CHAPTER TWENTY – LILY #2
I’ve read enough about Otley to know that he’s a ruthless businessman, so I have to tally this up as my third surprise of the night. “Really? I thought it would be too tame for you. Don’t you miss the big city vibes?”
“I mostly spend my time in boardrooms,” he tells me as he washes his hands and then picks up a napkin, scooping some of the gleaming caviar on a toast point and lifting it to my mouth.
Unlike the canned bean and sweet corn version I’m used to at potlucks, this cowboy caviar is the real deal, and I can’t resist a small moan at its delicate, creamy flavor.
Otley watches me for a moment, his gaze fixed on my lips as I dab them with a napkin.
“I like being at home,” he says finally, “where it smells like pack.”
Again, not what I’m expecting from the intimidating alpha.
I guess that there’s a lot more to discover about Otley James than my memories from ten years ago and the articles I’ve read.
“I’d still like to see what you do for work.
Do you think I could listen in on one of your meetings some time?
Something that’s not confidential, obviously.
I’d keep as quiet as a mouse, so no one would even know I’m there. ”
He looks at me suddenly, his eyes dilating behind his glasses.
I can still taste the tang of peppers and caviar on my tongue, but now it’s overlaid with the richness of cherries.
What is he imagining? Me sitting on his lap while he commands his empire from his office chair?
“I’d like that,” he says in a husky voice. “I’ll set something up.”
While I’ve been ensnared by the allure of his scent, he’s nudged the tray of appetizers closer to me, and I chuckle awkwardly. “You keep feeding me, there won’t be any left for the others.”
“I like feeding you,” he murmurs, a small frown forming between his brows. “You keep missing meals.”
Jittery awareness steals my breath. Is food Otley’s way of caring?
Is that why he's so involved in Lexington’s?
Ellis made it sound like it was just an investment, but he went as far as writing a second restaurant into his investment contract.
Planning for the future, according to Ellis.
And then there are the dinner trays that keep appearing in my room.
Every time I miss a meal, he notices, and sends something up to me.
I stare down at the arrangement of adorable appetizers, and something shifts in my chest, sharp as heartburn, but tingling like anticipation.
“Maybe you could cook for me some time,” I say softly. “One of your new recipes, maybe?”
He waits until I meet his eyes before asking, “Just the two of us? Like a date?” Was that what I meant? The idea makes the jittery anticipation spread through my bloodstream and when I nod, a slow smile softens the sharp planes of his face. “I’d like that a lot, Lily.”
The tips of my ears are still burning as Otley helps me carry the appetizers outside.
A country song is playing through a portable speaker and Laura, my other friend from high school, is walking Tristan through a line dance.
The wine is clearly flowing, Beau reading one of his favorite steamy scenes out loud as Kaysie and Sarah make room for the platters on the table.
Everyone exclaims over Otley’s creative efforts, and I get another glimpse of this complicated man as he accepts their praise with a small, private smile.
I can see Tristan’s eyes burning with pride as he slips under his arm, fanning his face with a hat he’s borrowed from Beau.
Otley presses a firm kiss to his lips and my friends all smile as they take in the mated pair.
I have a sudden urge to step forward and find my own place – between them?
beside them? – when Beau gives a low whistle and rises to his feet.
He starts to clap, and all eyes turn towards the door as Ellis and Leo step out onto the porch.
If I was feeling warm from the kitchen, it’s nothing on seeing Ellis Castle in costume.
Instead of sequined chaps and a sparkly Stetson, he’s wearing a full-length cloak in black leather, the hood pulled up over his long, platinum hair.
I know it’s a wig, like I know the smoky intensity of his eyes is from cleverly applied mascara, but it still sends an astonished shiver through me.
It’s Ellis, but a version of him I’ve only seen on a seventy-foot screen.
“Holy shit!” Beau gasps. “Is that an authentic Kaliel costume?”
I jolt, because he’s right. I haven’t seen the other movies in the blockbuster trilogy, but pictures of Ellis dressed as the Frozen Throne’s elf king have been plastered across social media for years.
Usually accompanied by fans swooning at the sight of him, or shipping him with other attractive actors in the franchise.
Reason enough to avert my eyes, but now I can’t look away, my heart thudding in my chest as he approached with my grinning son by his side.
“It’s still dad,” Leo informs me in a mock whisper. “He said he always packs a few costumes, just in case a bunch of book lovers invite him to their party.”
Everyone snorts at this revelation, but it’s Beau who coos, “Well, take this as a standing invitation, my lord. And feel free to wear anything… or nothing. We’re really not picky here.”
Ellis flicks him a smirk, but his gaze quickly returns to me, and I feel myself almost melt into the arm of the chair I’m perched on.
“It'd work better with the elf ears and leather trousers,” he says with one of his playful smiles, “and apologies for confusing the theme, but I haven’t played a cowboy since Oklahoma in middle school.”
“We’re genre-fluid in this club,” Kaysie pipes up, squeezing my thigh.
I glance down at her, and wonder if I look as stunned as she does.
I mean, we know Ellis is a world-famous celebrity, but seeing him like this is almost like having a real elf king wander into our party.
“Although, now that we’ve seen it in the flesh, maybe next month’s pick should be some fairy porn. ”
I nudge her in the ribs, wishing she’d cram the rest of her queso cup in her mouth. “It’s fine, Ellis. You look amazing.”
He takes a step forward, plucking my hand from my lap and dropping smoothly to his knee. While I stare at him in wide-eyed shock, he presses a kiss to the back of my hand and says, “Thank you for the invitation, milady. You’ve finally made all my book club fantasies come true.”
It’s so ridiculous, I’m giggling even before he wags his perfectly arched brows at me. I don’t know where I get the urge from, but I lean forward and peck his cheek. “You’re wish is my command, milord.”
It’s only as I pull back that I realize what I’ve done.
Not just the giggling and flirting, but the easy affection with Ellis, which is definitely not my reputation in our circle.
I quickly look at Leo, but he’s grinning so wide, his eyes are scrunched into green slits.
I sigh in relief, until his eyelashes flicker and he asks, “What’s fairy porn? ”
“Oops,” Kaysie mutters, shooting me an apologetic shrug. “That sounds like a mom conversation.”
“Okay, it’s probably time to check on that cowboy cobbler,” Tristan says quickly, gripping Leo’s shoulders and steering him towards the door. He shoots me a quick smile before he asks in a cheerful voice, “Did I tell you about the time I worked on a commercial for Pop Tarts?”
“No way!”
There’s a moment of silence after they disappear inside and then Otley lifts his head from the book he’s been perusing.
I give a silent groan as I realize it’s Beau’s copy, so probably open to the steamiest scene in the book.
“I don’t know about fairy porn,” Otley says slowly, “but based on what I’ve just read, maybe I should’ve used more chili peppers in the queso cups. ”
Kaysie snorts, and then Ellis chuckles into his sleeve.
It doesn’t take long for Beau to start hooting and then we’re all laughing, and I have to clutch the arm of the chair so I don’t slide off.
It’s one of those perfect, ridiculous moments, especially as I watch glee dance across Ellis’ face, Otley’s mouth curved into a wide, smirking grin.
“Oh, if you think this is raunchy,” Sarah says when we finally settle down, “you should try reading a pack heat scene in the love bus. Talk about getting into the mood.”
I give her a quelling look, but Beau has already leaped to his feet.
“That’s right! I mean this vibe is gorgeous,” he says, waving a hand at the cozy porch setting, “but you haven’t really experienced the Knotty Falls’ Book Club until you’ve had an in-depth discussion about monster knots in the shaggin’ wagon. ”
Kaysie chokes on her generous dollop of caviar, but she can’t hide her grin as Beau strides to the porch steps and heads in the direction of my Airstream.
Crap. As Sarah so helpfully reminded everyone, we’ve used it in the past for book club meetings, but I cringe as Beau now pulls the door open and the rest of the party starts to drift after him, wine glasses in hand.
“Shaggin’ wagon?” Ellis murmurs in my ear as I rise reluctantly from my perch. “That sounds like the most intriguing story of the night.”
“Not really…” I mutter, but we follow the others, Otley just a few steps ahead of us. He shoots a look back at me over his shoulder, so I see exactly when the realization hits.
Maybe I didn’t use enough Febreze after all…
“Honey,” Beau calls with a strangled laugh, “I think you need to air this out a little more….”
“Oh, my God,” I mutter, my cheeks so hot I can feel the burn in my ears. “Just shut the door, will you?”