Chapter Ten
Elias
It was only when the headlights of Teddy’s car cut through the dim cabin that I pulled my lips from hers.
I didn’t want to.
My dick really didn’t want to.
But this was all for show, and with the ex out of the driveway, there was no reason for me to keep my body pressed against hers.
Layne had been on her tiptoes, and when I pulled my lips from hers, she sank back to her feet, but her hands stayed wrapped around my shoulders.
I met her blue eyes with my dark ones. They were wide, but heated. Surprised or turned on or confused, or some combination of everything.
I was feeling the same way.
I knew I liked her.
I knew I wanted her.
What I hadn’t known until right now was how good it would feel to touch her, to kiss her, even just for a moment.
That was knowledge I couldn’t unlearn. It was also knowledge I couldn’t do anything with.
Seriously, what the hell did I do with the fact that my heart was beating out of my chest and my cock was straining?
She was someone my boss and friend trusted me to help get out of a shit situation.
Of course, what she wanted mattered more than what Jace wanted.
It was her life, after all.
But how did I find out what she actually wanted without this potentially blowing up in my face?
It was a no-win situation that could mess with my job, not to mention Layne’s head since she was just getting out of a messy breakup. I cleared my throat. “I should get going.” She nodded and let her arms fall. She wiped the corner of her lip with her hand, and looked anywhere but at me.
“Yeah, for sure. Thanks for the lift and everything.”
I slid my feet into my boots, knowing things had shifted. “Let me know if he comes back or if you need a ride tomorrow.”
She nodded. “Thanks, Elias, you’re a good friend.”
The word friend hit me like a boot to the balls.
Friends.
That’s what we were.
That was how she saw me.
That was why I was doing this.
I turned and walked out the door, closing it behind me with a decisive click. The snow was still falling. It had a way of making the world silent even as my thoughts refused to shut up. I drove home on autopilot, watching for any sign of Teddy’s car in case he was hanging around.
* * *
I woke up the next morning and checked my phone. There were no messages from Layne. That was a relief…sort of. I was glad I hadn’t missed a message from her about Teddy, but I was hoping to hear from her anyway.
Especially after that kiss.
Friend or not, that was the hottest kiss I’d ever had. I was surprised I’d gotten to sleep with how keyed up I was from her touch. Unfortunately, rather than waking up to a beautiful woman in my bed, I had to get some work done.
It was Saturday, so technically Wild Timber Homes was closed. Realistically, we all worked whatever hours we needed to. If there was work to do, then we went in, and the Beast project was far from done. In fact, we were behind.
My phone vibrated on the nightstand, and I grabbed it fast enough that I almost dropped it on the floor.
Layne: Are you going in today?
I replied right away.
Elias: Definitely. You?
Her reply popped up quickly.
Layne: Could you give me a lift, car is snowed in.
Elias: be there in twenty
I scrubbed a hand over my face and pushed out of bed.
I really should get some distance from this woman. Then again, I couldn’t just say no to someone who needed help. I set my phone aside and hit the remote start so my truck would be warm for her when I got to her place.
Yeah, I was that guy.
Whether she was in my life as a friend, a co-worker, or more, I still wanted to do things for her.
I got dressed, made a coffee, and got in the truck, pulling into her driveway a short time later.
Layne was already on the porch, a pink toque pulled low over her ears.
She had a to-go mug held tightly in her grip.
“Nice and warm in here,” she said as she slid into the passenger seat.
My chest warmed that I’d taken the extra step for her.
“Any issues after I left last night?”
She shook her head, causing her blonde hair to dance around her shoulders. “I shut off my phone and went to sleep.”
“Probably the smartest thing to do.”
We stepped into the office to find Jace, Zane, and Wyatt already there. Wyatt looked a little green, the color of old drywall, and I stepped up next to him.
“Good morning,” I said, entirely too loudly, right next to his ear.
He flinched. “Damn, man. Not so loud.”
“You don’t have a hangover, do you?” Layne yelled into his other ear.
Wyatt collapsed onto the couch and curled in on himself. “You’re both mean.”
“Just go home if you’re sick,” Jace said, rolling his eyes at Wyatt’s theatrics.
“I never give up,” he said, pushing himself off the couch.
Layne settled in behind her computer, already all business. Zane and Wyatt headed out to the yard, Wyatt shuffling like a man walking toward his own execution.
Jace pulled me aside, out of Layne’s earshot. His voice dropped automatically. “Everything okay?”
“He was there when we got to her place last night,” I said. “Tried to use the weather as an excuse to stay. But I got rid of him.”
Jace ran a hand through his hair. “Good. Thanks.” He sighed. “I don’t think Layne would go back with him. I just don’t want to give that little weasel a chance to try to convince her, you know?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I know.”
I knew more about the whole Teddy situation than I ever wanted to.
More than was smart, maybe.
The whole thing was messing with my head.
I wanted to hold her tight. I wanted to punch him in the face. More than anything, I wanted him out of her life so she could start over, whichever way she decided to do that.
Preferably with me.