Chapter Fourteen
ELLY
VOICES AND lighthearted laughing down the hall pull me from my melancholy and I wipe away the evidence of tears.
Following the smell of bacon, I turn the corner to the kitchen to find Sloane and Hallie working on breakfast. Hallie is at the stovetop cooking and Sloane at the island cutting up vegetables.
Marley is setting out plates and arranging food on the center island.
I try to be quiet as I walk into the middle of their conversation, “…it doesn’t have to be a tiered cake, just something pretty and wedding-ey will be fine with me.” Sloane says with her head down and her focus on slicing avocados.
“I know the perfect single-layer, I did the same thing for my cousin’s wedding, and she loved it.” Hallie is scooping bacon from the frying pan onto a paper towel lined plate.
She looks young, twenty-two, maybe, and her long, thick auburn hair is pulled into a French braid that hangs to her mid back. Her frame is small, almost malnourished and kind of bony, but she’s still taller than me.
Everyone’s taller than me.
Marley looks up as I step in and her already bright smile gets bigger. “Good morning, Elly. How did you sleep?”
Hallie and Sloane look in my direction and they both smile at me, not fake smiles, genuine smiles like the ones they would give family. So, this is what it feels like? The warm cocoon of trust and acceptance I have only ever seen from the outside.
I smile back at them before I say, “Good, except for the cold, but Breanna’s bed is very comfortable and cozy." Leaning against the other side of the island, across from Sloane, I push my hair behind my ear. "Can I help with anything?”
She looks up with a smile and her green eyes meet mine, “I don’t think so, we’re almost done. We’re not eating breakfast in the dining room with the power out, everyone will just come through and pick what they want as they head out.”
“Head out? In this?” I point at the window to the ice-covered landscape, but when I try to lift my eyebrows, pain shoots across my forehead and I squeeze my eye shut.
Marley sets down the toast she is buttering and turns to the cabinet. Sloane briefly looks over her shoulder at Marley to see what she’s doing before she says, “Yep, the horses don’t take care of themselves. It’s just like any other day for the guys.”
Marley sets a small packet of something next to a glass of orange juice in front of me. “What’s this?” I pick up the packet that looks like it would come in a noodle package.
Marley picks up another piece of toast and starts to butter it. “It’s pain reliever, like aspirin, just wash the powder down with the orange juice.” She lifts her butter knife to point at my mouth as she talks.
I push the powder back across the counter to her. “I’m allergic to most pain medications,” I laugh and say, “I’m allergic to almost everything, there were lots of minor emergency visits when I was a child. But thank you, I appreciate you looking out for me.”
“Aww, how do you deal with headaches and minor things like that?” Sloane asks as she tosses the avocado peels and seeds in the trash. The worry line between her eyebrows is deep and her green eyes are full of concern.
I wave my hand in front of my face like it’s no big deal. “I learned to deal with pain when I was a kid and developed a high pain threshold.”
Marley stops what she’s doing, and her eyes get big, “That’s how you walked so far in that horrible weather yesterday!”
I point my finger at her. “Yep.” I take advantage of the orange juice and drink half of the glass.
The cold sweetness is perfect. Being around them is so comfortable and regardless of why I’m here, they make me feel like I belong, not like I’m here to take their home.
“Did I hear talk about wedding cakes when I walked in?”
Hallie looks over her shoulder, excitement in her brown eyes, “Yes, I’m going to make Sloane’s wedding cake. I’m so excited.” Her happiness is contagious, and I can't help the smile forming on my face.
The warmth and inclusiveness I’m feeling right now has my inner child lounging on a sunny beach somewhere with a smile, and her face is tipped up to the sun.
My eyes move back to Sloane, who looks happy that Hallie is so happy. “Oh yeah? When’s the big day?”
Her cheeks turn pink, and the edges of her lips tip up, “We want to do something small outside here on the ranch when it warms up a little, maybe in April or May.”
“How exciting! Will you be wearing a traditional wedding dress, or will it be more casual?” I love weddings. When I was a teenager, being a wedding planner was my dream. But my father quickly let me know there was no money in silly, little girl endeavors like that.
That’s when I remember I’m talking to them as if I’m not the asshole sent here to get them to give up their ranch, ASAP preferably. Guilt turns the orange juice I just drank to acid in my stomach and my inner child huffs and slams the door in my face.
“I think I want a casual barn ceremony.” Her eyes start to sparkle as she talks. “One of the magazines I bought gave me some really good ideas…” Her voice trails off as Mr. Harlow, Gray, Mason, and Jax walk into the room and her smile gets even bigger. “Good morning.”
They're all dressed in layers and carrying hats and coats that they toss on the breakfast nook table and chairs like they’ve done it a million times. Gray’s eyes slide past me, his focus moving to the plates of food set across the counter.
The flannel shirt he has on today is black and gray over a black t-shirt, and leather gloves are hanging out of the back pocket of the jeans hugging his hips and thighs.
His beard is just longer than a scruff and his plump lips are pressed into a tight line, a whisper of what those lips would feel like against mine floats across my thoughts.
I push that thought down deep. There will never be anything between me and this man who can’t stand the sight of me.
Mr. Harlow is the first to speak, snapping me out of my thoughts about soft lips and my head turns in his direction.
“It smells good in here, what’ve we got?
” He walks over to the island and stands next to me to survey the dishes on the counter.
He reaches over and plucks a strip of bacon from a plate and takes a bite before he winks at me.
The easygoing way they all move around each other and the warmth between them makes the familiar ache for a real family bloom in my chest. Mason walks around the island and pulls Sloane into him and shamelessly kisses her in front of everyone before he moves over to Marley and kisses the top of her head.
He doesn’t touch Hallie, but says, “Mornin’ Hallie.”
She looks over her shoulder with a smile. “Mornin’.”
Feeling like I’m intruding in a dynamic which clearly doesn’t include me, I take a step away from the island, but when I turn on my heel to get out of the way, my nose smashes into a very hard, broad chest. My head bounces back and pain spiderwebs across my forehead and nose as tears fill my eyes, I cup my hand over my stinging injury from yesterday as I stumble backward.
Big hands grab my arms to hold me steady and I look up into warm hazel eyes. Gray squats and looks in my eye that’s not covered by my hand. “You okay?”
The heat from his hands is soaking through the sweater and the flannel shirt I’m wearing, searing into my skin. “Uh, yeah, I’m fine.” I try to take a step back, but the hold on my arms doesn’t loosen. That’s when I feel the trail of warm blood sliding down my wrist from my palm.
His eyes track the blood on my wrist, and his eyebrows come together, his voice is angry.
“You’re not fine. Sit.” He spins me around and pushes me into a chair at the breakfast nook table.
“Marley. Wet towel, please.” His deep voice is soft, the same tone he used yesterday when he took control after he carried me in the house.
“On it.” Marley softly calls and is at his side in two seconds with a wet dishtowel in her hand. Jax moves to her side and stands close without touching her. Without looking at him, she crosses her arms over her chest and takes a step away.
Behind Marley, I see Sloane clap her hand over her mouth and turn away before I hear Mason chuckle and say, “Come here, darlin’, before you lose your breakfast again.”
“I’m sorry.” I say mostly to Sloane, even though her back is now to me, for making her sick but also for interrupting everyone’s breakfast.
Gray’s fingers softly wrap around my wrist, sending sparks up my arm, and gently pulls my hand off my face to press the cold towel over the little gash over my eyebrow that reopened when I bumped into him.
He’s crouched in front of me and is focused on soaking up the blood. Smoke and sandalwood fill my nose and butterflies dance in my lower belly. He’s so close I can feel the heat of him and his breath tickles my chin.
His eyes flick to mine before focusing back on the towel, “Nothing to be sorry for.” The deep timbre of his voice, combined with his hand gently cupping my chin to turn my head so he can see better, is spreading heat where my butterflies are dancing.
The ring of brown flecks surrounding the green in his eyes has me mesmerized, his hair and beard are lighter brown than Mr. Harlow’s hair and there is some red in his beard. It makes me wonder if he got his coloring from his mom.
For a big guy, his touch is gentle, despite the hard calluses on his hand, and the care he uses in holding the rag to the cut has my heart skipping beats in my chest. As I’m looking at the different colors of greens and browns, those eyes move to mine, his severe gaze locks on mine and I suck in a small breath when he doesn’t look away.
The hairs on my arms stand up as I get lost in those beautiful, earthy orbs. For several seconds, everything around us drops away, there are no contracts to sign, no land to buy, and no storm.
“I think that’s got it.” He says, breaking the spell, and looks down to fold the bloody side of the rag in on itself and gently wipe the clean side down my cheek.
I miss the connection as soon as he looks away.
“Right.” My voice is just above a whisper. I open my hand and he softly sets the rag on my bloody palm. I look around at all the eyes on me and I feel the blush travel up my neck to my cheeks.
Gray doesn’t spare any attention to all the eyes on us. Without a word, he straightens and grabs his hat and coat from the table behind me, his arm brushing my shoulder, and then turns around to stack some bacon and avocado in a biscuit as he walks to the mudroom to go outside.
My head is still down and I’m looking at the rag like it’s the neatest thing I’ve seen all week to avoid looking at anyone. I clear my throat and stand up. “I’m going to go get cleaned up.”
As I’m walking down the hall to Breanna’s room, a slim blond with the same hazel eyes as Gray is stepping out of one of the other rooms on the other side of the landing.
She looks like she might be my age or a little older and she’s gorgeous, her long hair is hanging in waves down her back and her shabby chic, boho style sweater that’s hanging off one shoulder matches her confident sashay down the hall.
Great, just another woman in the house who’s taller than me.
When she sees me, her eyes narrow and her top lip almost curls, “Who are you?” The question is sharp and dripping with contempt. She cocks her hip and hooks her hand on it as she looks at me like I’m a foul smell that just floated across her nose.
I paste on my signature smile and say, “Oh, hi, I’m Elly Royce.”
I extend my hand to her, but when she looks at my bloody palm, she takes a step back. This time, her lip does curl up and her nose scrunches as she points to my hand. “Euw, do you know you’re bleeding?”
Oh, yeah.
I curl my fingers into my palm and tuck my fist under my chin. I try to keep it light and paste on a smile to cover the awkwardness of this, but I don’t think it’s working. “Sorry, yes, I’m on my way to clean up right now.”
She lifts her eyebrows and holds her hand up in exasperation.
“Well, who are you, and why are you in our house?” She rolls her hazel eyes so high, like she just thought of something, that I think she might fall over backward as her shoulders fall.
“Ugh, gross, did one of my brothers bring you home?”
She says it like I’m an escort and it’s a common occurrence, the offense immediately grabs hold and makes my shoulders stiffen. Surely, Gray isn’t the type of man who would bring strange women into his home where his daughter sleeps?
Knowing I’m not supposed to talk about who I am, I hesitate, not sure what to say.
“Elly! Hi!” Lainey Rai bounds down the hall, dressed in layers like the guys, and her long brown hair in a single braid starting at the nape of her neck. Instead of a cowboy hat, she is carrying a stocking hat and scarf with her coat and gloves.
The gorgeous woman’s head swings around to look at Lainey Rai, and the little bundle of energy who’s barely a foot shorter than me stops at my side. At least someone in this house is shorter than me. “Hi Aunt Kinley, did the power go out in your cabin, too?”
Aunt Kinley’s face softens as she looks at her niece, her lips and cheeks look like Marley’s. She must be a sister. “Yes, my fireplace isn’t big enough to keep the entire cabin heated, so I thought I’d stay at the big house until the power’s back on.”
“You better find Daddy, he said he was going to walk up to the cabin and check on you after he has his breakfast.” The little girl smiles and tilts her head.
Of course he's going to check on her, it seems that next to his father, Gray is in charge. It’s obvious he takes the role seriously.
Aunt Kinley rolls her eyes. “Oh balls! Okay, I don’t want him going up there for no reason.” She’s forgotten about me, like a child with a toy, as she steps around us and quickly jogs down the stairs.
Lainey Rai looks at me at the same time I look at her and I take a deep breath. “Thanks, she was a little scary.”
The little girl shrugs one shoulder. “That’s Aunt Kinley. She doesn’t like people much, she’s an artist.”
The simple, but direct way she says it, like all artists don’t like people, makes me chuckle and I say, "Thanks for the save, anyway."
Lainey Rai smiles, minus a missing incisor, and says, "No problem." She skips down the stairs like her aunt and I'm left in the hallway alone.
The skin around my jaw still tingles from Gray's light touch as he dabbed the wet rag over my cut. Was she serious about her brothers bringing women home? Jealousy squeezes me and I remind myself I'm being silly as I turn to go clean the blood off my hands and face.