Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
ANGEL BABY
Shaw
“I found heaven in her smile.” – S
“ W ow,” Ella breathes out in wonder as we make our way through the pink tulip fields. The sun shines brightly down on us as we sit atop Peppermint. “So pretty…”
Peppermint’s hooves gently stir the sea of pink tulips stretching out before us. The air is filled with the sweet scent of blossoms. “I thought you’d appreciate this much pink,” I tell her as I keep my gaze fixed ahead.
Before Ella speaks, the only sound is the soft rustle of the tulip petals brushing against Peppermint’s legs. The serene atmosphere soothes something inside me. “You thought right, Shaw Bear. This is just like a scene straight out of one of Aunt Mila’s favorite romance books,” she whispers in awe.
My hands rest lightly on the reins, guiding Peppermint with practiced ease, while Ella leans against me, her head nestled against my shoulder as she tries to look over it. Our height difference makes it difficult for her to see ahead, so I lean to my right to give her a better view.
“Thank you,” Ella blurts out suddenly.
“You keep saying that,” I grumble.
“And I will keep saying it. It’s called being polite,” she snaps, and I bite my lip, struggling not to laugh at her stubbornness.
“I don’t care for politeness,” I tell her bluntly, my top lip twitching.
“I’m sure you don’t, grumpy.”
Grumpy. This girl is not only stubborn but fearless too.
I sigh softly, giving in. “What are you thanking me for?”
She whispers against my neck, “For being kind to me.” The warmth of her breath and her closeness make me shiver. Fuck. Gritting my teeth, I ignore the feelings she stirs. I pretend they have no control over me.
Clearing my throat, I say, “You shouldn’t thank people for being kind.”
“You have no idea how many unkind people there are out there, Shaw. So, when you come across someone who treats you with respect and makes you smile, you should thank them or at least be kind to them.”
Her words pierce my chest, and I wonder how many pieces of shit have hurt this girl throughout her life. I think of how famous she and her family are and how some people believe they can do and say whatever they please because they chose to put themselves in the spotlight. They often forget that celebrities are humans and they hurt and bleed just the same as the rest of us.
At that moment, I couldn’t find the right words, my brain was a mess.
As we continue our journey through the tulip field in silence, the sun dips low on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over us. I steal a glance at Ella behind me, her delicate face bathed in the soft light, her blue eyes alight with joy and serenity.
Suddenly, I feel a wave of déjà vu deep in my soul, as if I’ve been here before. Here. With her.
“Hey, Shaw.” The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as she whispers closely.
“Yes, moonshine?” The term of endearment slips my mind, perhaps lost in the noise of the wind, she might not have heard it.
Her sharp intake of breath tells me that she heard me call her the name I used to call her when she was little.
“Can I get down?” she asks almost timidly, as if she’s afraid I’ll say no. “Can I feel the pretty flowers?”
Feel the pretty flowers…
“You want to feel the flowers?” I ask, sounding surprised. I don’t know why it surprises me. This is who she is. The sweet girl that the media doesn’t want to know. They only like the scandals and the bullshit stories people fabricate to make money off her. This is who she is to her core.
Good. Too damn good.
“Yes, and smell them too!” she murmurs, and then my skin feels hot. Too hot. I can’t deny any longer the effect her closeness has on me. As she rests her chin on my shoulder while I guide Peppermint along the field, I find myself torn between stubbornness and the warmth spreading through me.
Why is it that the coldness that has kept me sane all these years suddenly fades away as soon as this tiny girl is near? Fuck, why her?
My jaw tightens, resisting the urge to acknowledge the peace her presence brings. I grumble under my breath, trying to mask the softening of my features as her closeness soothes my harsh edges.
Deep down, I know I should push her away, maintain the facade of indifference I’ve been holding onto since we made a pact to get along. But as I feel her warmth seep into every cold corner of my soul, I can’t help but soften.
A reluctant sigh escapes me, unnoticed by Ella, as I begrudgingly admit to myself the simple truth. A truth I can’t admit aloud.
Ella’s closeness brings me a sense of solace I thought I would never feel again. She brings so many feelings I’ve kept buried for so long to the surface, and all it takes from her is her lovely smiles and gentle nature.
With a gruff nod, I dismount from Peppermint. I gently reach out to help Ella down by holding her by the waist. My hands linger on her small waist for a moment longer than necessary, and it takes everything from me to let her go. The feeling of her in my arms sends a bolt of electricity through me. The same feeling I experience every time we touch.
Once Ella’s feet touch the ground, I release her with a subtle clearing of my throat, masking the intense reaction her gentle touch invokes. “Go wild,” I grumble, pointing towards the vibrant tulip field. Despite my best efforts to maintain my tough exterior, I can’t deny the softness that seeps into me as I watch her touch every pink flower with delicacy and gentleness.
I stand back and watch her in wonder as she too stops and smells the flowers, looking happy as can be.
How is it that she enjoys the little things so much? Things we all take for granted, too busy hustling and busting our asses every day to reach her level of wealth. So, we can have the finest things in life and yet the multibillionaire heiress finds beauty in the little things.
How… perfect.
I think as I watch her.
Then out of nowhere, a gentle rain starts to fall, its soft droplets soothing our skin against the harsh sun. I cast a sideways glance at Ella, noticing the way her black and pink curls glisten with raindrops and her eyes sparkle with delight. “Rain!” Everything around me stops when she throws her head back, her laughter ringing out like an angel’s song. I watch her in a trance. Her joy is infectious, her laughter a melody that dances in the air and wraps around me like a warm blanket after being in the cold for so long. I can’t help but be captivated by the sight of pure bliss on her face over something as simple as the rain.
I have to let go of the reins to rub my chest, chasing away the tightness.
I watch her in awe, the sound of her laughter filling every lonely corner of my soul with magic and wonder.
Most people would imagine that the rain falling on a pink tulip field would be a breathtakingly beautiful sight, but it pales in comparison to the image of Ella Kenton laughing with her whole heart while soaking wet. In this moment, her happiness illuminates the world around us.
“Moonshine…” I whisper so only I can hear, the pressure in my chest growing stronger the more I look at her.
Then she laughs louder while she dances in a circle, her face tilted toward the cloudy sky as rain cascades around her.
As I watch her, a wave of realization washes over me. I have never felt this way before while staring at another woman. This strange feeling in my chest that only intensifies when this lovely creature sprinkles me with her magic and sweetness is rare and new. Scary as fuck, too.
It feels like the walls around my heart are crumbling, the barriers I have built to shield myself slowly melting away in her presence.
But along with the rush of emotion comes fear, a nagging doubt whispering in my mind. I know I am in deep trouble. I also know that Ellaiza Kenton can awaken a part of me that I had thought dead and buried. A side of me that I buried along with a tragic past and the one person who swore to love me above everyone and everything else.
For so long, I have shut myself off from the world, not caring to let anyone in, afraid to feel the pain of loss again. But now, with this sweet creature, I can’t ignore the truth anymore. She has touched something deep within me, something I thought I had lost forever. Something that the woman I loved most in the world took with her.
The ugly memories from the past fade away when she turns and fixes me with her deep and soulful eyes.
And as I look at her, fear and longing swirling in my chest, I know that I am on the brink of something life-changing, something that could alter the course of my very existence.
And it is all because of her.
Because of Moonshine.