I close my eyes and hold my breath. I understand where she’s coming from, but it’s risky. “You won’t give me the number for a taxi, will you?”
“Nope.”
I let out a heavy breath. “Fine.”
“Fine?”
“I’ll stay with her, but just for the night. How do I find her?”
Red door. Blue house.
That’s the description Jane gave me of her sister’s house. It’s the only house like that. You won’t miss it, she said. I’ll call to tell her you’re coming.
The wolf followed me all the way to the house. I walk up the porch steps, eyeing the porch swing on the right. When I get to the door, I turn around, but he’s gone. I scan the area, my heart rate picking up, but the wolf is nowhere to be found. I fight the sadness that rears up, but I can’t help feeling lost now. Like I shouldn’t be here.
I spin around at the sound of the door creaking open.
“Ellie?”
“Hi, yes, I’m Ellie.” I fidget, pulling my coat tighter around myself. Despite her being Jane’s sister, I’m not good with strangers. Or any human beings, really.
I meet her eyes and come face-to-face with a slightly older version of Jane, maybe late thirties, but with darker brown skin and hair and matching eyes full of warmth.
“Come on in. I’m Emma. Jane has told me so much about you.”
Biting my lip, I scrape the snow and mud off my boots outside before entering.
As I remove my shoes, I glance around her home. Right off the entrance is a set of stairs leading up. On the left is a cozy looking living area with a fireplace, mounted flat screen, and two leather couches. I can see part of a dining table next to it.
“Are you hungry? Would you like some hot chocolate?” Emma asks.
At the mention of food, my stomach growls and my cheeks heat up. “That sounds nice.”
“I just ate breakfast, but I have some eggs left and I can make some toast,” she says as she leads me down a hallway off to the right of the stairs. We pass three closed doors before reaching an archway that leads into a kitchen with a small, round table. Her cabinets are mahogany with dark green granite countertops.
She walks around the island in her kitchen and opens the stainless-steel fridge—next to the backdoor—and grabs a carton of milk. My eyes track her as she grabs a plate, piles some eggs on it, and nukes it. She puts two pieces of bread in the toaster and pours some milk in a pot on the stove.
Emma glances over her shoulder. “Go ahead and sit. Get comfortable. I’m not going to bite you.”
I set my backpack against the wall then remove my coat and sit down. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
“I’m okay, hun.” The microwave beeps, and she takes out the eggs. “My sister said you got caught up in the storm and had to stay in a barn.” She raises a brow as she turns and places the plate with a fork in front of me, full of eggs and two pieces of toast.
“Uh...yeah.”
“The owner of that barn is actually a friend of mine.”
My eyes widen. Busted. My heart races. “I-I…I’m sorry?”
She tsks, then chuckles. “No worries. As long as you didn’t steal anything, I won’t say a thing.”
I quickly shake my head. “I didn’t.”
She nods, eyeing my bag. “With only having that bag on you, I assumed so or else I wouldn’t have let you in.” My cheeks heat again as she turns back to the stove, stirring the milk. “Also helps that Jane vouched for you.” She takes out two mugs from a cabinet and sets them near the stove. “She mentioned you need a place to stay for a few months.”
I nod, but then realize she can’t see me. “Yes, ma’am.”
“No need to call me that, sweetie, Emma is just fine.” She turns around with steaming mugs in her hands and places one in front of me. “Go ahead and eat before it gets cold.”
I pick up my fork and shovel the food down, but try to still be polite. I’m used to not eating much, but it’s been too long since I had a home cooked meal, even if it is just reheated eggs.
Once I finish, she leads me back down the hallway to a door nearest the front of the house and opens it. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you want, even the full three months.”
“I don’t have a way to pay you.” Besides Jane’s money, but I don’t mention it.
“I didn't expect you to.”
“It doesn’t feel right,” I say, shifting my weight. Squatting in abandoned lots is one thing, but to mooch off someone who I barely know is another. I already do that with Jane. Although, I have gotten to know her better over the phone for the past three years.
She looks at me for a moment. “Well, if that’s what you’re worried about, I could actually use some help. I review and test products before they go on the market for a living, and it gets busier the closer it gets to Christmas. I end up having to turn down almost half because of the workload. But if I had you to help, I wouldn’t need to and that could be how you earn your keep.”
I bite my lip. I want to say yes, but since she’s Jane's sister it also complicates things. What if Marcus found me? I’d be putting one of Jane’s loved ones in danger.
“I’ll have to think about it.”
“Well, this guest room is yours until you decide otherwise.” She gestures to it and I enter. The guest room has a queen bed with light-blue sheets and a brown fuzzy blanket folded at the end. Nightstands flank each side with a lamp placed on the left. Above the bed is a large canvas print that simply reads Be My Guest. A dresser is on the opposite side in the center of the wall, along with a window and curtains showing the side yard and trees.
“I hope this will be okay?”
“It’s perfect.”
“I have a few friends coming over for dinner tonight,” Emma says the next day with her hands loaded with groceries.
“Here, let me help.” I grab a few bags from her then set them on the table. I take the cans out of the bags and place them on the counter, which she then puts away in their designated area. I watch her to memorize where she puts what.
“What are we having tonight?” I ask.
“Roast, potatoes, and veggies with a salad. Are you allergic to anything?”
I shake my head.
“Great.”
After we put everything away, we fill a crock pot with the meat and veggies. She places the lid on top of the pot and sets the timer. “I’m going to roast the potatoes now, but we’ll wait to make the salad.” She wipes her hands on her apron and glances at the clock. “We have a little over four hours until they get here. Why don’t you relax in the bath before getting ready and once you’re done you can help me with the rest?” She shoos me away before I can say a thing.
And taking a bath is exactly what I do. I soak in the tub, letting the warm water soothe my worries, even if it’s only for a moment.
My mind wanders to the wolf. His vibrant eyes, his soft ebony fur. His nuzzles and cuddles. The warmth that seeped into me whenever he was near. If he were a pet, I’d keep him, but I know that’s ridiculous. Besides, he seemed more intelligent than a normal animal. I mean, I truly felt like he understood me and was interested in me.
I mentally shake myself. Have I finally gone crazy? I must have if I’m having these thoughts about a wolf.
Once the water grows cold, I drain the tub and head to my room in a towel.
I go through my bag, but I only have three outfits and one of them is my pajama set. I hold up my black V-neck that looks the cleanest and my pair of darker jeans with rips at the knees. I pull them on then head back to the bathroom to borrow Emma’s blow dryer and style my hair.
When there isn’t anything else I can do to pass the time, I head to the kitchen. Emma turns to me when I enter, her light-blue dress contrasting beautifully against her dark features. The yellow and white apron over it adds a lovely pop of color.
I shuffle my weight from foot to foot as I tug on my shirt. “I don’t have anything else.”
She gives me a reassuring smile. “You look nice, but I have a dress that should fit you, if you’d like.”
I nod with downcast eyes, tugging on my dirty and plain clothes.
She gestures for me to follow her upstairs. Pictures line the walls of a younger her and an equally young man arm in arm or on vacation. When we make it to the landing, I follow her down a hall. Her house is larger than I expected. There are at least three rooms upstairs, not including the bathroom and laundry room. Does she pay for all of this just by reviewing products?
“I keep it in my closet even though I know it won’t fit me anymore,” she says as she opens a door at the end. Once we enter her room, she ducks into another that turns out to be a walk-in closet. Her room is large, with a king-size bed, a dresser, and two nightstands.
Instead of following her, I pause at the dresser and look at an image of her and Jane as teens in front of a tent. I spot another photo of Emma, a bit older, in the arms of a man. Now that I have time to look, I take in his features. His beaming smile and the joy in his eyes really catch my attention. He looks at Emma so lovingly. The next photo I stop on is of them in wedding attire. She is in a beautiful mermaid style wedding gown and he’s in a black tuxedo. You can tell he’s a man in love. Emma comes out with an olive-green dress on a hanger.
“My late husband.” She nods at the photo I’m standing in front of. “He passed away from cancer.”
The pain is heavy in her voice.
“How long ago?” I ask softly as I turn my gaze back to the photo. I can’t imagine losing a spouse.
“Three years last month.”
“I’m sorry.”
A faint smile appears on her face. “Some days it comes in waves where I don’t think I can even get out of bed and I’m just barely hanging on by a thread from the grief...but other days I see the sunshine. He’d want me to be happy and know that it’s okay to have a good day without him. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to not miss him, but every day the pain gets a bit easier to handle. I know I’ll never forget his love.”
I blink back tears. That’s how I feel about my parents.
She hands me the hanger. “You can go in my bathroom and try it on. I think it’ll look great on you and bring out the green in your eyes.”
I heed her directions and head into the master suite to change into the dress. When I look in the mirror, my reflection stuns me. I haven’t worn a dress in a long time. The last time was when I was fifteen. It was one of those rare times that a social worker actually visited. When Will was introduced to the “family”. The first kid to be fostered there since I moved in.
The dress is a bit big, but Emma’s right, it makes the green in my eyes pop. Despite feeling beautiful for the first time in a long time, it’s obvious that I’m too skinny. The sweetheart neckline exposes my collarbone, which sticks out too far. The dress tapers at my waist, though it’s still loose, then flares out and ends at my knobby knees. I’ve gotten so used to eating almost nothing for years that the habit stuck even after I left Marcus. I’ve been slowly working on increasing my food intake, but it’s not always easy when I’m on the run. I also hate using Jane’s money more than I have to.
But maybe if I stay with Emma, food won’t be a problem anymore.
Emma knocks. “Almost done?”
I open the door and she beams. “You look beautiful. You’ll have to keep it.”
“What? Oh, no. I couldn’t.”
“Nonsense. Now let’s go finish dinner before they get here.” I follow her back to the kitchen and we both have a slight pep in our steps.
She hands me a bag of premade salad and a bowl. I grab a pair of scissors and open the package, dumping in the lettuce and all the other little parts of the salad. The doorbell rings.
Emma turns away from the oven, her brown eyes bright. “That must be them. Go ahead and finish real quick. I’ll get the door.” She wipes her hands on her apron before taking it off and placing it on its hook. Finishing up the salad, I listen to her soft footsteps before the door creaks open.
“Mr. Elric. Ash. Thank you for coming,” she says.
Carrying the salad in one hand, I grab the plates she has sitting out and make my way to the dining room, trying to keep my hands busy. It’s been hard enough adjusting to talking to one person, what am I going to do with more in the room? Hopefully they are able to keep the conversation going between the three of them.
I set the salad down, but before placing the plates, I glance toward the door and almost drop them. I never understood why girls swooned over the “tall, dark, and handsome” guys, but now I do.
He shrugs off a black leather jacket, revealing a white shirt that contrasts lovely with his light-brown skin. I swallow, unable to tear my eyes away as he hangs his jacket, his shirt slightly stretching against muscular arms and chest that tapers into a lean waist and dark jeans.
“Hello, Emma.” His voice is smooth and deep. He runs a hand through his ebony locks, lifting it off his forehead. His eyes meet mine, and I can’t help the little gasp that escapes as vibrant glacier-blue eyes meet mine and widen slightly as he takes me in. A corner of his mouth turns up into a half-smile, which I quickly look away from. Finishing up, I set the plates in their spots and pat my hair. I haven’t had the chance to look in the mirror since helping Emma with dinner. Do I still look decent?
I mentally scold myself. I should not be thinking about this man. Yes, he’s attractive, but I don’t know him. Nor should I drag anyone else into my mess—worrying Jane is enough. Besides, I’m only in this area for a few months.
“This is Ellie, she’s staying with me right now.” I turn around at Emma’s words. “This is Mr. Elric.” She gestures to a man who’s only slightly taller than Emma. He appears to be in his early forties with light skin and salt-and-pepper hair.
Mr. Elric frowns. “Emma, please call me Tom. I’m not that much older than you.” Emma’s cheeks darken as he holds out a hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Ellie.”
I shake his hand quickly, not wanting anyone to notice it trembling.
“And this is Ash,” Emma says, gesturing to tall, dark, and handsome. He must be over six feet. He’s taller than all of us, but not in an abnormal way.
“Hello, Ellie.” He offers his hand.
“Hi.” I quickly take it and have every intention of letting go just as fast, but a jolt spikes up my arm, starting from our joined hands, leaving a tingling sensation throughout my body. His grip tightens on mine, keeping my hand prisoner, and his eyes seem to glow brighter. My anxiety spikes through the roof. What the heck?
“Go ahead and take a seat while I get the main course,” Emma says, snapping us out of whatever trance we were in.
When I give a little tug, he quickly releases his hold, and Tom offers to help Emma.
“Sorry about that,” Ash mutters, pulling out a chair at one of the heads and gestures for me to sit. He takes the seat to my right. “So, Ellie. Are you from around here?”
“No, this is my first time here.”
“Oh? I hope it hasn’t been too bad. We don’t normally have this many storms this early.”
The barn instantly comes to mind. Despite the triggers, it could’ve been a lot worse. Sometimes it was even enjoyable in the wolf’s company.
“No, it wasn’t completely horrible,” I say.
A small smile appears on his face, making him even more attractive, and I can’t help staring. I’m tempted to start loading up on salad just to distract myself from his good looks.
“That’s good.” He places his elbows on the table, his hands overlapping under his chin. “So, where are you from?” he asks with a tilt of his head.
What a loaded question. I never know how to answer it when someone asks. Do they want to know where I just moved from or where I was born and lived most of my life?
I fidget with the fabric of my dress, keeping my eyes lowered. “Most recently, New Mexico.”
“Long way from home.”
I shrug. “It wasn’t really home to me.”
Glancing up, I find his eyes still locked on me. “Where is home then?”
Is it me, or is it getting harder to breathe in here? I wipe my sweaty hands on my dress. “I…” I don’t finish my sentence because Emma and Tom walk in. I let out a heavy breath. I wouldn’t know how to answer, anyway. Nowhere feels like home, to be honest.
Ash removes his arms from the table as Tom places the roast and veggies in the middle of the table and Emma carries in the potatoes. While both of Emma’s tables only hold four, this table is slightly larger than her kitchen one. Tom insists she sits at the head and holds out her chair before taking the spot next to her.
I move to reach for the tongs for the salad, but freeze when Emma says, “Time to say grace.” The three of them join hands while Ash holds his out to me.
I glance up at him, and he gives me a small encouraging smile.
Taking a deep breath, I prepare myself. I can do this. It’s just for a prayer. Once Emma’s done saying grace, I’ll get my hand back. He’s not going to keep it forever.
I set my hand in his as shaky nerves flood through me. His hand is warm and tingles go up my arm at the contact. My hand seems so small in his. I find that I don’t mind it. This isn’t as bad as I thought. Looking up, I notice Ash’s brows drawn together as he stares at my hand.
Tom offers his hand, and I need to give myself another pep-talk. I try not to cringe when I place mine in his.
Emma says grace, and I quickly avert my gaze to my plate. After grace, we each begin piling food on our plates.
“Would you like some vegetables?” Ash asks as it comes around.
“Yes, please.”
“This much okay?” He holds up a spoon full of cooked veggies covered in butter and salt.
“Sure,” I answer as he places some on my plate.
“So, Ash, did you just arrive in town today?”
Ash glances over at me before turning back to Emma and answering, “I did. I was thinking of staying at the barn more often.”
Saving Ellie (Lycans Book 1) Page 4
