Chapter 18
ELLIE
“Let’s find you something else to wear until you can get your things dug out of your car,” Lainey said, standing in the middle of her walk-in closet. She opened a drawer, rummaged through. “Here. These are the best.”
She tossed a pair of leggings at me. “If they’re your favorite, I can’t take them from you.”
I was in the same clothes I’d worn when I left Father’s house. Minus panties since they hadn’t been with my clothes when I got dressed. When I asked Trig after them, he only smiled, which meant he hid them. Then he’d told me that he liked easy access to his pussy.
I wasn’t going to tell her I didn’t bring anything with me.
“I bought three pairs. Plus this top and sweater.” She pushed the items at me and walked out of the closet.
I turned and stared after her, then realized she expected me to change right then and there.
Through the open doorway, I saw her lower legs hanging off the edge of her bed. She was waiting.
“You okay staying with Trig? Just say the word and I can rescue you.”
I pushed off my old leggings and swapped them for Lainey’s cozy ones. God, they were really great. Thick and soft and perfect for lounging.
“I think you already did,” I called.
She laughed. “I give him an hour.”
I put my head through the neckhole of the shirt. “An hour for what?”
“To ride over here and take you back. He’s a Wilder boy.”
My eyes widened, even though she couldn’t see me.
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. One thing you have to learn about my brothers–and I am definitely an expert–they are bossy and obstinate.”
I pulled on the thick chenille cardigan and walked out of the closet.
She eyed me and smiled. “You look great. I wish I had hair like yours. So dark.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about? You have a cute style and I’d give my right arm for your color.”
Her hair went past her shoulders and was a color women paid hundreds of dollars at a salon to achieve. I was sure hers was natural.
“Fine. I like my hair, but I’m jealous of your boobs and you can’t make me think otherwise.” She put her hands over hers and cupped them. They were definitely smaller and I bet she could wear cute bralettes, which I hadn’t fit into since I was fourteen.
I glanced down at myself. I never thought they were spectacular. Just… a lot.
“I always have to wear a bra,” I told her. “Always.”
She shrugged. “Worth it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Whatever.”
“Come on. I got a fancy coffeemaker for my birthday and it makes amazing mochas. Want one?”
“God, yes.”
I followed her down the hall to her kitchen.
Where Trig’s place was two stories, Lainey’s house was a rancher.
From what I could tell, it had two bedrooms with an open floor plan kitchen, dining and family room.
It was pretty much a log cabin that was situated in front of a pond.
Not that I knew it was there because of all the snow, but Lainey pointed in that direction when we’d walked from her huge garage.
On the walls were tons of photos. I recognized her family and a bunch of images of a younger Lainey on the back of a horse, the animal moving so fast his legs were practically a blur. A number was pinned to her shirt so she must compete. Barrel racing?
“I guess you’ll take online classes to finish up your degree then?” she asked, pulling me away from the photos. I followed her into the kitchen and leaned a hip against the counter as she measured out the coffee grounds.
“Why do you say that?”
“If you’re staying here in Devil’s Ditch, then you’d have to.”
“Lainey, I’m not staying here. I can’t.”
She finished the scooping and turned to me, frowning. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I’m going back to Seattle.”
Her forehead crinkled. “Why would you want to do that?”
“Because that’s where I belong.” Because that’s where I could hide from my father and Mr. Trout. Where the entire Wilder family wasn’t which meant they’d stay safe.
“You belong with Trig.”
“You’re just as obstinate sounding as your brothers,” I pointed out.
She set her hand on her chest. “Me?”
“What would you do if a guy you’ve just met tells you you belong to him?”
She sighed. “I’d probably melt into a puddle right then and there, then throat punch him.”
I laughed, because I definitely had melted into a puddle. “Exactly!”
“But Trig wouldn’t have said you belonged to him if he didn’t mean it.”
“He had no basis to make that decision.”
“Did you see him? He’s gorgeous. All of my brothers are, the losers. He could have any woman he wanted. In Devil’s Ditch. In Montana. Heck, with his work, all the buckle bunnies in North America.”
I frowned.
The coffee pot began to percolate and the scent of brewing beans filled the air.
“Gee, that’s helpful.”
“He has, never once, had a woman in his house. Maybe he doesn’t tell me everything, but we’re a tight family and word would have gotten to me.”
“Okay. I almost died in a blizzard. I wouldn’t say he had much choice in bringing me into his house.”
“If he only wanted a fling, he’d have said, ‘I want a fling’ but he didn’t.”
I was going to counter, but she had a point. He was gorgeous. He could have any woman he wanted. Probably had plenty.
“He wants you, Ellie.” She went about steaming the milk and the noise of it cut off any more talk.
She reinforced what Trig had told me. Reassured me that what I felt when I was with Trig was real. That there had been an instant connection between us. That when we had sex last night, it had been more than a one–or two time–thing.
We hadn’t used condoms and I wasn’t on birth control.
We hadn’t even talked about it at the time, only me mentioning that I wanted a big family. I hadn’t exactly meant starting on that later that night.
It had been so amazing, but he only mentioned me being his. Not keeping me forever.
When she handed me a mug with a frothy foamy top, I stared at it. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t stay. For me, this is a fling. It can’t be more.”
She set her hand on my arm and our eyes met for a moment. “Why?”
I shook my head.
“We’re sisters now, remember?”
Sisters. Trig wanted me. So did Lainey. Ann, too. Hayes had called me “Sis.”
I knew walking–or running–away was going to be hard, that I could deal with it, but now? With Lainey’s puppy dog eyes?
“It’s complicated. I’m not–”
For someone who lived in Seattle for most of my life, I’d become very used to what a snowmobile sounded like. From the sound of it, this one pulled up right in front.
Lainey rolled her eyes. “Told you. Although it only took him thirty minutes.”
Then there were heavy footsteps and the front door being flung open. Trig stormed in, slammed the door shut behind him.
He looked angry. Wild. He wasn’t wearing a coat. Only boots and leather gloves.
His eyes found me immediately.
“Jesus, Trig, what the hell is wrong with you?” Lainey shouted, setting her hands on her hips. “We’re having a nice cup of coffee and you come in here and–”
“When were you going to tell me you were engaged?”