Chapter 11
ELIAS
I found her lying with her feet raised onto one of the whirlpool seats, one arm draped over her face and the other on her thigh. I stiffened at the image she created, including the new hairstyle. I stroked my beard, deciding whether to let her know the water guy had arrived or kiss her awake and fuck her in the tub where she lay. I rearranged myself in my tightening pants, focusing on being a responsible adult and not a horny bastard. She had to wake up either way, so why not have some fun with it?
I kneeled at the platform around the tub and placed my hands on her shapely thighs, massaging downward toward her feet. I”d never taken the time to massage someone this way, and shame on me for missing out on how erotic it could be. Her breathing stirred alongside my own. Her hums of pleasure were a tough aphrodisiac to ignore, but I stayed true to my decision to behave.
She sighed deeply, squirming under the pressure of my hands. “That feels so good. Don’t stop.” Don’t stop. That seemed to be my constant struggle.
I gave her arches a quick squeeze and grabbed both her ankles, pulling her down flat into the tub.
”What the hell!”
”Time to get up, princess. The Waterman cometh.” I chuckled at her expression and offered my hand to help her up.
”I don”t wanna get up,” She whined like a child yanked from slumber. Besides her petite frame, nothing else about her resembled a child. Her breasts dipped out from her bra as she crawled out of the tub. Her pear-shaped ass was high and tight, and I fought the urge to grab both cheeks.
”Sorry, sweetheart. Work calls. He wanted us to open all the faucets so he could empty the lines. Get yourself together, and I”ll take care of the bathroom while you open the hot tub faucets.”
I maneuvered around the excess furniture to complete the request, and, by the time I returned, she had left the room. Relieved to have diverted another precarious situation, I ran down the back stairs to the kitchen. Something odd struck me as I descended the stairs that I”d not recognized in myself. I never returned to the relationship game after being hurt so badly in my last relationship. I”m starting to see why I”m so freaking horny around this woman. I lived like a fucking monk. Never going out and never getting laid. And, most definitely, I”m not connecting to someone who woke up everything about me. Leaving her was getting harder and harder.
Tomorrow. I need to leave tomorrow. I needed a clean break and lots of distance to put what”s happened in the past forty-eight hours into perspective. Abigail was right. I had a life of my own. One that didn”t include her. One that offered me consistency, reliability, and surety. These few days were more fantasy than real life. It was fun, but reality called, and I”m not sure how I felt about that.
April nights have always been inspiring to me. The sun rises earlier, providing those peaceful moments, coffee in hand, watching the world wake up to endless possibilities. As the sun set later, yellows, oranges, purples, and pinks begged for my attention, reminding me of what I had accomplished. Running into Abigail wasn”t just an opportunity to help some needy girl. It was life-changing. Watching her fight for her place in the world had been inspiring, and it sparked a dream inside me that had remained latent for a moment. I needed to return to welding, a hobby while studying mechanical engineering. While the process of welding was required, the actual art of welding wasn”t. Unfortunately, I couldn”t afford that luxury at the time and put it on the backburner indefinitely. Abigail was a force, and, after spending time with her, the possibility of welding again triggered a fire within me. Being creative again made my hair stand on end, and I couldn”t stop this feeling if I tried.
The water guy wasn’t here more than an hour, and we had a bucket-load of errands to run so Abigail could manage on her own, starting with food. Her tiny hand rubbed my shoulder, getting my attention.
”What”s going on in that head of yours?” she said.
I scrubbed my face, setting my dreams aside for now. ”Just thinking about how you”ll get around when I”m gone. Have you thought about what you”ll do?”
My hands landed on my hips while I watched her face morph into panic, concern, and resolve. ”I”ll go tomorrow and see what I can find. I can use some money in the trust for a down payment on a reliable car. I don”t need anything fancy. I”m not going anywhere but here for the foreseeable future.”
And before I knew what I was doing, I opened my big month. “Let’s look at some options tonight, and I’ll drive you to look at them tomorrow.” Prince Charming to the rescue—again!
She clapped her hands like a child. ”You will? Really? Elias, you”re my hero!” She jumped up and down and danced her way to my truck. I turned the ignition and flung my arm over the backrest as we backed out of the drive.
”What kind of man would I be leaving you stranded at a multimillion-dollar estate without a ride?” I clicked my cheek and gave her a corny smile. We drove down the country road heading toward the village square in companionable silence until my stomach rumbled. ”What are you making me for dinner, princess?”
Her red lips pursed as she thought. She grabbed her phone and started typing. ”Tell me what you like, and I”ll make a list.”
I spewed off a dozen things I liked, and she typed furiously, getting it all down. The tip of her tongue touched her top lip as she worked. She was focused and serious about her task until she dropped her phone on the console, declaring ”done” and closing her eyes. We reached our destination and collected two buggies worth of staples and fresh food to last two weeks. Hopefully, that would be enough time for her to get a car and a job.
As we checked out, she made another declaration.
”I”m going to continue in the tradition of those who came before me.” Whatever the hell that meant.
”Come again?” I dropped a watermelon onto the conveyor belt and smiled at the clerk.
”My house,” she said, lifting four cereal boxes onto the belt and looking at me like I was stupid. ”It”s going to stay a BB. After I make you dinner tonight, you”ll see how good a cook I am.” Her newfound confidence was adorable.
I patted her shoulder. ”No doubt you can achieve whatever you put your heart into.”
Abigail stopped emptying the basket; her face melted into a pout. Tears fell from her green eyes, forcibly stealing the air from my lungs.
”Abby. What did I say? I take it back. I”m sorry.” I grabbed her shoulders, pulling her past the basket and into my chest.
She sniffled and wiped her eyes. ”You”re the second person who has said that to me in weeks. No one has said that to me my whole life. Do you think I can pull this off?”
I looked from her to the cashier and the three people standing behind us waiting to check out. Now was not the time to say the wrong thing. She didn”t need a grand entrance into her new community with theatrics in a grocery store. I pulled her close and whispered in her ear.
”Absolutely. Don”t let anyone tell you otherwise,” and kissed the top of her head. ”Now, let”s finish up and let these people get on with their evening.”
I turned her around and finished with the last few items. The groceries were packed, paid for, and returned to our buggy. We exited the line without glares of annoyance or big sighs of relief. Only one woman smiled at me, assuming I handled my woman and the situation well. And the gifts kept coming.
ABIGAIL
I snagged a free, local newspaper off the stand when we left the grocery store. While I prepared chicken piccata, Elias read off several car ads that sounded reasonable. Ironically, it wasn”t what he said that caught my attention but the lilt in his voice as he read them. That man loved cars.
”Do you think we have enough sunlight to walk out to the barn? I am dying to know what”s in there.”
I dropped spaghetti into a boiling pot of water and placed the dredged pan-seared chicken into a glass pan we found earlier. That needed twenty minutes to cook, and I began setting the table with one of the many sets of china found in the multitude of cabinets lined up in the main dining room.
”Seriously! What do cactus mugs and historic homes have in common? Nothing!” I spoke out loud, commenting on all the other crap the previous residents draped around the room. Dollar store valentine garland coiled around a gorgeous wood-framed mirror, rubber chickens lying on a ceramic woven basket filled with plastic eggs, and endless tchotchkes disparaging this gorgeous, grand home. I”m going to dispose of this crap as soon as humanly possible, starting with this crappy garland.
I drained my pasta in the porcelain farm sink and selected one of the many unmatched serving bowls to mix in butter, olive oil, and garlic. I should be elated that the previous residents left everything behind when they moved. It would save me a fortune not to buy it all myself, though several things are well past their usability, like this filter.
”Would you like some wine with dinner?” I called across the room. He didn”t answer, and I turned, confused, putting the pasta on the counter. I went to look for him when my timer went off, aborting my mission. Setting the chicken on the stove to settle, I called into several other rooms without a reply. The light flashing around by the barn had me concerned that Elias may have been abducted. In a thriller movie, this would have been a sign to barricade myself in the house, but Elias was out there, and I had to find him.
Cupping my hands around my mouth, I screamed his name and a bell sounded in the distance by the barn. The Shining be damned, I”m going toward the light. I followed the overgrown path and saw inside the open door.
”Elias! Are you in there? Please tell me you”re alive!” He popped up from behind a car like a jack-in-the-box.
”You aren”t going to believe what”s in here. It”s fucking fantastic! If I weren”t a potty-trained grown man, I would have pissed myself.” I burst into laughter and walked farther inside. I dug deep and prepared to act as excited as he was because I didn”t have the heart to disappoint him.
”Holy shit, Elias. It”s a car and —a riding mower!” Okay, I was excited about the car but had to force myself to be excited about the mower.
”Lady Luck is on our side. If I can get this thing going, you won”t need to spend money on a car. As exciting as that is, it”s not what I”m excited about.” He pulled at his beard, his eyes wide with possibilities.
I looked around the room, viewing all the standard garden tools, including a wheelbarrow. There wasn”t anything in particular that would make me whoop and holler. ”You”re going to have to help me, Elias. What”s got you so excited?”
He marched back and forth several times, his feet stomping the ground. ”It”s concrete. The floor is concrete!” His priceless expression was entertaining, but I still wasn”t getting it. He rushed toward me and grabbed my shoulders. ”Do you know what you can do with a concrete floor?” His eyebrows hit his hairline, and his eyes shone with delight. ”Ugh, you can do anything on it! Weld, for instance, fix cars, sculpt, build – anything!” He marched around the large expanse, perusing all the nooks and crannies like a man on a mission.
Hmm.He”s right, I suppose. If we”re dreaming, I pictured a pottery wheel under the loft area, or, with more light, I could paint. Dreaming of the future was a luxury I couldn”t afford in the past, which made planning my future seem awkward and selfish.
”I see it, Elias. I do. You”re so clever. Besides fixing cars, do you do those things you mentioned?” Did he have hidden talents like me? I liked seeing these other sides of him. Besides, why was he so excited about those things in my barn? Unless . . .
”Would you use this space for something other than fixing my car? I could get you some cheap rent if you ask nicely.” I snarfed, laughing at myself.
His feet instantly froze.
”Would I like to use this space?” He rubbed his forehead, and he looked like he might hyperventilate. ”I-I don”t know. I”d have to think about it. I live so far away, and . . .”
He walked out of the barn abruptly, leaving me baffled and alone. I shut off the lights, shoving the heavy barn door closed, and wondered why he was so upset. I followed the path back to the house and began plating our now cold dinner. A few minutes in the microwave will remedy that until Elias emerged.
”How about some wine? I know I”d like a glass.” I muttered the last part, annoyed.
”Sure.” He mumbled back, uncorking a bottle and placing it on the table. He silently poured us water and sat down with a thud. I watched him warily as I placed our warmed dinners on the table. Something wasn”t right about his mood.
”Elias, are you alright? You looked spooked out there.” I knew I was pushing him, but he went from such a significant high to a crushing low that it seemed rather bipolar.
He cut his chicken and pushed it through the lemon sauce before he put his fork down with a clink.
”Here”s the deal. Let”s rent you a car for a week or two. I”ll come back next weekend with my tools and get that Buick running. If it holds, then you can return the rental. If not, I”ll take you to find a suitable replacement. How does that sound?” He nodded like he had the whole thing worked out, never mind the erratic behavior, which he avoided altogether.
I rubbed my eyes, dragging my hands down my face, having no other ideas. ”Sure, that would be great. Thanks, Elias.”
He pressed his lips together with a mock smile and began eating dinner.
”Wow. This is good. Did you follow a recipe?” He gobbled more chicken into his mouth, leaving the juice on his beard. Something for later, I suppose.
I chuckled. ”Maybe years ago, but, no, I”ve tweaked every recipe I”ve ever followed. Unfortunately, my budget hasn”t allowed for elaborate meals like this one. I”d be happy with just the pasta on most nights.” He frowned at that.
He wiped his face and beard with a napkin as his face morphed to menacing.
”Don”t take this wrong, Abigail, but you need fattening up. Not a lot, just some.” He dove back into his food, hoping to shut his mouth.
”You think I”m a stick? Most guys would love a chick that looked like a stick. Who the hell are you, man?”
I”m sorry that my life conditions have interfered with your opinion of how my body should look.That”s what I wanted to say. Unfortunately, I agreed with him. I wanted more curves. I didn”t have the budget to create them. Maybe now that I have some cash, I can change that.
”I”m sorry. I should have kept my mouth shut. I only want you to be healthy.” He reached over the table and took my hand. ”You can”t do anything without your health, Abigail, both physical and emotional health. Please promise me you”ll take care of yourself when I go tomorrow.”
Well, shit.What was I supposed to say to a guy who says sweet things to me, even if he says them awkwardly? I felt physically healthy, though a nutritionist might think otherwise. It was my mental health that swung like a pendulum, especially when I didn”t do well. Not all of us can afford a therapist, you know.
His face shone with genuine concern. I came around the table as he watched me intently. He turned to me, and I placed a hand on his face. “I’ll do my best if you’ll do the same.” My thumb brushed his jaw through his thick beard, and his silky hair reminded me of Seneca’s dog. Come to think of it, the way he was panting in front of me also resembled her dog when he was petted. “Are you my new best friend?” Jeez! Stop thinking out loud!
He pulled me into his lap, licking his pillowy lips. ”If there”s an opening, I could see myself as your best friend. Am I allowed to kiss my best friend,” he said in a deep, throaty voice. Gulp.
I looked up through my lashes to the gleam in his eyes, knowing I was opening up a can of worms, even considering his kiss. ”Please.”
He dove into my mouth, searing my lips with his lust. He was a fantastic kisser. His hand ran down my sides, pulling me closer until he picked me up so I could straddle his thick thighs. My hands threaded through his soft locks, and I pulled his head closer, trying to get closer. He consumed me. He moaned, then I groaned, and—together—we became a symphony of pleasure that resonated deeply between us.
I pushed on his chest, desperate to breathe. ”Elias, I can”t breathe. You”re a lot of man to handle.”
He liked that. He kneaded my ass with his big, strong hands. He released today”s stresses yet built new carnal stressors in my soul. I wanted this man so badly. It”s been over two years since I was with a boy, and rest assured, he was no boy.
He smirked as he licked my neck into my clavicle. ”You haven”t even seen the best parts.” He continued his onslaught of wet kisses down between my breasts and back up again. I turned my head more, giving him more access as he nuzzled behind my ear, and, damn it, if he didn”t find an erogenous zone I didn”t know existed.
Minutes later, he pulled back, out of breath and heaving. ”If you want to save this food, you have three minutes to put it away and get upstairs, or I”m going to fuck you ”til Tuesday on this table.”