11. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Ellie
M onday morning, I’m in Jake’s guest room stuffing my last pair of jeans into my luggage. An ache in my chest is already setting in at the thought of leaving Jake’s ranch.
As I zip up everything, the memories of Saturday cascade through me like a warm rush—Jake's touch igniting every inch of my skin, his breath hot against my neck. We spent the whole day tangled in sheets, lost in the kind of mind-numbing intimacy that leaves you boneless and satisfied. But it wasn’t just the sex—though God knows, that was spectacular—I find myself smiling at the laughter in between the passion and the moments we took a breather to just talk about random, light-hearted things. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him talk so much at once, but it was nice. It made me feel like we were more than just friends with benefits. Which, I know is a bad thing to be feeling.
Of course, Sunday was completely different after Charlotte got back. Jake retreated behind those thick walls of his, almost as if our day of smiles and softness hadn't happened. It's disconcerting. One minute he's relaxed and open, the next he's a storm cloud. I think this arrangement was a terrible idea, mostly for me. Why did Jake’s sinful body have to be so damn tempting?
My eyes flutter closed. I can still feel his bare, hot skin against mine, his mouth between my legs, his firm hardness…
"Ms. Carter?"
I startle and turn around to find Charlotte standing in the open doorway. I fight to regain my composure. “Hi, sweetie. What’s up?”
She lowers her gaze. Her dark eyes are glassy, her face pinched in discomfort. “I threw up again,” she says in a small voice.
I rush over, squatting in front of her. “Oh no. Your tummy still hurting?” I check her forehead as she nods. She feels warm but not as warm as yesterday. "Sweetie, you need to be in bed."
"I know. Um, can you stay with me on the couch?"
I brush hair from her forehead. “Oh, I would love to, but I have to get back. You know Ms. Wallace, my teaching assistant?”
Charlotte nods.
“Well, she’s subbing for me today but my students all say she talks too much. I really should try to get back for the afternoon before they all go crazy. Your Daddy is here to sit with you and help you feel better.”
Her lower lip trembles and she looks like she’s going to cry. “But Daddy can’t take care of me like you can.”
Charlotte's eyes lock onto mine, and it's like looking into a well of loneliness. It breaks something inside me, thinking about her mom, wherever she might be. I don’t really know anything about the situation or even if Jake was ever married to Charlotte’s mother, but does Charlotte ever see her? They have to have some kind of joint custody.
I swallow the lump in my throat and adjust the collar of Charlotte’s nightgown. She looks so small and helpless I really don’t have it in me to tell her no. My class won’t be happy, but Danielle will cover for me while I stay here.
"Okay. I'll stay until you're feeling better."
Charlotte's face brightens instantly, and I'm struck by how much she resembles Jake when she smiles. "Really? You mean it? The whole week?"
"Well…I don’t know about the whole week.”
She holds her stomach dramatically. “But what if I have the flu?”
“I’ll stay until you feel better. Now, go watch some TV on the couch. I’ll be there soon."
She gives me a quick hug, then dashes off. I remain kneeling on the floor, emotions swirling through me. What have I gotten myself into here? I care too damn much about both of them.
Jake is really not going to like me trying to extend my stay. But how can I leave Charlotte like this?
Standing, I grab my phone off the nightstand. I pull out my phone, my thumb hovering over Danielle's contact. The kids should be at recess by now, while I'm here, a world away from my crayon-scented classroom. I’m not sure Danielle will like subbing for longer. What if I really do end up staying the week?
I hit the call button and then wait. Here goes nothing .
Kids are shrieking in the background when Danielle answers."Hey Ellie! What's up? Did you have a good weekend?" Her tone is way too suggestive. “I’m assuming you did since you’re not here yet. Who’s the guy?”
I sit on the bed and start playing with the zipper on my luggage. Considering I was preoccupied this weekend, I haven’t yet told her about the duplex situation. I only messaged her yesterday that I needed her to sub this morning, promising to fill her in later. Guess that means now. “Um…so…I’ll give you the short version…”
I tell her about the duplex and that I’m staying on a ranch with “a friend” and that my “friend” is sick and needs me. Then I try to finish with, “Any chance you can cover my class for the rest of the week? I probably won’t need to stay that long, but just in case.”
Danielle doesn’t respond, more shrieking kids floating through the phone.
“Hello?” I finally ask.
“You don’t have any friends who live on ranches.”
“Y-Yes I do.”
“Who is it?”
I grimace since she can’t see me. My face is with guilt. Lying to Danielle is the last thing I want to do, but I can't tell her the truth. If my brother finds out about this, he'll blow a gasket. “A friend.”
She lets out a strong puff of air. “Oh, you’re hiding something. It’s terrible what happened to your apartment and I’m so glad you’re okay but…Wait, are Jake and his daughter okay?”
“I…Yes. I mean, I haven’t talked to him, them. They weren’t home at the time, thankfully.”
“Ellie. Why did your voice rise in pitch?”
My voice rises higher beyond my control. “It didn’t.” Danielle gasps and I’m assuming something just clicked in her head. Before she can speak, I say quickly, “I don’t know what you think is happening, but I’m begging you, please don't ask any questions. You have to swear you won't tell anyone about whatever you’re thinking. My brother cannot hear any rumors, got it?”
She giggles like a schoolgirl. "Alright, I swear. But you're killing me here! I expect details when you're back. And don't worry about your class. I've got it covered."
"Thanks, you're a lifesaver. I owe you one." I end the call before she can ask anything else, feeling a mix of relief and guilt churning in my stomach. Danielle will let our supervisors know of my absence so everything with work is good to go.
One problem down, now onto the next: convincing Jake to let me stay.
I head outside into the bright morning sun, a stark contrast to the dimly lit guest room I've just left behind. The grass is still wet with dew, and the earthy scent of the ranch fills my senses. But nothing prepares me for the sight that greets me near the stables.
Jake, shirtless, his muscles moving in a rhythmic dance as he tosses bales of hay with such ease it's almost indecent. His skin glistens with sweat, sticking to him like an extra layer, and the veins on his arms stand out, a roadmap of strength that has me momentarily forgetting why I'm here. He's wearing a pair of worn jeans that fit him just right, and there's something about the way he grips the pitchfork that sets my imagination on fire. Especially since I watched him grip something else multiple times Saturday, showing me how much he wanted me and just couldn’t wait.
It's not until Jake notices me, his gaze flickering in my direction before he pointedly looks away, that I snap back to reality. It's clear he'd rather pretend I'm just another part of the scenery.
I walk closer, watching him toss another bale of hay. I know he’s a firefighter, but right now he's the epitome of a cowboy fantasy come to life.
"All packed up?" he says gruffly without meeting my eyes.
"Actually, about that..." I trail off, nerves twisting my stomach.
Jake's jaw clenches. "You can't stay."
His response shouldn’t hurt because I understand the situation—just casual, friends with benefits—but it does. He’s clearly back to running cold again. But the more I think about it the more I simply feel irritated. How does he manage to build walls so high you need a ladder to get over them?
I put my hands on my hips. "Your daughter asked me to stay. She's still sick." My words hang between us, waiting for him to take hold of their meaning.
"Char asked you?" There's a shift in his tone, a crack in the facade as he pauses his work and finally looks at me.
"Yep." My confirmation seems to weigh heavily on him, his brow furrowing as if he's reevaluating things based on this new info.
“I’m her father, so I’ll take care of her. You should get back to work.” He returns to moving hay, but I can tell I've got his attention now. And that he’s going to need extra convincing.
I resist the urge to let my eyes wander over the rippling muscles of his back, focusing instead on the task at hand. "I’m not saying you can’t take care of her,” I say cautiously. “Of course you can. I…I just heard Charlotte's been having some behavioral issues at school. And since I'm a teacher, I thought maybe I could stay a little longer and help with that. It's the least I can do after you gave me a place to stay this weekend." And so many orgasms I lost count. My face flushes, but I ignore it.
Jake’s silence urges me to keep talking, to fill the space with reason and negotiation. "I'll comfort her while she's sick, and help her catch up on schoolwork. You fought that fire and worked so hard these past weeks, so you can relax and—"
"Ellie," he starts but doesn't finish, letting the word hang like a warning. He faces me, stabbing his pitchfork into a bale. Jake works his jaw, eyes turbulent. He wants me to stay; I can see it in the way his resolve wavers.
I soften my tone. "Jake…This isn't about us. It's about Charlotte."
After several tense seconds, he nods. "Fine. You can stay to help Char with her schoolwork and while she's recovering. But..." He steps closer, aware that there are a few ranch hands nearby. He lowers his voice. "No more of what happened this weekend. It'll only confuse her."
"I understand." As much as I crave his touch again, he's right. Charlotte's well-being has to come first. “And besides, won’t you be at work?"
“No. I have the next few weeks off.”
“Oh.” I swallow. I hadn’t really considered that. I thought maybe this would just be me babysitting Charlotte, but with Jake here…No, it’ll be fine. “We’ll keep it strictly professional.”
"Good." Jake rakes a hand through his long dark hair, looking away. "I should finish up here." He dives back into his work like our conversation was just another chore to check off his list.
Sighing, I return to the house. My thoughts are a messy tangle. What have I gotten myself into?