“What? Too short…too bland?” she asked, biting the corner of her mouth.
“No, I love the dress, pooh,” she said, and Ellie smiled lightly at the affectionate nickname her mother had called her from the time she was a child.
“And you’re absolutely stunning in it,” Leandra complimented, but the thoughtful expression remained on her face.
Ellie sighed. “Okay, Mom…so what’s wrong with it?”
“It’s just missing a certain…hmm. I don’t know, baby…a little sexy sexy, maybe?” she asked, tilting her head to the side as she ran a critical gaze over Ellie.
Her mother’s comment brought a sputtering laugh from Ellie. “A what? Sexy sexy… Mom, what are you talking about?”
Leandra moved in front of Ellie, unbuttoned the three pearl buttons on the dress, and to Ellie’s surprise…and embarrassment, reached inside her dress to deftly adjust her bra straps before moving away.
A wicked grin curled the ends of Leandra’s lips, “Now, that’s sexy,” she said clucking her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
“Mom…what are you doing? I can’t go out like this!” Ellie’s hands flew to her bra and her mother tapped the back of her wrists, hard, surprising a yelp from Ellie.
“And why not?”
Ellie blushed, slowly allowing her hands to fall to her sides, looking at herself in the mirror.
The adjustment, although minor, had given her cleavage a serious boost and the tops of her breasts swelled, barely contained behind her bra.
“My girls are too…out there.”
This time it was Leandra who laughed. “And what is wrong with that? If you’ve got it…flaunt it. Nothing wrong with that at all. Your daddy never complains when I do,” she said, smugly, and again a wicked grin split across her face. Ellie looked at her mother in open-mouthed surprise.
“Mom, please…I do not want to even think about Daddy liking your…”
“My sexy?” she said, laughing, obviously enjoying Ellie’s discomfort. “We might be getting up there in age, baby, but that doesn’t mean we don’t—”
“Mom!” Although she didn’t want to think of her parents in that way, Ellie’s lips quirked at her mother’s antics, grateful that she’d managed to, at least for the moment, helped to relieve the nervous knot in her stomach about her date with Shilah.
Leandra leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek.
“You look beautiful, baby. Stop fretting so,” she said, simply. “And Shilah is a lucky man to have someone like you.”
At that, Ellie’s glance flew to meet her mother’s in the mirror. “It’s—it’s only a date, Mom.”
Her mother stared at her, a grin quirking the side of her mouth.
Ellie frowned. “What’s that look for?”
Leandra sighed deeply. “Baby, you’ve been in love with that boy since you were a young girl. And he’s been just as crazy about you. I think it’s more than just ‘a date,’” she said, her answer shocking Ellie.
“What? You don’t think I knew? I’m your mother, baby. Nothing gets past a mommy bear’s watchful eyes,” she said, laughing.
Ellie bit down on her bottom lip. “I don’t know, Mom. He could have his pick of women. I’m just—”
“But you’re the one he’s chosen,” Leandra cut in. “And although I love him like he was my own—I love all the boys—in my opinion he’s the one that got the best end of the bargain,” she said, in motherly righteous indignation, as only a mother would, tugging a grin from Ellie.
“Thanks, Mom,” she said, smiling at her mother’s reflection in the mirror.
“Is this a mother-daughter-only moment, or are fathers allowed in the party?”
“Of course you are,” Ellie said.
Her father strode into the room, to stand near her mother, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as the two of them watched Ellie as she sat on the bed and put her heels on.
Ellie began to feel like a bug under a microscope beneath her parents’ admiring gazes…or better yet, she felt like a teenager again, going out on her first date.
Her mother must have read the expression on her face.
“Baby, why don’t we leave El to finish getting ready by herself…besides, I have this new…dress…I want to show you, that I bought yesterday.”
At that, Ellie caught what could only be termed a wicked gleam enter her father’s eye. As he hustled her mother out of the room, Leandra gave Ellie a wink and blew her a kiss, leaving Ellie to stare after them with her mouth wide-open.
Ever since their getaway weeks ago, the one she’d suggested, her parents had been…acting like kids. Often Ellie would find them exchanging small kisses when they thought she wasn’t around, and more than once her father had not so subtly asked her what time she’d be returning home. When she questioned him, his dark face would flush with color and he’d mumble that he and her mother wanted to make sure they were home when she got there.
But, Ellie hadn’t bought it. She shook her head, the smile dipping away from her face.
Which brought another thought. As her investigation was ending, she had to make a decision, whether to stay in Lander and join her father, or return to her teaching position at the university.
Either way, she knew that she would have to find a place to stay. Not that her parents didn’t want her—she knew they’d be more than happy for her to return home.
But her father would retire soon. And with that, her parents deserved time alone, something she realized more and more, since their return from their weekend in Cheyenne.
And then there was the question of Shilah and what would happen to them, now that she’d come to the end of the investigation.
Although she had no doubts the animals were clean of disease, there was still a fair amount of tension and anxiety on her part. What if by some outside chance some of the cattle were infected—what would that mean for her and Shilah and any hope they could ever have of having a relationship.
No matter what assurances he’d given her that he was able to separate what she had to do for her job from their personal relationship, doubts lingered. The what-if game played round and round in her mind, like an old-fashioned turntable, if the results were unfavorable.
Ellie contemplated the decisions facing her, as she put the finishing touches on her makeup.
Shilah was never nervous when it came to women. Never. He, like his brothers, had grown up with his fair share of dealings with the opposite sex. Truth be told, they all had more than their fair share.
Which is why he didn’t understand what the hell it was about Ellie that seemed to put him in a constant state of nerves, the kind he’d had when he was a kid learning the ropes at the ranch, nervous and uncertain of his ability to perform.
Not since puberty had any woman had the ability to give him the type of knot in his gut he had whenever he was around Ellie.
He toyed with the neck of his beer bottle. The last week had been hell for him, having to keep his feelings to himself, not able to openly talk to her, for fear of what someone would see…interpret, if he did.
Hiding the way he felt, not only from everyone else, but from Ellie as well, afraid he’d scare her back into that damn shell of hers, that barrier she’d erected between herself and the world, one he was just as determined to break through.
But, for her, he’d stepped back, given her breathing room…the space she needed. As if she were a wild stallion, he had been…“gentling” her. Getting her used to the idea of them together, as a couple.
Yes, he knew there was truth to what she said, and neither did he want there to be any rumors of favoritism, knowing that the ranch’s reputation was on the line. But now he was free. Free to show her how he felt, free to pick up where they’d left off and take their relationship to that place he wanted.
So why the hell was he sitting at home drinking, alone, his gut tied in knots, when he was supposed to be picking her up in less than an hour.
He bit out a curse,
and grabbed the bottle by the neck. Tilting his head back, he allowed the cold liquid to fill his mouth. He swirled the contents inside his mouth before taking a swallow.
A hard thump on his back almost made the beer come back up.
He spun around, a deep scowl on his face, as Nate plopped down next to him.
“Damn, man…you almost made me choke,” he said, once he’d swallowed.
“Bad habit you have, with that. Been doing it since we were kids.”
As though that was enough of an explanation he went on, “What are you doing home, anyway? I thought you had…plans.”
Shilah slid a glance over at his brother, without answering. Lifting the beer he took his time, again swirling the contents in his mouth, his look warning Nate what he’d do to him if he repeated his action.
A half grin lifted Nate’s face, and he raised his hands, silently promising not to repeat his offense. “What are you doing home?” Shilah asked, turning the question back to his brother. “Don’t you and Althea have plans?”
“Yeah, later on tonight. She wants to go check out that new Tyler Perry movie,” he said, and Shilah openly smirked at him. “The things a man will do for the woman he loves know no boundaries,” Nate replied with a shrug, before pushing off the stool and heading over to the refrigerator. “Mind if I join you?”
“Suit yourself,” Shilah said with a shrug.
After Nate returned, he sat down next to Shilah again. “So…wanna tell me what the hell is going on with you and why you are at home, in the dark, nursing a beer alone, instead of being with Ellie?” he asked, surprising Shilah.
Nate barked out a laugh. “Uh…yeah, I know about you and Ellie.”
“How? Shit,” Shilah cursed, his response telling. “Does everybody know?”
“No. At least not that I know of. I know because you’re my brother, and I know you. And I knew you wouldn’t listen to a damn word I said when I warned you not to get involved with her,” he said, reminding Shilah of the moment he’d taken him aside, when Ellie had first arrived on the ranch, and warned him away from her.
“Look, I stayed away from her. We both decided to cool off until after the investigation,” Shilah responded, feeling a moment of guilt for his actions.
Nate lifted a brow. “Both of you decided?”
“Well…Ellie wouldn’t have it any other way,” he admitted, sheepishly. “Said she didn’t want to compromise the results, have anyone thinking there was favoritism going on.”
Nate nodded his head in approval. “Smart woman.”
The two men drank in silence for long moments before Nate finished his beer and stood, facing Shilah.
“So, now that you’re free to see each other, I’ll ask you again…. What the hell are you doing at home?”
The question was simple and to the point. And one that brought a smile to Shilah’s face.
He rose, finished the remnants of his beer and turned to head toward his suite. Before he left the room he turned back to his brother.
“Enjoy your movie, girlfriend,” he said, his voice pitched unnaturally high, and laughed at his brother’s single-finger salute.
Chapter 19
When they arrived at the restaurant, Ellie was a mass of nerves, her stomach knotting so badly she wished to God she’d thought to pack a bottle of the pink stuff in her purse.
When he’d picked her up at her parents, she’d been pleasantly surprised to see Shilah dressed to the nines, in casual dark slacks that molded and framed his long legs and thick thighs to perfection and a tailored white shirt, where she’d seen a sprinkling of dark hair at the open V-neck peek through. Although casual, the clothes fit his body as though they’d been tailor-made for him. She’d always known he was sinfully gorgeous, but tonight he gave an all new meaning to the word fine.
Afraid he’d catch her openly gawking at him, she averted her eyes.
After an awkward attempt at conversation she’d been ready to just give up, when he’d glanced over at her.
“You know, if that waiter looks at you one more time like you’re something on the menu, I’m going to knock his teeth down his throat.”
Her eyes flew to his, growing wide. “Shilah!”
“What? I saw him checking you out,” he said, completely straight-faced.
She giggled, despite herself. “Shilah, that man is gay. He ain’t even looking at me. Maybe you’re the catch of the day he’s dreaming about, for his own personal menu,” she quipped, laughing harder at the way she turned the tables and the blush that crossed his face.
He scowled as she laughed. “Oh, you got jokes, huh?” Yet she saw the humor that darkened his eyes.
When the waiter returned to the table, Ellie could barely look at the man as she gave her order. He turned to Shilah and took his order, the wattage on the server’s smile so bright it could have lit the entire restaurant. He’d barely left before Ellie was again laughing.
By the time their food arrived, the earlier tension was a thing of the past, and as they ate, their topics of conversation ranged from the latest in cattle to sports.
“Yeah, well, your precious Patriots are going down.”
Ellie rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Not if the Jets’ quarterback can’t figure out how to dissect their cover two defense.”
She laughed lightly at the look on his face. “What? Does it surprise you that I like football?” she asked, lifting a brow.
One side of his mouth hitched in a slow grin as he slid a wicked glance over her.
“Nothing about you surprises me, Ellie. You’re a woman of many, many talents,” he said, and Ellie felt an answering warmth rush over her body, forcing her to clench her thighs together in response.
“You’re a bad, bad boy, Shilah Wilde…has anyone ever told you that?”
He looked away for a moment, the smile easing from his face. “Yeah, I’ve been told that a time or two.”
Immediately the smile slipped from Ellie’s face. She reached over and grasped his hand in hers. “Hey…I was just kidding.”
He shook his head, saying, “Baby, I know. You’re one of the few people who sees the good in me.”
Ellie frowned, wondering where that came from. “Shilah?” When he drew her hand over, kissing the palm, her frown increased. She refused to allow him to brush it off and not answer her. He had dug enough at her, forced her to admit things to him, disclose things to him she never had to another person.
It was time to turn the tables.
“Hey, I’m serious, where did that come from?”
A flat look entered his eyes, and he allowed her hand to drop. “Just forget it, Ellie,” he said, his expression closed up. Ellie blew out a breath of frustration.
“Fine. Forget I asked.”
She stared down at her plate, pushing her food around, and for long moments there was nothing but silence. But this time it wasn’t the easy one of moments before.
When the waiter returned to their table, she nodded her head, allowing him to remove her plate. He quickly returned with the cheesecake they’d ordered, but Ellie had lost her appetite for the dessert.
At that moment, music began to play, and she turned her head toward the miniuscule dance floor set up on the other side of the room. She reached for her glass of wine, watching couples make their way toward the dance floor.
She heard Shilah sigh, before his hands came out to remove her glass from her hands.
“You know a lot about me, Ellie. I’ve never kept anything from you. At least nothing important,” he stated, quietly.
She lifted her eyes to look at him across the table, remaining silent.
He sighed. “Okay, shoot. What do you wanna know about me, woman? My life is an open book to you. My thoughts, emotions, feelings…whatever you want to know. Just ask.”
She tilted her head to the side, considering him. “Open book, huh?” she asked, rubbing her hands together. “Ooo-hoo…let me see, so many questions, so little time!” she said, to which he uttered a hea
rtfelt groan.
“Okay, okay. Seriously. Let’s see…how about, where were you born? Besides Nate and Holt, do you have any other siblings, natural siblings? Are your parents still alive? Who—”
“Hey, one question at a time!” He laughed, but Ellie heard a nervous edge creep into his tone.
“I was born in Washington State, moved to Oregon, then Cali, and after that Idaho.” He frowned. “No, after California it was Utah, and then Idaho. I think after Idaho we headed to Nevada—”
“Wait…haven’t you lived in Wyoming from the time you were a child? I mean, I assumed…”
He shrugged, but despite his nonchalant expression, she caught a fleeting look cross his face, too fast for her to catalog the meaning, but enough that she read his discomfort…almost embarrassment, before it quickly left.
“I traveled with my mother’s brother from the time I was around four or so, for about eight years, until we landed in Wyoming.”
“You were raised by your uncle?”
“Guess you could say that,” he replied, uttering a short laugh. “Sometimes I felt like I was raising him.”
He raised his glass to his lips and took a drink, before continuing. “Look, Ellie, there’s something I think you should know about me. Before I came to the ranch I used to hustle with my uncle.”
“Hustle? What do you mean….”
“Look, my parents cut out on me before I even took my first steps, and had it not been for my uncle taking me in, well, I would have ended up on the streets or in foster care a lot earlier than I was. We lived on a reservation in New Mexico. Didn’t have a lot of money in my family…my tribe. We lived on one of the poorer reservations. Money…resources were tight.” He turned away briefly. “I don’t want you to think less of me, Ellie. Your opinion means more to me than the air I breathe.”
Ellie drew in a shuddered breath, reading the wealth of emotion in his eyes.
She knew that whatever Shilah was about to share with her wasn’t something that was easy for him to talk about.
To Desire a Wilde Page 12
