CHAPTER NINE – LILY
I can’t tell if my feet are dragging or flying as we round the barn and watch the spectacle unfolding in the parking lot.
Three black SUVs have pulled up next to Paige’s little sportscar, and a flurry of dark-suited strangers are buzzing around a tall, handsome figure.
Even from across the expanse of flower beds and gawking locals, there’s no mistaking the man who has sold more magazines than the Kardashians and has a trio of gold statues on a mantelpiece somewhere.
If the other guys had my neighbors in a tizz, finding Ellis Castle in their midst is enough to make them forget their manners entirely.
Paige practically tramples the McCauleys to reach him, but luckily the wall of well-dressed suits ushers the crowd back until Ellis catches my eye.
He’s too far away to hear me, so I jerk my head in the direction of Rosie’s house, and he gives a quick nod.
“Come on,” I tell the other guys. “We’ll meet him inside.”
They murmur their agreement, and we hurry towards the farmhouse.
It’s only as I reach for my phone that I realize I still have my bow, but Otley neatly plucks it out of my hand, resting it carefully in the crook of his arm.
I give him a nod of thanks as I dial Marion, who’s busy in the greenhouse.
“We might need to get Charlie and Dan on crowd control,” I tell her as we mount the porch.
“There’s a VIP here and the locals are getting unruly. ”
Tristan gives a snort of amusement, but as we reach my front door, Otley leans down to murmur in my ear, “Ellis’ security will take care of him, but you might want to think about closing the farm for the rest of the day.
I know it’s inconvenient, but I’d hate to see your flowerbeds trampled in the fuss. ”
I bite back a groan, trying not to calculate the lost earnings in my head. Not that anyone seems interested in berry picking when they have a bona fide celebrity to distract them. “Okay. Marion, could you get the guys to move everyone out? We’re going to have to close early today.”
Marion assures me the field hands will take care of it, and as we enter the farmhouse, I take my bow off Otley and place it on the table. I look around dazedly, relieved that the place is mostly tidy and that there are none of the typical Leo messes to clean up.
Leo. While I’m glad he’s at a safe distance right now, my heart pinches at what I know is about to come, and how it could turn my baby boy’s world on its head.
I try to take a calming breath, but I still feel jittery and off-balance, because Ellis Castle is here.
He’s literally climbing the porch stairs, his famous voice edged with frustration as he tells his security guys to relax and let him through.
Someone says they need to check the house first, but Otley opens the door, and a wall of suited muscle is suddenly marching into my living room.
A second glance tells me there’s actually only three guys, although they’re the size of six, and enter on a swirl of steely alpha scents.
Their hard gazes sweep the living area, and when two of them peel away to start checking the other rooms, I have to fold my arms to stop the objection rising in my throat.
“Hi, Ot,” Ellis says, huffing out a breath as he drags the other alpha into a tight embrace.
They breathe each other in for a moment, then open their arms towards Tristan, who’s hovering beside me.
He goes with a soft exhale, and as they cling to each other, their scents mingling in a happy swirl, I wonder how long it’s been since they last saw each other.
More than a week but less than a decade, a little voice taunts, and I shuffle my feet uncomfortably.
The movement catches Ellis’ attention, and he lifts his head, snaring me with his too familiar green eyes. I’ve braced myself for this moment ever since I delivered those roses to Otley’s door, but I still feel this first contact like a hand squeezing my heart.
It’s not just the shock of who he is and what he means to Leo; it’s the sheer look of joy on his face.
“Lily.” He breathes my name like it’s a prayer, like it’s something precious and prized.
A part of me wants to sink into the sound, but I’m retreating before I realize I’m moving, the kitchen table suddenly between me and the three mates.
I clutch the back of the nearest chair, but my defensive posture doesn’t stop Ellis from striding towards me.
Holy... Hollywood hotness.
As he stalks in my direction, he’s all long limbs and vibrant energy, his green gaze so intense, I feel little eruptions of awareness on my skin. Once again - just for a few frantic beats of my heart - I'm eighteen, and the most charismatic man I’ve ever seen is crossing a room to claim me.
Ellis Castle’s scent match.
Now that he’s right in front of me, it seems even more crazy than it did a decade ago.
“You’re gorgeous, Lily.” Gleaming green eyes sweep me from head to toe, his lips curving into an appreciative grin. “You’re everything I remembered and so much more.”
Before I can unglue my tongue from the top of my mouth he’s swooping towards me and pulling me into a caramel-scented hug.
“I’m really sorry I didn’t call ahead, but it was a last-minute flight, and then I had my agent and the studio guys blowing up my phone.
” He pulls back far enough to grimace, but the smile that reasserts itself is enough to make me dizzy.
When he clasps my tense hands in his big, warm ones, I grip him back, simply because my knees have turned to water.
“Anyway, I came straight from the airport, so I need a shower, but I didn’t want to wait a second longer to see you…
” He finally seems to realize I haven’t said a word, and he squeezes my hands tightly, his gaze searching my face. “Sorry. Am I being too much?”
I’ve heard film critics throw around words like force of nature and powerhouse when it comes to Ellis’ acting abilities, but it suddenly dawns on me that his intense energy might not be an act.
I caught glimpses of his big personality during my long-ago heat, but this is on an entirely different level.
“Babe.” Tristan’s hand slides around Ellis’ waist, his voice gentle. “Maybe you should take a breath.”
Ellis shoots him a fond glance, pulling him tight to his side.
“I can take one later. Right now, I’m just so excited to finally be here.
Rosie’s Blooms. It’s beautiful, Lily, and so much more than I imagined.
” He shakes his head, looking rueful. “I can’t believe your farm was right here, so close I could’ve turned left at a couple of towns and found you. ”
I look at him curiously. “You’ve been to Idaho before?”
Ellis nods, and giving my hand a tug, leads me over to the sitting area.
I don’t know why my feet follow him, except that I’m caught in some kind of Ellis Castle tractor beam.
He waits until I’m settled before sitting next to me, so close our knees are brushing.
Reaching up, he grasps Tristan’s hand that’s resting on his shoulder, but his green eyes remain fixed on my face.
“I’m so glad we’re all here. Finally. But what made you decide to reach out to us, Lily? ”
“Reach out?”
“Yeah.” He grins and flutters sooty lashes at me.
“The guys haven’t had a chance to catch me up yet, so I want to hear everything.
Are you happy? Is the farm going well? Were those huckleberry bushes I saw out there?
I had a pie in Boise a couple years ago that my chef has tried to recreate, but it’s never been the same.
” He gives a heavy sigh, then leans forward, sweeping a lock of my hair behind my ear.
“But enough about pie. Catch me up, starting right back when you left California.”
I blink at him, lost for words. Is there a camera somewhere in the room and Ellis Castle is punking me?
“Ellis.” Otley slides into the chair opposite us, his serious expression in direct contrast to his mate’s glowing one. “We need to talk before you get ahead of yourself.”
“Get ahead?” Ellis pulls a face. “How can I get ahead, Ot, when I feel like I’m a million miles behind?”
But his frustration is drowned out by a scuffling sound outside, a familiar growl easily penetrating the front door. “Bud, let me the fuck past, or you’re gonna be picking porch nails out of your teeth.”
Oh, God.
I leap to my feet, but the door is already flying open, and Logan is storming inside, a dark scowl on his face.
I shoot him a pleading look, but Ellis slides off the couch like he’s on skates, planting himself between us.
Logan ignores him, his fists clenching as he takes in the muscle-bound alphas cluttering up my living room. “LeeLee? What the hell is going on?”
Before I can answer, Ellis snaps his fingers at one of his security guards, sending him in Logan’s direction. “I don’t know who you are, but you’re going to regret barging in here.”
“Wait! Wait!” I splutter, heading off the bodyguard with a wave of my hands. “This is Logan. He lives next door. He’s not a threat.”
“I think we’ll be the judge of that,” the security guard responds, clearly unimpressed by Logan’s worn fatigues, blazing eyes, and three-day-growth.
“He’s a Marine and my soon-to-be mate,” I snap, almost choking on the testosterone surging through the room. “So, I suggest you take a quick step back.”
“Mate?” Ellis’ shoulders instantly relax, and he strides forward, his hand out. “Wow. We really fucked up the first impressions, then.” He laughs as he pumps Logan’s hand. “I’m Ellis Castle. Sorry for not calling ahead, but things have been a little crazy.”
Logan grunts. “Just an ordinary Thursday for you, then.”
Ellis chuckles, like he’s immune to steely-eyed Marines. “You’re not wrong. But I can fix it, promise.” He jerks his head at his tense bodyguards. “Guys, let’s step outside so we can get a handle on this, okay?”