Never Be Her Hero

by Donna McDonald

  The laugh escaped him before he could stifle it. “I’ve never been a pom-pom kind of guy.”

  “Don’t worry. I would never make you sleep in here. I told them you would be sleeping in my room.” She shut the door with a firm click.

  Elliston blew out a breath. “And how did that go over? Bet your father just loved the idea.”

  “I got the usual hard time from Mom. Dad laughed and winked at me. I think he was still snookered when I mentioned it,” Della said, not wanting to get into the full-blown argument and teasing that had ensued. “Just because you’re the first guy I’ve ever brought home, that doesn’t mean people get to tell me what to do with you. Here we are. I always liked being on the end of this wing.”

  She opened the door and walked inside. The room was an oasis of neutral calm in the middle of a chaotic storm. The bedspread was a faded beige color. Throw pillows provided the only color in the room with the exception of a light blue blanket folded neatly across the bottom of the bed.

  “This is your room,” Elliston said, looking at the awards lined up on the shelf. “Math club? Outback’s school had a math club?”

  “No. Outback doesn’t have a high school. We got shuttled over to Shelbyville after eighth grade.”

  Elliston looked at the bed. “We’re not going to fit in that bed together. We’re not huge people, but even the queen was snuggle city all night long.”

  “I knew the bed size wouldn’t work, but I figured you could sleep here and I’d sleep in Martina’s room.”

  “That doesn’t seem fair.”

  Della shrugged. “Martina’s room is the closest to mine. I’ll try to make sure no one bothers you tonight. They were all supposed to go home, but I don’t trust them.”

  “If you’re that worried, maybe you should stay in here and guard me,” Elliston suggested, liking the way she chewed her lip at the thought. She’d have to lie on top of him to fit. “At least until I fall asleep.”

  He thought of how that would feel—how she would feel. He thought of rolling her under him and had to close his eyes to hide his thoughts.

  “Let’s get the rest of our stuff out of the car. Do you want to shower tonight or tomorrow morning? We’re sharing a bathroom again.”

  He had to clear his throat to answer. “I prefer mornings. It wakes me up.”

  “Me too,” Della said, nodding.

  It took them two trips to get it all inside. Della disappeared while he changed. When she came back, she was dressed in some guy’s sweatpants and another large t-shirt. Where in hell was the woman getting all these masculine clothes? She came inside the room and promptly slid a good-sized chair in front of the door, moving it like it wasn’t nearly as heavy as it looked.

  His eyes widened at her actions. “Uh… what exactly are you doing, Della?”

  “Dad didn’t allow us locks when we lived at home,” she explained. “I improvised with this chair. It doesn’t really stop a determined entry, but it slows people down enough to give me time to…”

  “Shoo your boyfriend out your window,” Elliston finished, pointing at the nearest one.

  “No,” Della said, fisting a hand on her hip. “It gave me time to hide my books and reading lamp. I liked romance novels, but I wasn’t allowed to read them. So I snuck them in and read them at night.”

  “Romance novels?”

  “Hello. I work for a dating service. Why are you shocked?”

  Elliston chuckled. “I’m not shocked. It makes sense. I just…” He looked at the bed. “I’m trying to imagine you hiding your stuff.” Actually, he was trying to imagine her reading a love story. She seemed so serious most of the time. But then he’d always been accused of that as well.

  She crooked a finger. Curious to see what she wanted to show him, he crossed the room. She pulled the mattress back at the top to reveal what appeared to be a stained slat matching the bed. Della reached in and grabbed something he couldn’t see to pull the slat out of its resting place. In the tiny compartment was a reading light, spare batteries still in the package, and a tattered looking flowered bookmark.

  “My secret stash,” she told him proudly. “I was so proud of myself for hiding this stuff. It took me weeks to sneak in what I needed to fix this. I actually nailed that little box to the bed and built the cover.”

  Elliston tipped from liking into love the moment Della giggled over what she’d gotten away with. He wanted to hear her do that for a thousand small reasons for the rest of his life. He wanted to hear his daughter do it—their daughter do it.

  Boy, talk about a deal breaker. Della would freak if she knew what he was thinking.

  He rubbed his chest to buy himself some time to talk himself out of confessing his feelings. “Where did you stash the actual novels?”

  Della giggled again. She put back the slat that hid her secret compartment and lifted the side of her mattress. She found nothing there. She stomped to the other side of the bed and checked it too. No novels in sight. “I bet Irena took them. She was the only other reader among us.”

  Elliston grinned and waited. “So your baby sister took your romance novels?”

  “You can bet one of my blonde bimbo siblings did,” Della told him.

  “Guess that’s like a boy stealing his dad’s girlie magazines.” Her narrowed gaze shifted to him. There was such a thing as too much honesty—damn his runaway mouth. “Not that I ever had any girlie magazines… or stole any… or… I think I should stop defending myself now.”

  Della stalked to stand in front of him. “Romance novels are not the same thing as the porn in those magazines.”

  “Of course not,” Elliston said, turning his grin away from her. When all else failed in social conversation, he’d learn to wisely change the subject. “So… can I go to bed now?”

  “Don’t let me stop you.” She held out a hand.

  “Come on, Vanna White. Tuck me in,” he ordered.

  “Who’s Vanna White?”

  “Now I know you had to watch Wheel of Fortune when you were a kid. It was on just before prime time started in the evening. I used to scream the answers at the TV while everyone else was trying to buy a vowel. You were holding your hand out like Vanna did to turn the letters.” Elliston laughed when Della stared blankly at him. He climbed into her full-size bed and stretched out on his back. “Never mind.”

  “Vanna White was blonde, wasn’t she?”

  Elliston chuckled. “Don’t look now, Dr. Livingston, Ph.D. and Behavioral Expert, but I think you might have a slight phobia.”

  “Did you not meet my boob-tastic blonde sisters?” Della demanded.

  “Yes, I met them… and their boobs. I was not as impressed as my comments about girlie magazines might indicate. However, I did appreciate their comedic value. Plus they all laugh exactly like you do.”

  “They do not,” Della denied, climbing onto the bed. There was barely room for her to sit.

  “They do. And they all giggle like you do as well. They probably learned their giggling from you since you were the oldest,” Elliston said.

  He grabbed her hand and tugged her up on top of him. He was surprised when Della complied. She felt great in his arms. He swept a hand down the curve of her spine and over the curves of her hips.

  “Now this is impressive. And those thighs of yours are worthy of poetry.”

  “How can you make sexy comments after meeting my family?”

  “Because I’m still interested in you.”

  Della snorted… then she giggled. “I’m interested in you too.” She laid her head down on one of Elliston’s shoulders. Their bodies fit together like perfect puzzle pieces.

  Elliston ran his hands over her until she purred. “So did you ever sneak a guy into your room before?”

  “Not until tonight.” Della raised her head and scooted up his body, grinning when he groaned. “This is fun.”

  “No. This is torture,” Elliston said huskily.

  “Poor man. Are you hurting? Need me to kiss
something and make it all better?”

  His chuckle rocked them both. “Have I ever mentioned that I love the way you flirt?” Their shared laughter filled the room.

  “Here’s where I ache the most.” He tapped his lips with his finger while he stared at her. Della giggled, shifted forward, and put her lips on his. His hands slid down her back until he could press her hips tight to his. They were a good fit together—a very good fit.

  His heart pounded harder when Della’s very capable hands raked the covers out of the way until her knees fell on either side of his naked thighs. Della lifted her head and smiled at him.

  “I don’t want this moment to pass without…” She looked away briefly and then looked back. She put both hands on his face and arched her hips against his. The man made her ache… so did the rightness of him beneath her. “I don’t do coy. I want you.”

  “I want you too. Do you still think this is a bad idea?” Elliston asked.

  Della nodded. “Yes, but at the moment all I really care about is not missing out on my chance to be with the best guy I’ve ever fake dated.”

  “Got to love an honest woman,” Elliston said, indulging the fantasy he’d had a zillion times as he rolled Della under him.

  His heart thumped like a bass drum in his chest when she groaned and wrapped those lovely long legs of hers around his thighs. He fit himself between her legs and let contentment wash through him. This felt right… it felt completely right. It was the only word he could think of.

  “Della?”

  “Yes?”

  He looked into her eyes. “This is perfect. The moment is perfect. You’re perfect.”

  “Action speaks louder than words, Geek Boy. Kiss me,” she ordered.

  Both their hands were working on her clothes as he complied.

  When Elliston's eyes opened the next morning, a still zonked Della was draped across the covers hiding him from the world. She was back to wearing the man sweats he’s stripped off her last night. At some point, she’d added a thick pair of men’s socks to her outfit.

  Looking around, he saw the big chair was back in its original place and the door to her room was swung wide. His foggy mind was struggling to make sense of what he was seeing. Had he just dreamed he’d made love to her?

  He shifted under the covers and felt his muscles protest the movement. Memories of the night before returned in a rush. The woman was athletic and strong and demanding in the most amazing ways. He moved one stiff arm and swept the hair out of her peaceful face with his fingertips.

  “Morning.”

  Elliston turned in the direction of the greeting and saw Della’s father standing in the doorway. “Good morning, sir.”

  “Thought I’d come hide in here with you two. Too much wedding day commotion going on everywhere else.”

  Elliston chuckled. “Strange. I was just thinking how peaceful it was here in your house.”

  “Man-to-man, I need to warn you that you’re wearing your intentions on your face, son.”

  “Would you rather be dealing with Military Jeff this morning?”

  “Blunt fella, aren’t you?” Della’s father laughed. “Jeff’s a momma’s boy under all that army green. If Della had wanted to mother him, she’d have kept him. She had bigger plans.”

  Elliston watched Della’s father sit in the big chair she’d moved sometime during the night. If her father knew what had passed between them, he gave no indication.

  Elliston cleared his throat quietly. “The real question for me is whether or not Dr. Dellaphina Livingston will care about what I intend.”

  He froze when Della moved against him. He was prepared to grab her bold, wayward hands if they started exploring his morning reaction to her. When she settled down again, Elliston sighed in relief and dragged the blue blanket up to tuck around her. She gave a giant sigh and fell deeper asleep.

  “I swear that girl can sleep through anything,” her father said with an amused shake of his head.

  “Like tornadoes?” Elliston offered. “She told me about that.”

  “And crying fits and parental lectures and pretty much anything else she wants to. It was her defense mechanism when people made her unhappy. I think it’s become something more.”

  “Whatever her reasons—I don’t mind. I like watching her sleep,” Elliston said.

  “You know… she’s a lot like my mother who was a high school math teacher. Della was different from the get-go. She was later than most in appreciating boys, but I could tell my Della girl was always looking for her match. That man was not going to be found in Outback. Looks like he wasn’t even in Kentucky. Never figured she’d fall for a tattooed Buckeye, but I always knew she’d make her own choice one day.”

  Elliston looked at the woman in his arms. “We had a deal. What I’m feeling isn’t part of it. It just sort of happened. I was just lying here and wondering how I was going to explain myself to her.”

  “Well, I was thinking about you this morning. The tats aren’t too bad and I can tell you have a good heart. Were the earring and green hair her idea?”

  Elliston grinned. “She didn’t do it for you. It was for her mother and sisters.”

  “Yeah, I know. The girl adores me. I adore her back. But none of us understand her, especially her mother. Luckily, her sisters keep her mother occupied. I’m glad she ran across someone like you.”

  “The woman she works for is awesome too. She just gave Della an office and a promotion. The doctorate was a big deal for Della. She worked really hard to get that degree.”

  “It was a big deal to me too, but I celebrated a little too hard yesterday. I built her a car for a present—an American car. I sourced the parts here too.”

  Elliston laughed. “That’s why you were snookered when we picked you up at the VFW. You were celebrating Della’s degree.”

  Her father pointed a finger at him. “I will deny it if you tell anyone.”

  His laughter was low. “Who would I tell? All the giant men married to your daughters would come after me. I know my limits.”

  “Yeah. Good point. So far all my girls have married for love. And that’s a father’s blessing.” Her father rubbed his jaw. “You willing to drive that blue sissy car of Della’s back to the city for her?”

  Grinning, Elliston nodded. “Mr. Livingston, I’m willing to do just about anything for Della. The trick is getting her to let me.”

  “You got that right. Prideful little thing sometimes—unfortunately got that from me. Keep at her boy.”

  “That’s no hardship, sir,” Elliston said, thinking about last night. He couldn’t wait to repeat that again.

  “Think you can call me Carlisle? All that sir stuff is starting to creep me out. Makes me feel a hundred years old.”

  “I can do that,” Elliston said.

  “Good.”

  “Carlisle Livingston? Where are you hiding? Your daughter’s getting married today.”

  “Dang, I’m busted,” Carlisle said sadly.

  Della’s mother appeared in the doorway. She looked between Elliston and Carlisle, barely sparing a glance at the still snoozing Della sprawled over him.

  “They’re wanting you to help decorate the car with those fancy sparklers that light up against the pavement.”

  “I’m coming,” Carlisle said. “I was visiting with Elliston.”

  “I see that,” Della’s mother said. “Looks like the girl’s sleeping through things as usual.”

  “It’s my fault. I upset her yesterday,” Carlisle said, winking at Elliston as his chin came up. “She’s been mad as a horned toad since she picked me up at the VFW.”

  “Did you tell her about the car?”

  “Not yet. She’s still defending that blue thing she drives. Timing was all wrong yesterday.”

  “She lives in the city, Carlisle. What you built for her might not be practical there. We talked about this. You can’t be upset if Dellaphina doesn’t like it. You know how particular she is. The girl is exactly like y
our mother. It’s like Rose Livingston got reincarnated in our firstborn.”

  Carlisle nodded. “I know. And you’re right. Let’s get out of here so Elliston can ease out of bed. The girl stole my sweatpants and socks again and was sleeping on top of the covers with him.”

  Della’s mother rolled her eyes. “I gave up trying to get her to dress like a female a long time ago. Dellaphina is almost thirty now. What did she think we were going to say to her? I trust my daughter. I never had to worry about her like I did her sisters. When Irena’s day is done, I’m going to breathe a sigh a relief and start planning that cruise you promised me.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Carlisle said agreeably. He turned to Elliston. “We’ll see you two at the wedding. There’s breakfast in the kitchen. Della makes a mean egg. Don’t let her fool you into thinking she can’t cook.”

  Elliston’s laughter had Della shifting on top of him again. He stopped and adjusted the blanket over her. He gave her parents a thumbs up sign. His happiness over the sweats being her father’s was as telling as everything else he was feeling.

  After they left, he stared at the woman sleeping soundly on top of him. He found himself wishing the wedding they were getting ready to attend was theirs. Apparently, he’d boarded the Livingston crazy train.

  Chapter Twelve

  “These grounds are pretty. Reminds me of Tennessee,” Elliston said.

  “This is the only wedding venue in Outback big enough to hold all the Livingstons and their families.”

  “This is a nice town, Della. People seem nice too. Even your family.”

  “My family is a piece of work, but I guess it could be worse. I think I was dreading this wedding because I was worried about Irena getting herself into a mess. Marshall must love her though. Irena threw up on her new husband’s boots and all he did was laugh and hug her when she cried about it.”

  Elliston chuckled as he picked up Della’s hand. “I thought the reception was good too. I haven’t had barbecue in years.”

  “Barbecue? That wasn’t barbecue. It was a gazillion pigs-in-a-blanket and crockpot meatballs because Irena insisted on appetizers only since she couldn’t eat without getting sick. None of what she served at the reception qualifies as real food.”