Blue Beaver: Awkward Book Two

by Heller, JB

  I choke on the toast halfway down my throat. Coughing and hacking, I thump my chest and take a swig of my coffee, washing the lump down. Jesus, that was embarrassing. I sneak a peek at Charlotte, and she’s grinning at me.

  Closing my eyes, I drop my head and shake it. You’re so smooth, Eli. Running my hand through my hair, I shovel another bite of food into my mouth.

  We finish eating in surprisingly comfortable silence.

  After breakfast, Asher clears off the table and sets about cleaning the kitchen and dishes. I watch Charlotte as she watches him. Frowning, she leans over the table and whispers, “Is he doing that because I’m here? Or is this some parallel universe where men clean up after themselves?”

  I smile and give up the struggle to not touch her. Reaching out, I tuck her unruly hair behind her ear and reply, “It’s not for your benefit. It’s one of his chores around here. We all have a role to play.”

  Her eyes brighten. “So he does this every day? Can I take him home with me? I’ll pay you for the inconvenience.”

  With a chuckle, I scrape my chair back from the table and stand. “The things that come out of your mouth,” I murmur, shaking my head.

  Charlotte snorts again. “Oh, you haven’t heard anything yet. Just wait until you meet Reagan. You should hear the stuff that comes out of her mouth; I’ve got nothing in comparison.”

  I raise a questioning brow. “You sure about that? ’Cause you just asked to buy my brother …”

  She shrugs. “He cleans. I was being perfectly serious, Elijah. A man that looks like he does and cleans without being asked is a hot commodity. You could start a bidding war for him on eBay. You’d get top dollar.”

  I glance at Asher as he moves around the kitchen, placing scraps into the bin, loading plates in the dishwasher, and wiping down the benchtop as he goes. She’s probably onto something, but I’ll lose my man card if I admit it. That and I’m a tiny bit pissed off she wants to take him home and not me.

  A subject change is definitely in order. Checking my watch, I figure I’ve got about twenty or so minutes before her friends arrive. I extend my hand to her. “You want to have a look around? See the place in the daylight?”

  She nods and takes my hand. “Sure.”

  The second our skin makes contact, I feel it, just like yesterday and every other time we’ve touched—this undeniable pull towards her.

  Elijah tugs me towards a huge, red barn, and I freeze.

  He looks back at me over his shoulder, and I widen my eyes, pointing at the barn. “That is exactly the kind of place where one would attempt to make a skinsuit out of another human being.”

  His answering chuckle eases my irrational fears enough for me to continue trudging along behind him. Well, that and the fact that my rescue party is already on its way to retrieve me.

  In one smooth motion, he swings the barn doors open wide, pausing in the threshold. “See any skinning equipment?” he asks, sweeping his arm out in front of us.

  I elbow him. He lets out a puff of air and glares down at me. “What was that for?”

  Rolling my eyes, I take a step forward. “For being a smartarse.”

  Our fingers find each other again as he leads me through the large structure to a side access. Gesturing with his chin to the door, he tells me, “This is the birthing paddock. If you’re lucky, there’ll be a brand new cria in here.”

  I scrunch my nose. “I don’t know what that is. You said it before about the little hellion in the house, but I thought you meant it cried a lot.”

  With a shake of his head, he opens the door and steps through, tugging me with him. When we’re standing in ankle-high grass, he points to the far side of the paddock. A massive smile splits his handsome face. “See? That’s a cria. It’s what baby llamas and alpacas are called.”

  “Oh.” Well, don’t I feel like an idiot.

  “Come on,” he urges and walks towards the mama llama and its baby.

  I dig my heels in. “No, I’m good. I can see it from here. One llama encounter a day is plenty enough for me, thanks.”

  Just as the words are out of my mouth, the critter I was referring to scampers past me, startling me so badly I leap onto Elijah’s back. My arms and legs wrap around him like a boa constrictor squeezing the life out of its prey. “That thing will be the death of me!”

  Elijah chuckles, then curls his arms around my thighs. “Why are you so bothered by her?” he asks, closing the space between us and the mama llama again.

  My limbs lock around him. “I’m not bothered. I just—I’m not an animal person.”

  “You came to the wrong place then.”

  I roll my eyes. “I didn’t come here by choice, remember? You kidnapped me off the side of the road!”

  His head tips back, resting against my shoulder as he laughs, and I glare at his stupidly gorgeous face and those damn dimples.

  I relax my hold around Elijah’s neck. I don’t want to suffocate him. He’d drop me, and then I’d be alone in this paddock, surrounded by furry demons.

  He comes to a stop a few feet from the new mother and glances at me over his shoulder. “You want to get down? She won’t hurt you.”

  A loud snort rips from my nose. “Yeah, no. I’m good here. Thanks.”

  His smirk is downright delicious. “Okay then. Well, this is Genie.” He gestures with his chin to the tall, black-and-white llama standing in front of us. Then, he drops down into a squat, and I squeal, wrapping myself more securely around him. He chuckles at me and moves his attention to the little ball of fur curled up in the grass.

  I peek over his shoulder. It’s a little bit cute. All black except for its little white head. I smile as it flutters its long lashes, peering up at us. “She’s kinda cute,” I whisper, afraid to startle it. Then I frown. “It is a girl, right?”

  “If you’d let me put you down, I could check.”

  Licking my lips, I ponder his words. My eyes take in our surroundings. There are three other big fatties in the paddock, but they’re far enough away that I’d have enough time to scale Elijah again if they came at me. Taking a deep, calming breath, I lower my feet to the ground then release him as I stand and take a step back.

  Elijah glances at me over his shoulder, a satisfied smile curving his lips. I cross my arms and shift my attention back to the big mama. She’s eyeballing me, and I take another cautious step away from her.

  “It’s a boy,” Elijah says. “What should we call him?”

  My eyes widen. “How should I know? He’s your llama.”

  One side of his mouth kicks up in a grin. “Humour me. What would you call him if you could name him anything at all?”

  I draw my bottom lip between my teeth as I think it over. Tilting my head, I look down at the little guy. His lashes are so thick and long I’m actually jealous. Good Lord, what is happening to me? I’m jealous of a llama … I blink away the thought and scrunch my brows in concentration.

  The pressure is real, I tell you. Dishing out names is not for the faint-hearted. A name can make or break you. It’s important. Super important. I don’t want to ruin his little llama life by giving him the wrong one!

  “Whoa, there,” Elijah says, coming to stand in front of me. He cups my jaw before plucking my lip out from between my teeth with his thumbs. “You’re thinking way too hard. You’ll end up chewing right through your lips. And I can’t have that. I like them too much.”

  A big fat lump of surprise clogs my throat. He likes my lips? I’m not usually self-conscious around men. I’m comfortable in my skin, even if my body is a dud. But the way he’s looking down at me makes butterflies swarm in my chest. That’s never happened before.

  “Rue,” I blurt out.

  Elijah frowns. Both his big, rough palms are cupping either side of my face. “What?”

  I blink furiously up at him. “Rue. I’d call him Rue. You know, like RuPaul, the drag queen? Because he’s just so pretty. He could easily pass as a girl.” The words just tumble out of m
y mouth before I even have time to process them. But now that they’re out there, I know it’s the perfect name for him.

  One of Elijah’s hands moves to scratch at his eyebrow. “You want me to name him after a drag queen?”

  Nodding, I lick my lips, and his gaze tracks the movement of my tongue.

  My heartbeat triples. His blue eyes darken like storm clouds as he stares down at my parted mouth.

  “I’m going to kiss you now, Charlotte.”

  He doesn’t wait for a response. Lowering his head, he closes the distance between our mouths and crashes his lips against mine. Keeping one hand on my jaw, he moves the other to the small of my back, tucking me in closer to his big, broad body.

  Holy shit, he’s a good kisser.

  My arms circle his neck as I tilt my head and let him take the lead. The hand on my back splays wide until two of his fingers are on my butt, then he slides it all the way down to cup a full cheek in his palm. When he squeezes the flesh on an upward pull, I feel his erection grind into my belly, and I moan.

  Digging my hands in the hair at the nape of his neck, I tug him closer, relishing the feel of his large body surrounding me so fully. I feel warm and safe in his strong arms.

  “What the fuck?” I screech. My feet disappear from beneath me. I’m falling.

  Landing flat on my back in the grass, my eyes widen as Elijah tumbles on top of me. He manages to keep from crushing me by catching himself on his hands on either side of my head.

  The furry, crotch-kicking demon scuttles over, nudging Elijah with her head and making a weird sound. I glare at her.

  Elijah’s eyes search my face. “You okay?”

  I meet his eyes and nod, one curt tip of my chin, then I go back to murdering the moment-ruining beast at our side with my eyes. “She’s got the devil in her. You should knock her off before she kills someone.”

  Deep, masculine laughter is the only response I get.

  My eyes scan our surroundings, making sure the other llamas haven’t come any closer. “I’m serious. She’s a menace.”

  He rolls to his side, propping himself on his elbow and staring down at me. I catch my breath. The look in his eyes stops my heart in its tracks.

  “Can I call you?” he asks.

  I blink. Then blink again.

  He raises a questioning brow.

  I raise both of mine. “You want to … call me?” I sputter.

  His smile is bright. “I do.”

  “But I don’t do phone calls. Talking on the phone is an absolute last resort—reserved for emergency use only.”

  Elijah scratches at his brow again. “I would message you, but like I already told you, we’re in a dead zone. It’d really be easier for me to call.”

  My shoulders lift in a shrug. “Sorry to break it to you, but nothing about me is easy. Also, I feel I should inform you that I recently made a vow of celibacy. That may affect your reasons for wanting to stay in touch.”

  Shock widens his eyes. “Wha—I mean, I didn’t—shit.” He sighs and scrubs a hand over his face. “I’m sorry if I’m coming on too strong. I just … I’ve never met a woman like you before, and I don’t want you to walk out of my life as fast as you walked into it.”

  I can’t stop my smile. His words settle in my chest, and those butterflies go crazy again. “Okay.” How could I possibly say no after that?

  He leans over me, using his free hand to support his weight. “I promise I’ll text as much as I can and only call if I’m desperate,” he says with a wink, then presses a kiss to my swollen lips.

  Just as I wrap my fingers around his neck, a voice that can only belong to my best friend yells, “Did you know llama poo has special powers?!”

  Elijah’s lips leave mine instantly, and he stands, then offers me a hand up. I silently fume. What is it with bitches ruining my moments today?

  Once on my feet, I peer around Elijah’s wide frame to see Reagan perched on top of the timber fence railings.

  She smiles wide and waves. Her vigorous wave tilts her off balance, but Rhett steps up behind her, steadying her just before she face-plants.

  After reaching back, Elijah takes my hand and strolls over to my friends. Coming to a stop in front of them, he offers up his free hand. “Hi, you must be Reagan. I’m Elijah.”

  Reags takes his hand. “I figured. Char mentioned you on the phone this morning.” Then, her bright blue eyes meet mine, and she waggles her brows. “He’s a bit of a sexy one. Bet you’re regretting that celibacy thing now, huh?”

  My eyes bug. “Reagan!”

  She rears back. “What?”

  I huff. “Maybe a little. But it’s for the greater good. At least that’s what I’ve been telling myself,” I mumble.

  Rhett props his elbows on the top rung of the fence beside Reagan’s rear. He gives Elijah a once-over, then the universal ‘sup chin-lift thing that guys do. “Thanks for lookin’ out for this one. She’s a bit of a handful. But you’re still in one piece, so she must have kept her crazy in the closet.”

  Elijah chuckles and tugs me into his side, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “She did kick me in the balls and accuse me of being a sexual predator attempting to turn her into a skinsuit.”

  My friends are not surprised. Not one little bit. They both simply nod as if that’s normal behaviour.

  I cross my arms over my chest and scowl.

  “So, what was that you were saying about llama powers?” Elijah asks Reagan.

  Her face lights up. She’s found another person to wow with her knowledge bank of random facts. “In Bolivia, they use llama poop to clean polluted water from the mines. It reduces the acid and removes the diluted metals in the water.”

  “Huh, that’s pretty cool. I know a fair bit about my babies, but that one’s news to me. How do you even know that? Do you have llamas?”

  “Pfft, I wish. Actually, no, I want an alpaca. But Rhett says they’re not apartment-appropriate pets,” she declares with an exaggerated eye roll.

  Rhett shakes his head at his girlfriend, but he’s smiling.

  Their love makes me want something like that for myself. Then Elijah squeezes my hip. When I look up to meet his gaze, he’s looking down at me with something I can’t name. But I really like it.

  Reagan and Rhett’s soft bickering pulls my attention away from Elijah.

  “Alpacas are smaller than llamas, therefore they don’t need as much space.” Reagan say, hands on her hips and a proud smile on her face. “We can just take her on walks around the block every afternoon and she’d be fine.”

  I snort at the look on Rhett’s face, because he knows Reagan is one hundred percent serious.

  Elijah interrupts their debate. “I’d have to agree with your man here on that one. I’ve got alpacas in the next paddock over. I can assure you none of them would make good flatmates.”

  “You have alpacas? Show me!” Reagan excitedly squeals as she scrambles off the fence into the paddock with us. She slips on the last rung and lands hard on her butt. Getting to her feet, she rubs her rear. “That hurt,” she mutters.

  And that’s when Delilah, the demon spawn, sidles up to our little group. I glare at her. “Watch out for that one, Reags. She’s vicious.”

  Reagan frowns, angles her chin, then crouches down, coming to eye level with the nasty little wench. “She doesn’t seem vicious to me,” she says, reaching out to stroke Delilah’s long, skinny neck.

  Instead of spitting on Reagan or headbutting her like I expect, Delilah closes the space between them and cuddles up to her.

  My jaw drops in shock. That little …

  A feeling I’m not accustomed to settles over me as Rhett pulls out of Elijah’s drive. He brought a car trailer with him, and we’re going to tow my car back to his garage.

  I sit in the back seat, staring at the landscape out the window. It is kind of nice out here. Quiet. I’ve always been a city girl. Small towns make me twitchy, as do the majority of people who live in them.

&nbs
p; But my obvious wrong assessment of Elijah has me thinking that maybe I judged this place too quickly. I mean, I love McKenna and Myrtle. I wonder if she still speaks to her mother after naming her that? Myrtle, I mean. What an awful name. I shudder.

  See? That’s what people in small towns do: they give their children godawful names like Myrtle. I’ve been trying to think up a cute nickname for her since she started working for me on the blog. No luck yet, but I’m sure I’ll come up with something eventually.

  Reagan turns in her seat next to Rhett in the front. Wrapping her arms around the headrest, she stares at me expectantly.

  I pretend not to notice.

  She clears her throat.

  I look at my nails like they’re the most interesting thing ever.

  That makes her huff. “So, what’s the go with that Elijah guy? He’s so into you. Even I could tell. Now that’s saying something.”

  Rhett snorts. “What gave it away, honey? The way he didn’t take his eyes off her the whole time we were there, or them sucking face when we arrived?”

  My shoulder lifts in a small shrug. It’s an attempt to play it off. But nothing about the last twenty-four hours was normal. Not for me, at least. “He’s just a guy who helped a stranded stranger out. I didn’t know that kind of hospitality even existed anymore. He and his brothers took me in like it was no big deal. They let me use their phone, watch their TV, eat their food. Then, when I had an endo episode, they took care of me. Who does that? It’s weird, right?”

  Reagan blinks at me, dumbfounded. “You had a flare-up and they didn’t freak out? I freaked out the first few times, remember? Hell, even now, I just want to bundle you up and take you to the nearest hospital.”

  Rhett pulls the truck off the road then backs it up to my car. Reagan and I don’t offer to help him; we’d just get in the way.

  I nod at her. “I know, right? I’m on day eight today, so things have settled right down and it’s almost over. But the stress of my car dying, then thinking I was going to be mugged by a dirty farmer and kept in his crusty sex dungeon—it just set everything off.”