Chapter 6
SIX
She took my scrubs top .
Elias stared again at the empty chair where he’d draped the shirt the night before. His lips curled into a hungry smile. She’d escaped him sometime last night, which sharpened his desire for her. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d wanted a woman so badly.
Wren knows exactly what she’s doing .
Piquing his interest. Keeping him guessing. Drawing out the game when it so easily could have ended with a one-night stand like so many others.
Yeah, sure, a one-night stand, right. If I ignore the fact that I broke my pattern and brought her to my home in the first place instead of going to hers. And she’s so damn funny. And she likes my dogs. He glanced down at the critters who’d just finished their breakfast and came to find him.
And most importantly, they like her .
Elias stretched like the great cat he was nicknamed after, then ran his hand through his hair until it stood up. Penny and Chuck went off to play in their dog run outside while he padded to the bathroom to take a shower. Hot water hit his pecs and he thought of the way Wren rested her hand over his heart—a light, fluttering touch that grew more confident as they danced. Water ran down his chest and over his abs in teasing rivulets as he imagined her fingers gliding over his bare skin like they did the night before. He shivered in spite of the hot water steaming up the shower’s glass door. His cock hardened as his mind filled with visions of stripping Wren out of her shorts and top. Now she stood in nothing but lace in front of him, her cheeks pinking up the way they did the day he met her, only this time, the color rose from her desire, not embarrassment.
Elias stroked his cock as he turned her around in his imagination and bent her over his bed. He slid the lace panties down her long legs and undid her bra. He ran his hands over her smooth, round ass cheeks. Smack went his palm against her ass, ‘punishing’ her for stealing his scrubs top. The moan escaping her lips told him she wanted more, wanted him to toy with her before plunging his cock deep inside her wet pussy.
He stroked himself harder, picturing her soft, pink folds, her tightness once he’d buried himself balls deep into her from behind. He gripped her ass and leaned forward over her back to bite her shoulder. In the shower he pumped his cock for all he was worth, unable to contain himself while Dream Wren pressed back against him, drawing him deeper and deeper until her soft velvet walls spasmed around him. He came hot and fast and hard, her moans echoing in his ears.
“Need you,” he growled as the water washed over him. “Next time, you’re not getting away.”
Elias breathed in the rich, good, roasted coffee smell of Riversong as he walked through the front door. He’d come here on pure instinct and immediately scanned the room even though he didn’t see Wren’s vehicle in the parking lot. He wouldn’t put it past her to park around the block, then catch him by surprise inside. But she wasn’t sitting at any of the crowded tables or standing in the line snaking halfway to the front door. He tried to ignore his disappointment and the way his body felt heavier suddenly, as if he’d not quite been touching the ground before.
Low blood sugar he told himself. He’d just pour a sugar packet into his coffee.
He watched April, Hannah, and Sonny taking orders and mixing drinks until he got to the front of the line. April greeted him with a smile.
“Still no woman with a scrubs top, sorry.” That had pretty much become her standard greeting for the past few days.
Elias glanced behind him to see how many people waited. “It was briefly back in my possession, but it’s gone again, so thanks for keeping an eye out.”
April’s jaw dropped and then she gave him an even brighter smile. “We’ll catch up.” She winked and handed him a mug of black coffee.
“Glad to see business is back to normal.”
“Thank God!” She looked past him and smiled at the next customer.
Elias paid, left a generous tip, and grabbed a couple of sugar packets. A couple was just standing up from their table to leave, so he nabbed their spot and sat down. Elias pretended to scroll through his phone while he sipped his coffee at glacial pace. He kept his attention on the front door while he tapped his foot to the jazzy music playing overhead, wishing he could pace instead.
After half an hour, he’d reached the bottom of his coffee mug along with his hope of seeing Wren. He stood to leave and found himself walking to the counter instead for a refill. The morning coffee crowd had died down, so he only had to wait behind two people. The bell rang over the front door and the familiar sensation of hair rising on the nape of his neck told Elias she was there. He turned to see Wren smiling at him as a faint blush crept into her cheeks.
“Hey,” Wren said as she joined him in line.
“Hey yourself.”
“So, about last night…” She trailed off. Elias couldn’t help but notice her wince in pain while she shifted her tote off her shoulder and unzipped it.
“Is my property in that bag?”
She grinned and her blush turned fiery. “Not sure what came over me. Yes, it is.”
He reached out and stilled her hand. “Keep it. On one condition.”
She met his eyes with a worried look. “Yes?”
Elias leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “Wear it for me again. And next time, stay for breakfast.”
He lingered beside her ear, breathing in her salty peach skin, feeling wisps of her hair tickling his cheek. He didn’t miss the shiver that made her tremble like an aspen in the wind. When he pulled back, her eyes had gone a little unfocused. She bit her lower lip and Elias was in danger of sweeping her off her feet and carrying her out to his truck.
“A- hem .”
Elias turned back toward the counter. April leaned on her elbows, grinning. “Next.”
“A refill for me, and a cinnamon-honey double-shot latte for the lady.”
Wren’s eyebrow shot up. “You remembered.”
April mock-frowned at Elias. “Hey, that’s my job, to remember people’s favorite drinks.” She switched her attention to Wren. “And you must be Scrubs Top.”
Elias’ chest tightened as Wren’s eyes went wide. She turned her head and glared at him. “Scrubs. Top?”
April growled and slapped her forehead. “Oh, God, there I go ruining lives again.” She looked back and forth between Elias and Wren.
Flustered, Elias said, “I, uh… I might have mentioned meeting you at the fire. And the scrubs top. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all,” Wren said in a cold, crisp tone. She pursed her lips as she reached into her bag and pulled out the top. Elias prepared for The Speech. The one where Wren would tell him she never wanted to see him again, then thrust the shirt at him and march out the door.
Instead, she surprised him. Again.
Her face broke into a gorgeous smile. “Yup, I’m Scrubs Top. Guilty as charged.” She unfolded the top and held it up to her body for April to see. “What do you think? Cute dress?”
April gave her a relieved laugh. “Very cute. Much cuter on you than on old Lion here.”
Wren’s eyes went round again. “He does look like a lion, doesn’t he? It’s not just my imagination.” She turned back to Elias with a beaming smile that melted his heart.
“That’s also his nickname,” April informed her. “From when he was a kid. All his friends have them.”
“Elias…sorry, Lion …has friends who aren’t invisible?” She looked shocked but if her eyes twinkled before, they positively glittered with humor now.
April grinned. “They aren’t invisible but they sometimes disappear at opportune moments.”
“That checks out. The friend who apparently disappeared last night likes pine-flavored beer.”
“That would be Waylon,” April said without missing a beat. She looked at Elias for confirmation and he tipped an invisible hat to her. “Told you, it’s my job to know everyone’s favorite drinks. Waylon would like something more adventurous than Pabst.”
Then April leaned across the counter and asked in a stage-whisper, “Please don’t tell me Lion took you to Cocks and Strippers on your first date.”
“April,” Elias growled, though without any true malice.
Wren sucked in her cheeks just for a second before answering, “Nope,” Wren stage-whispered back. “He didn’t take me. I actually showed up there all on my own.”
“Bold move.” April nodded approvingly. “He a good dancer?”
“I’m right here,” Elias said.
“Yes, actually, though he did almost step on my foot a couple of times.” Wren went back to her stage-whisper. “He was dancing really close.”
“Still right here.” Elias had to force his laughter back down and it decided to hang around his heart as a warm ember.
“Interesting.” April nodded, her lips twitching like she couldn’t wait to spread the word.
“You gonna make their drinks or not, April?” Sonny shouted from where he was pouring a sack of beans into a giant grinder.
“MYOB, Dad,” April shouted back with an eyeroll. Then with a smile for Wren she said, “I’ll get your cinnamon-honey right away.” She turned toward the espresso machine behind her.
Wren folded the scrubs top and put it back in her tote, then pulled out her wallet.
“Nope, I’m paying,” Elias said.
“You are not. I owe you for flaking out.”
Elias tilted his head. That was a weird thing for her to say, but more, it was the way she said it. Her humor seemed to go MIA again.
“What are you talking about? You’re making this fun.” He swiped his card as she pulled out her wallet. She blinked up at him as if he were the one not making any sense.
“Here you go.” April turned around with two mugs in her hands.
“Is it okay if we go outside with these?” Elias lifted his ceramic mug.
“Of course. Seating’s around the side. Should be a few open tables.”
“No, I mean, to my truck.”
Both women raised their eyebrows, then shared a look he had no hope of understanding. But one thing was clear.
Whether I like it or not, Wren just became part of the group .
“You are full of surprises,” Elias said after he got behind the wheel.
“Me?” Wren blinked at him over her sweet-smelling coffee. “What about this amazing truck? You could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw you climb behind the wheel last night. I figured you’d drive something newer.” She ran her hand over the black leather bench. “What year is she?”
Elias couldn’t help the smile and warmth in his chest as she talked about his baby. “1973. She’s an F100 Flairside. My dad gave her to me. His pride and joy, and now mine, too.”
Wren looked around the cab. “And you take good care of her. She’s perfect. I approve.”
“I like taking care of beautiful things.”
“I approve of that, too.” She met his eyes for a tantalizingly brief moment before looking away. She was such a funny mix of bold and shy that kept Elias guessing.
“Totally unpredictable,” he said.
“What?”
“You. You’re totally unpredictable. You keep me guessing.”
“Me? I’m incredibly predictable,” she scoffed.
“Not at all.”
“I’m clockwork, really.”
“Absolutely nothing you’ve done so far is like clockwork.”
“Okay, normally I’m like clockwork.”
Elias turned the ignition.
“Are we going somewhere?” She smiled as she watched him.
“Just turning on the air. It’s hot out here.”
“Oh. Right.” She sipped her coffee.
“We could go somewhere. If you wanted. So long as you don’t sneak away again,” he teased.
She looked around. “Hard to do that if I’m in your truck.” Wren turned her head and locked onto his gaze. “So, did you bring me out here to scold me?” She batted her eyes.
“Scold? No.”
“Spank?” And there went her lips fighting a laugh that was so contagious he almost— almost —joined her.
“Not enough room for that in here. And too much of an audience if I did.” He tilted his head toward the outdoor seating at the side of the coffee shop. “Though, you are fond of public nudity, so maybe you like an audience?” He set his coffee cup on the dashboard. “You’d prefer putting on a public show?”
“What gave it away? Wearing nothing but a sheet? The short-shorts? The pornographic kiss on your front porch where the neighbors could see? Honestly, I thought I was being subtle.”
Now he was grinning as widely as she, despite feeling the tiniest doubt that clutched at his chest.
Flaked out .
Did he have her all wrong? He thought she was playing a game, teasing him, stringing him along in the best of ways. But maybe not.
“What if I kissed you right here?” he tested. “How would that make you feel?”
Wren turned her full body in her seat until she was facing him. “Well,” she drawled. “Will it be a repeat of the porch?”
“Oh no. Much more pornographic, as you put it.” He stretched out his arm as an invitation. She slid across the bench, closing the gap between them. All he had to do was pull her over on top of him until she straddled his lap. He reached out and took her hands in his hand. always testing her reactions, looking for the slightest hesitation.
Wren giggled as her cheeks flamed. She dropped her chin then stared out the dashboard window. “I’d really hate to be arrested in front of my favorite coffee shop.”
Does that mean back off?
But instead of scooting back, she turned and studied his face. “But, it might be worth it.”
Wrong again. Damn, she knows just how to keep me on my toes .
Elias chuckled as he ran one hand up her arm and tangled his fingers in her hair. He gently guided her head forward until their lips were a breath apart. His heart decided somewhere along the way to turn into a jackhammer. He brushed his lips against hers softly, balancing his need to claim them—to claim her—and letting her control the situation.
A totally new experience for him.
Wren’s fingers brushed his cheek on their way to the nape of his neck. She hesitated just long enough to make him think she’d changed her mind. Then she kissed him.
This kiss was far more controlled than the one they’d shared on the front porch but that didn’t make it any less hot. Wren opened to him eagerly and he explored her sweet mouth as his fingers tangled in her hair. He was in serious danger of forgetting where he was and getting them both arrested for indecent exposure.
Elias ended the kiss to ask if she wanted to go somewhere private. All he could think about was getting Wren naked again. Instead, what came out of his mouth was, “Wren, I gotta be honest here. I’m getting mixed signals from you. Was it something I said or did?” He rubbed his chin, listening to the rasping sound it made. “Or, maybe it was the dogs?”
Wren looked surprised. “No, not at all. They’re adorable.”
“Then, am I pushing things too fast? We could stay here, or just go back inside and talk if that would be better.”
Wren took a deep breath. “The truth is, I’ve been trying to figure out myself why I left without telling you.” She grabbed his hand. “It’s not your dogs. It’s not you. I like you. A lot. Maybe I like you too much, too soon.” She let go of his hand as she looked down and away. “Sorry. I sound needy and that probably scares you off.”
Does it? It might have, coming from anyone but Wren. But Elias didn’t feel the need to run, or to joke in order to lighten the mood, or change the topic completely. Those were all things he’d done in the past with other women. Wren made him feel completely different.
“You know, normally it might make me think twice. But not this time.” He shook his head in wonder at how he felt. “I don’t bring women to my house, especially not on the first date. You’re the exception.”
“And I don’t go home with guys on the first date. Except for you.” Then she shook her head. “But at the end of the day, we’re just having fun here, right?” she asked lightly. “A good time?”
There she was, giving mixed signals again.
Elias should have been overjoyed that Wren wasn’t taking things too seriously. He never did and that kept things light and fun. The problem was, Elias wasn’t so sure if all he wanted was a good time.
Better figure that out, and soon .
Instead of answering her, he said, “I make a killer breakfast. You hungry?”
Wren laughed. “Did my stomach rumble?” She patted her belly.
“Not that I heard. But, I did promise you one. If you want.”
Wren nodded slowly. “I do because I actually am starving. Breakfast would be terrific. And this time, I promise I won’t disappear.” She shrugged. “Well, not right away.”
“Not right away?”
“I did have to work early this morning up in the hills. A real estate shoot. The agent I’m working with said there was a property nearby that might want drone footage. I was thinking I’d knock on their door later today.” She chuckled. “Maybe I should take you along as a bodyguard.”
Elias immediately went on alert. “What does that mean?”
She waved him off. “I’m kidding. Kinda. Chase said he’d stopped by there to let them know he’d be using a drone so please don’t shoot it down, and the guy was pretty gruff with him. But his wife indicated she might want drone footage.”
“Good move on the agent’s part. People living in the mountains often prefer their privacy, I’ll say that. Sometimes they’re just weirdos. Can I ask the name? Maybe I can tell you if it’s a waste of time.”
“Um, sure.” She pulled out her wallet, took out a business card, and handed it to him. “This couple.”
Elias laughed so suddenly and so hard when he read the names that Wren jumped.
“Yeah, I’d better come with you on this one.” He looked at her. “New plan. Let’s grab a couple of excellent breakfast burritos here, head up to talk to them, and then I’ll make you dinner instead. You’ll have earned it.”