Chapter Twenty-One
Hex couldn’t help but watch Elle as she popped the last of her fried okra into her mouth. He’d watched as she’d devoured the ribs and baked beans as if she hadn’t eaten in a week, though he knew that wasn’t true.
He loved that she hadn’t hesitated to order what she wanted, not seeming to care how messy or unladylike it might be.
He wanted her to be herself with him and his brothers.
He had always hated how Sandy was always on her ass to stand up straight, to sit like a lady, don’t laugh too loud, don’t be so messy, don’t eat too much, you’ll never catch a decent man if you’re fat.
The list went on and on as Sandy had tried to turn Elle into the perfect southern belle, the real kind not like the Savage Belles, who hung around the Savage Warrior clubhouse.
Sandy’s admonitions of how Elle would never snag a rich husband if she continued to act like a heathen still echoed in Hex’s ears, he had no doubt Elle still heard them and he marveled at how relaxed and real she was with him.
He still didn’t know how she’d gathered the nerve to walk out of the wedding, much less tell her mother that it would never happen.
Just another example of the core of iron Elle kept hidden from the world.
“What do you say we do a little shopping?” Hex leaned back in the booth and watched as she pushed her plate away and rubbed her slightly distended belly.
She frowned slightly.
“Shopping?”
“Yeah. I saw one of those baby stores not far from here. I thought we could walk through. You don’t have to get anything, but you can start getting an idea of what we’ll need what kind of crib you want, that kind of thing.”
She was quiet for a moment, watching him. He wondered what she was thinking but stayed quiet as he waited for her answer.
“Yeah, let’s do it. Walking around a while would do me good after all this.
” She looked down at the table and their empty dishes.
“I ate way too much.” Elle rubbed her belly.
“I’m gonna be the size of an elephant before this kid gets here.
Then you won’t want to look at me, much less be seen with me. ”
Hex clenched his teeth while he fought to keep from cursing. That was her mother’s voice in her head, he had no doubt. He’d do his best to change that, but it would take time, he knew.
“I hate you thinking like that, Elle. I’d want you even if you were four hundred pounds and I’d be proud to be seen with you.
It’s you I love and not your size. I want you to eat when you’re hungry, take care of yourself and that little one.
That’s what I care about.” He signaled the waitress, got their ticket, and handed over his credit card.
“Come on, let’s go see what all we’re gonna need to get in the next few months.
” He said once he'd signed the ticket and dropped enough cash on the table for a tip.
Hex stood and offered Elle his hand. She put hers in his and let him tug her to her feet.
He couldn’t resist his need to wrap an arm around her waist as they left.
Remembering what she’d said about the truck being high, he took her to the passenger side and helped her up into the seat before going around to get behind the wheel.