Chapter 7 Ella
SEVEN
ELLA
I rushed around the kitchen, trying to make sure everything was just right.
I threw the noodles into a pot of boiling water and kept checking them every minute.
I threw pasta at the wall until it stuck, trying to make sure it got to the right temperature.
And between simmering the sauce and checking on the meatballs, I was a wreck.
Cooking dinner had never been such a stressful experience.
I had no idea how Texas enjoyed his meatballs cooked.
I had no idea how he enjoyed his noodles.
Did he like them a little crunchy? Softer?
Should I have snapped them in half? I smelled the meatballs and wondered if I’d put too much seasoning on them.
Jett hated extra seasoning on his meatballs.
He said it made them too salty. And he enjoyed a crunch to his noodles to cut through the vegetables I put in my sauce.
Holy hell, did Texas like mushrooms?
I ran my fingers through my hair. My ex-husband had never been happy with whatever I’d made for dinner.
He berated it or ate it with a crinkle in his nose.
Sometimes, if he was upset enough about it, he threw the plate of food against the wall.
I didn’t want Texas to hate dinner that much.
I wasn't sure if I’d be able to handle it.
It made me even angrier at Jett that I couldn't enjoy something like this with a man who obviously found me attractive.
Fucking Jett.
It was just one more thing to hate about the man.
And I tried my best not to focus on it. The second one of the noodles stuck to the backsplash of my kitchen, and I pulled them off and drained them.
I put them into a nice ceramic bowl and put it on the table.
I stirred the sauce one last time before I put it in another ceramic bowl with a nice ladle to go along with it.
And just as the meatballs were finished, I finally got some confidence underneath me.
I set the table while the meatballs sat and cooled on the stove.
“There. Now I can go—”
A knock came at the door, and I froze. My face paled. My hands trembled. I looked down at what I wore before a droplet of sweat fell to my chest. Oh shit. Texas was early, and I hadn’t changed clothes yet. Or cleaned up. Or generally washed myself down.
Red alert. Red alert. Shit. Shit. Get out. Get out now.
My mind flew everywhere as another knock came at the door.
I was in nothing but raggedy jeans, an old shirt, and my hair up in a messy bun.
I looked over at the front door as my heart slammed against my chest. This wouldn't go over well.
Jett always wanted me dressed up for dinner. That was a thing in our house.
He’s not Jett, Ella.
A third knock came at the door, and this time it held a little more panic.
It lasted a little longer, and I knew I couldn't keep Texas waiting.
So, I took a dishrag and blotted my skin off before answering the door.
I slid it open, and he came into view with his tight-ass blue jeans and his shirt that left nothing to the imagination regarding his chiseled body.
I looked up into his eyes, and that little smirk on his face made me want to melt into the floor. He looked fantastic, and I looked like a damn toad.
“Thought maybe you’d gone to bed,” Texas said.
I stepped off to the side, letting him in. “I’m sorry for the way I’m dressed. And I think I might have over-seasoned the meatballs just a bit. Also, the table isn’t quite set yet. But if you give me a second—”
“Ella.”
“Yeah?”
I closed the door softly before I looked back up at him.
“It smells great. And I think you look fine. If you want to go change, I can get the table set. But if you want my personal opinion, I think you’re pulling off the sexy-tousled-mom look just fine.”
That grin grew wider, and I blushed. His words also gave me a bit of comfort.
I nodded my thanks to him before I slipped past him.
I listened to him rummaging around in the kitchen to find the things we needed for dinner.
He whistled to himself, and the sound trailed down the hallway and caught my ears as I put on a nicer pair of jeans and a top that fell just barely off my shoulder.
I took my hair down and brushed through it and then put some dry shampoo on it, so it didn’t look so sweaty.
Then, I made my way back out into the kitchen.
“Keep up those kinds of outfits and your meatballs might go out the window,” Texas said.
I giggled at him and caught the fact that he was flirting.
He leaned against the kitchen counter, the table set, and the drinks already set out.
I knew he was flirting, but what I didn’t know was whether or not I should flirt back.
I was rusty in that area. In fact, Jett always teased me about how my appeal was the fact that I was cute when I was bumbling through flirting. So, I decided against it.
“I guess dinner is served then,” I said softly.
“Anything for dessert?” Texas asked.
He licked his lips, and my knees quaked.
“I mean unless you like two-week old ice cream or popsicles,” I said, grinning.
“Could I put the ice cream on something?”
A shiver worked its way down my back.
“I suppose there’s always cake. I could run out and go get some,” I said.
Texas smiled deviously. “No need. Maybe some other time.”
The two of us sat down at the dinner table, and he actually dished me up my plate. He took it from in front of me and put some noodles on it and was generous with the sauce. He topped it off with three meatballs before handing me over a piece of garlic toast, and I paused.
“Where did that come from?” I asked.
“I whipped it up really quickly while you were changing,” he said.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to forget something like that. Usually I remember—”
“Ella.”
My eyes whipped up to his, watching him as he filled his plate.
“Stop apologizing. The dinner’s great. Thank you,” he said.
Even though Keva was sleeping, I faced the hallway.
I could see her door whenever I leaned over and took a bite.
And it was a constant reminder that I had to put her first. I felt guilty for wanting Texas.
I felt ashamed of looking him over as much as I did during dinner.
Of getting so flustered at his presence.
But his words were kind, and I liked that.
Having Texas take care of things so I could change was a different sort of thing that I enjoyed.
And the way he filled my plate and whipped up some bread at the last minute was a new experience.
I wasn’t sure how to deal with it, honestly.
“This is really good,” Texas said.
“I’m glad you like it. The noodles aren’t too soggy?” I asked.
“Nope. They’re just right. I can tell by the method you used that you were paying attention too.”
He pointed to the backsplash where the noodles were still stuck. I was horrified. My jaw dropped open and I went to get up, pushing my chair out quickly.
“I can’t believe I forgot to cle—”
Before I could get past him, he reached out and grabbed my wrist. Texas’s massive, callused hand wrapped around my wrist and stopped me in my tracks. He slowly stood. My eyes connected with his chest, afraid to meet his stare. I’d left the damn noodles attached to the backsplash.
How much of an idiot was I?
“The meatballs are delicious, Ella,” he said.
His voice rumbled. Low. Hot against my ears. My eyes slowly grazed up his form, reveling in how warm his skin was against mine. I looked up into his beautiful eyes and saw a fierceness there. A seriousness. And just a hint of anger. I wasn’t sure what he was angry at, but I prayed it wasn’t me.
I didn’t want him being upset with me too.
“I suppose I could have made more sauce. I didn’t know you liked that part of the meal the best,” I said softly.
“Your meal was perfect, and don’t you ever doubt that,” he said.
I paused. “I—”
His hand left my wrist, and I wanted to reach back out for it.
Bring him back to me. But soon, that same hand was on my hip.
My eyes darted to Keva’s bedroom door as alarms sounded in my head.
They told me to get out. To back away. That I had a daughter to consider and a life I was still getting screwed back straight.
“You what?” Texas asked.
I looked up into his eyes and held my breath as his stare danced between mine.
“I feel safe with you here,” I whispered.
The way his arm slid around my lower back, though, drew me into him. Drew me into his strength. Into his musky smell. Into the muscles that throbbed underneath his flimsy navy blue shirt.
He pulled me so close to him that I could feel his thick cock pressing against me from beyond his jeans.
“Your dinner, Ella, was perfect,” Texas said again.
I watched his face come toward mind in slow motion.
His free hand cupped my cheek, helping me raise my lips to his.
His breath was against my skin. His heat encompassed me, holding me in a reassuring warmth that didn’t seem at all intrusive.
My hands crept up his torso, my fingers fluttering over his abs before settling onto his chest. His heart beat steadily against my palms, a smooth, strong foundation to my heart that thundered wildly in my chest.
“Texas,” I whispered.
“I want to taste your dinner on your lips,” he murmured.
The second his lips pressed against mine, my head spun.
My hands gripped the fabric of his tight shirt as I pushed up onto my tiptoes.
Fireworks went off in my head. My lips molded to his perfectly, as if they had been rehearsing ever since the day I met him.
Electricity fried my veins. It forced my mind blank as Texas slipped his tongue across the slit of my lips.
I moaned against him when our tongues met, and it only spurred him on to pull me closer.
My arms threaded around his neck. His arms cloaked my back.
My head fell off to the side, making room for more of us as my tongue devoured his.
My desire for him was hotter than anything I’d ever experienced, and when he groaned down the back of my throat, I shivered. Physically shivered in his grasp.
I knew it was wrong, kissing my brother’s best friend. I knew Texas was off limits.
And apparently, he felt the same.
Before I could really sink my fingertips into the meat of his back, he pulled away. The kiss stopped abruptly, and his arms fell away from my back. He took one step back. And then two. Like I had instantly become a rotten taste in his mouth.
I panted softly as I gazed at his swollen lips.
“I’m sorry,” Texas said.
My heart sank at those words.
“It’s okay,” I whispered.
“I just—I had to kiss you before the moment was lost.”
The moment. Lost. It was like my mind forgot how to piece the English language together.
I stood there, soundless, as my fingertips slowly came up to my lips.
They still tingled with him. They were still hot from his insistence.
My gut spun around with happiness. My heart leapt for joy.
Never did I ever think I’d experience something so beautiful and so tranquil ever again after what Jett did to me.
I must’ve been staring off too long, though, because the sound that ripped me from my trance was my front door closing.
Texas had left.
Without even saying goodbye.