to her knees as Crew filled the screen. He was wiggly, nudging the phone with his nose, his soft snuffling noises coming through the line.

  What would it be like to come home to Elle and Crew?

  “See, wouldn’t a soft, cuddly guy be a nice addition to your cold, sterile office?”

  I cleared my throat as she stood, her face filling the screen. Her face was devoid of makeup, her hair up in a messy ponytail, an old sweatshirt falling off one shoulder. She was relaxed, casual, sexy. “Um, yeah. That would be better.”

  My voice cracked. I wasn’t even sure what the question was, I just knew everything was better with her.

  Her face lit up, triumphant from my answer. “See. I told you. You should get a puppy.”

  My brain scrambled to keep up. “I’m sorry, what?”

  “You should get a puppy. How do you think it looks that the town vet doesn’t have any pets?”

  She leaned a hip on the counter, taking a sip of what looked like red wine. “It’s weird, am I right? I looked at your website. Ed has a ton of animals, including chickens and goats.”

  “He lives on a farm. I live in a small apartment.” The excuse sounded weak.

  “But why?” Her nose scrunched adorably as she set the phone on the counter, propped against something as she gathered ingredients and mixing bowls. When she leaned down to get something from under the counter, I caught a glimpse of the top of her breasts.

  I swallowed over the sudden dryness. “Why what?”

  She straightened, her eyes narrowing on me. “Are you paying attention to me?”

  “Yes.” I was paying very close attention―to her expression and the way her body moved. Blood pumped through my body. I wanted more.

  “I asked why you live in an apartment. It seems like the easiest solution to your problems with Ed would be to buy a house and get a pet or two, be domestic.” She waved a hand at me as if she were exasperated.

  The thought made it difficult to draw in a deep breath. What if there was a fire, what if I couldn’t afford to pay the mortgage, what if the dog got out? I couldn’t handle those unknowns. “It’s better this way.”

  She’d dumped some ingredients into a bowl. “It’s not.”

  “What are you making?”

  She smiled. “Cookies.”

  “Is there a particular reason why you’re making cookies?” Why was she calling me when she was making cookies? Was she planning to invite me over for a taste test? Desire shot through me thinking about eating cookie dough off her skin.

  She winked at me. “I had a craving for them.”

  Her wink was like a lightning bolt to my heart. “You know you could pick up pastries at Baked in Telluride.”

  She put her finger in the batter, sucking it off before looking at me. “What would be the fun in that?”

  My dick twitched. My eyes fixated on her lips. I had this sudden urge to be with her. I’d wrap my arms around her from behind, kissing her bare shoulder while she pushed her ass against my
crotch. I could practically feel the warmth of her body pressed against mine.

  Her head tilted slightly, her gaze focused on me. “Are you okay?”

  I shifted, adjusting myself in my pants. Why had she called to torture me, sucking batter from her finger, leaning over so I got a glimpse of her breasts?

  “I’m fine. Why were you calling again?” I desperately wanted my mind off getting her naked.

  She turned her attention to mixing the batter. “I said I’d help you.”

  “I thought you were helping me with the rescue.”

  “No. I want to help you.” She emphasized the word you.

  “Why?” An unfamiliar sensation trickled down my spine. No one offered to help me. Not even Henry tried. I liked to think I exuded confidence.

  She braced her hands on the counter, looking directly into my eyes. “Because I like you, Gray Stanton. I think you deserve that clinic. I think you’re a great addition to the community. I want everyone to see what I do.”

  Overwhelmed with emotion I wasn’t used to feeling, I struggled with how to respond. No one had ever said something so nice about me, not since I was a kid. Why was she so focused on saving me? “What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Don’t you think the community deserves to know you?”

  Something cold passed over her face before she ducked her head as if looking for something.

  She was avoiding me. “Are you going to answer?’

  She finally lifted her head, her face pinched. “We’re talking about you, not me.”

  “You want the same things I want, remember? Maybe we can help each other.” I could introduce her to people, help her make friends. The problem was, making friends hadn’t been my specialty since I’ve moved here.

  “What you’re saying is, you’re going to vouch for me?”

  I smirked, my rusty flirting skills coming back to me. “Are you worth vouching for?”

  Something flashed in her eyes. “You don’t have to do that. I think my association with you, especially after we rehab your image, will be enough.”

  I wanted to ask why she didn’t think the community should like her. Ed was impressed in the few minutes he talked to her. Maybe she had low self-esteem, even though it didn’t seem plausible. She was a hard worker. She was brave to start her own business in a new town, knowing no one.

  I’d let her think she was helping me while I tried to figure out what her deal was. I’d let her off the hook for now. “What kind of cookies are you baking?”

  Her shoulders lowered, the muscles in her neck relaxed. “Chocolate chip.”

  She spooned the batter into balls on a cookie sheet.

  My stomach rumbled. I hadn’t eaten since lunch with her. I wanted to be with her, caressing her skin with my fingers, kissing her neck while the smell of freshly baked cookies surrounded us. I could almost hear the hitch of her breath, the soft moan, her arch into me. I wanted her to invite me over with an intensity I hadn’t ever felt for a woman. “I want some.”

  Her cheeks flushed. Whether it was from our conversation or the heat of her oven, I wasn’t sure. “I can bring you a few, tomorrow.”

  I grunted in acknowledgment. I wanted to be in her kitchen sucking the dough off her fingers.

  “I’ll save you some. I promise.” She looked at me, her brown eyes flashing with humor.

  I wanted to ask her if she could teach me how to bake. I wanted any reason to be in the same room with her. My attraction for her was reeling out of control. She didn’t even know. How was I going to control my overactive imagination when it came to her?

  She picked up the cookie tray, bending over to put it in the oven. I had an up-close shot of her ass in tight as hell pants.

  She didn’t seem like any LA girl I’d envisioned. She was laid back, low-key, and casual. Down to earth—that’s what I’d thought when we’d met.

  “Hopefully they turn out. I’ve never baked without help before.”

  “You baked with your nanny, right?”

  “She did if we begged her. She cooked because she had to. The extra stuff, being our stand-in mother, wasn’t in her job description.” Her tone was bitter.

  My heart twinged at the thought that she’d wanted her nanny to be her mother. As much as I felt like I got the short end of the stick with my parents, they’d been relatively normal for a divorced couple, until my dad was arrested. After that, everything spun off the rails. The only way I could right myself was to get out of there, move as far away as I could.

  She smiled wryly. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I was a spoiled rich girl who had too much time and money on her hands.”

  “I didn’t say that.” Why did she think so little of herself? Had someone described her that way? Nothing about her shouted spoiled rich girl. Maybe independent and lonely. Beautiful and intriguing.

  She shot me a pointed look. “You were thinking it.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  She cocked her head. “You don’t know me.”

  Her voice was so quiet, I almost couldn’t hear her. I didn’t press for answers because she didn’t know me either. Maybe we’re drawn to each other because we saw something similar in each other. A desire to be someone different, to hide where we came from.

  “I intend to.”

  Her lips pursed.

  “I can’t wait to taste your cookies.” My face heated, imagining being between her legs, devouring her while the smell of freshly baked cookies hung in the air. I had this strong, overwhelming feeling of contentment. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound like an asshole just now.”

  To my surprise, she burst out laughing. “I knew what you meant. The look on your face was worth everything. You’re so uptight. I like loosening you up.”

  “How do you propose to do that?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, a smirk on her face. “Have you ever snowboarded?”

  I paused for a few seconds, surprised by her sudden change in subject. My mind was warm and fuzzy, filled with visions of her soft skin and the smell of cookie dough. “No.”

  “Skied?”

  “Not since I was a kid.”

  “Why not?”

  My throat dry, a persistent tic caused me to cough. Reaching for my water, the cool liquid soothed my throat. I carefully considered how much to tell her. “It was something I did with my dad.”

  She didn’t ask any follow-up questions, like why can’t you ski with your dad anymore? Relief flowed through me. She must have sensed I wouldn’t respond. “Let’s go snowboarding.”

  “How is this helping me get the clinic?”

  “Trust me, it is. You need to loosen up.”

  I clenched my teeth. “I don’t know.”

  “Do you trust me?” Her expression was innocent. She’d picked up the phone, holding it so close I could see the freckles on her nose and the blue of her eyes. She was real. Going on this outing with her would be allowing myself a luxury, a connection with someone. My fingers flexed with the desire to grab onto her, never letting go.

  “I do.”

  “Perfect. Let me know your next day off so we can plan something.”

  “Sunday.” Elle Carmichael wasn’t like anyone I’d ever met. She was in a league all her own. She should have been sophisticated, but she wasn’t.

  “I have obedience class with Crew, but I can miss one, right? You could probably teach me independently.”

  I’d only taught the first class. The instructor had returned for the second one. I almost wished he hadn’t so I could spend every Sunday with Elle. I couldn’t wrap my mind around her wanting to invite me to go snowboarding, seeking me out, wanting to spend time with me. She knew nothing about me, not the stuff that mattered.

  I wasn’t going to turn her away though. I was going to ride out this thing between us, seeing where it went. For the first time, I was going to do what I wanted, no matter the consequences.

  The timer beeped on her microwave. She leaned over agai
n to pull the cookie sheet out of the oven. Her nose scrunched adorably. “A little overcooked. I’ll have to reduce the time on the next batch.”

  I wanted to say, I wish I was with you. I’d boost you up on the counter while we were waiting for them to cook, music playing softly in the background while I explored your mouth. I’d take my time, my hands cradling your face, drawing out the anticipation while I stepped between your legs.

  “I’m going to throw in another batch. I’ll talk to you later?”

  I blinked, the vision evaporating into thin air. “Oh, yeah. Sure.”

  She hung up then. I looked around my office feeling alone, bereft. I wanted her. It was more than wanting a one-night stand or no-strings sex. This was Elle: unique, beautiful, and with a hint of vulnerability underneath the brave.

  If I pursued something with her, it would mean something. I hoped I was ready for that.

  Chapter 12

  Elle

  Who knew baking could be so hot? I felt the intensity of Gray’s gaze as he watched my every move. After I leaned over to put the cookies in the oven, his eyes darkened. I wondered if he was thinking naughty thoughts about me. I might have spiced things up by sucking cookie dough off my finger, but I couldn’t have anticipated his reaction. He’d leaned forward, every muscle in his body tense. It was like he was lost in a fantasy in his head. I’d never felt more desired.

  I had to get off the phone before I said or did something completely out of character, like ask him if he wanted to come over to eat cookie dough off my body.

  The more time I spent with Gray, the more I wanted to indulge. I wanted all that intensity focused on me. Somehow, I knew he’d be hot in bed. Nothing like the boys I’d dated before, the hangers-on to the show who wanted to say they’d been with me, trying to stir up shit so they could be part of filming. I’d acted like it didn’t matter even though it hurt to be treated like a trophy then tossed away for something better.

  The second batch of cookies came out gooey. I took a bite of the sugary goodness just as my phone buzzed with a text from Gray.

  Gray: Good night. I’m looking forward to snowboarding on Sunday.