Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
ELLE
T he moonlight shone through the kitchen window, and I looked at the clock on the stove. How had it gotten to be midnight? Ad after ad on the buy-and-sell site all started looking the same, and Griff’s offer was clouding my judgment, because nothing measured up. They all looked dated and needed a lot of upkeep.
Griff’s home was beautiful and, strangely enough, everything I’d ever dreamed of in a home, right down to the massive fireplace. I wouldn’t have to worry about anything while I was there, but even with our own wing of the house, was it responsible to move Parker in there?
Couldn’t be any less responsible than letting him live in this run-down shack. My brain at midnight was quite ruthless, and it was true. I’d been so desperate to get things back to normal for him with the move into this place I’d jumped at the first listing I saw. But taking Griff up on his offer felt like that same impulsive decision, despite the improvement it would be.
Standing, I stretched my back and started digging through the cupboards, desperate to find my stash of junk food. A pounding on the screen door made me jump. “What the hell?”
“Hey, nursey, open up. I know you’re in there.” The pounding was continuous now, except for the brief pauses when he tried to open the door. Letting my eyes drop to the doorknob, I watched it rattle, but I’d remembered to bolt the door, and I breathed a small sigh of relief. But then the panic set in. Like everything in this place, it wouldn’t last long with the force pushing on the other side of it. The doorframe sounded like it was about to shatter, and my heart was pounding in my ears. “Let me in, and you can practice your bed bath skills.” The man’s words were slurred.
“You can’t keep me out of my own house.” He growled as my blood ran cold.
Oh god, it was Billy Hays, fuck. Immediately, my thoughts moved back to Griff only this time it wasn’t about his house. He warned me this would happen. Thankfully, Parker was at his dad’s and I didn’t have to worry about him being here during this chaos.
How was I supposed to get out of here? There was only one door. As if I’d been hit on the head, I remembered I’d backed my truck in beside the house, and there was only one way I was going to get out of this house - my bedroom window.
The screen was ripped, and it never actually closed properly. Saying a silent prayer, I hoped I could fit through the opening.
Walking quietly to the bedroom, I hoped Billy hadn’t seen my shadow moving through the house. I didn’t need to alert him as to where I was, so I gently took the lamp and jewelry box off the dresser in front of the window. Climbing on top of it, it swayed, making me freeze. This thing was ancient and was probably going to crumble under my weight. My lip gloss rolled across the top, and I grabbed for it, but it tumbled to the floor, and I froze still hearing him beat on the door.
Slowly, I lifted the window and held my breath as I shimmied through the small opening, landing on the ground with a thud, the gravel crunching under my feet. Holding my breath I waited for footsteps on the porch, but there wasn’t anything, and his yelling wasn’t getting any closer. Closing my eyes, I sighed and pulled open the door of my truck. Reaching in, I flicked off the interior lights, and I felt around for the keys. Starting my truck would alert him, so I needed to be fast. Turning the key, the lights lit up the darkness ahead of me, and the engine cut through the stillness of the night. Slamming on the accelerator the wheels spun, and I lurched out, spewing dirt and gravel all over the place.
The headlights illuminated the yard, and I saw Billy stumble to his truck out of the corner of my eye. The interior light came on and quickly went out when he started the engine. Shit, of course, he’d follow me. The man sounded like he was hammered; he shouldn’t be on the road, but right now, my only concern was my own safety.
Keeping my eyes locked on the rearview mirror, I watched for lights following me. Although that old truck probably didn’t even have working lights. The only sound I could hear was the continual pounding of my heart. I was sure my knuckles were going to pop through my skin with how tightly I was gripping the steering wheel, but right now it was my only lifeline to safety.
What was I going to do? I didn’t want to lead Billy to Troy’s, not with Parker there. There wouldn’t be anyone at the sheriff’s office this late, so that wouldn’t work.
Griffin.
Pressing my foot harder on the accelerator, I barreled through the night, silently praying I would get to his ranch before Billy caught me. Slowing enough to make the turn into Griff’s place, I fishtailed, and the gravel from the road tinged and clanged in the wheel wells of my truck. That’s when I saw the glow of yellow headlights coming up the road. “Fuck.” I groaned and pressed the gas harder, my hands shaking and my breathing becoming choppy as I needed to drive faster.
Skidding to a stop, I looked up at Griff’s house. His lights were off, of course, he was asleep. “God damned cowboys going to bed early,” I grumbled to myself. Jumping out of the truck I ran up the porch steps and banged on the door. “Griff, let me in,” I called as I continued to pound on the door, keeping my head turned to the road. “Griff, please, I need help.”
The door swung open, and I slammed my fist against his chest. Standing before me was a sleepy, bare-chested Griff frowning, his hair wild and sticking up all over his head, but thankfully, he’d opened the door. “Elle?” He rubbed his hands over his face.
“Hi, umm. I’ve got a small problem. So, umm, well, could I possibly, maybe, crash here?” I talked fast and smiled at him. Turning again, I looked over my shoulder when I thought I heard gravel crunching under a tire behind me. “Please?” Griff looked over my shoulder and I didn’t have to ask again.
“Get your ass in here, where’s Parker? Is he safe?” He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the house before looking back out into the darkness.
“Yeah, he’s still with his dad.” He’d thought of Parker in his half-asleep state, he’d thought of my son and wanted to know he was safe. My heart of stone might have just started to crumble.
“Explain.” His deep voice made my stomach flutter, and the door closed with a slam. Without a second thought, he opened the closet, and pulled a rifle out of the back, and set it on the table inside the door.
He guided me to the kitchen and grabbed two beers out of the fridge and set one in front of me. “I’m waiting.” His voice made me look from the gun back to him.
“Okay, so I was awake looking online at places I could rent, and someone started banging on the door, trying to get in, so I climbed out my bedroom window and came here.” Grabbing the drink, I took a long pull and avoided looking at the handsome, shirtless man with a chest full of ink and dark hair, who was also glaring at me.
I swore I could hear him grinding his teeth as his jaw flexed. “What did they want?”
“Umm, well.” I stumbled over the words that I should have been able to say easily. “They, rather he, wanted, umm, me.”
“Who was it?” He growled, his eyes wide and filled with anger.
“Billy Hays,” I whispered as I bit the corner of my mouth and looked down at the counter.
“Fuck, Elle, I told you this would happen.” He grumbled at me and ran his hand through his long, dark hair. “Tomorrow morning, we’re going to get everything, and you’re moving in here.” I opened my mouth to argue. “You don’t have a say in this, you’re not staying there alone again. I won’t allow you and Parker to be in danger.” He set his drink on the counter and left the kitchen in a huff.
He was gone for a minute and came back carrying a shirt. “Here, this will be more comfortable.” He held up a T-shirt. It had a Western brand logo on the front, and the black shirt looked like it would wrap around me three times, it was so large. But I guess a man as big as Griff would need a big shirt.
“Thanks.”
“I’m going back to bed. You know where your room is.” He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. Hopping off the stool, I turned to go to my room, but Griff grabbed my hand, and pulled me to him.
Instinctively, I brought my hand up to rest on his chest so I wouldn’t slam into him. “I’m glad you’re here, and I’ll deal with everything tomorrow.” His eyes burned into me. I should be pulling away. My head should be screaming against him, holding me, but it wasn’t. Calm need filled me as I stood in this man’s arms. All my thoughts quieted, and the anxiety that plagued me on the way over was gone.
“You need to turn around and go to bed.” His raspy voice by my ear, snapped me out of the haze that was overwhelming me.
“I know.” Two breathy words escaped my lips, but my body didn’t move. My oversized sweater slid off my shoulder as I moved closer to him. The blue strap of my bra drew his eyes, and I swore I saw flames flash in his rum-colored eyes.
He slid his hand up my back and burrowed his long fingers into my hair. I moved my hand up his broad chest to rest on the side of his neck. Were we just going to stand here staring at one another? Would he walk away? Licking my lips, I wanted to taste this man who’d come to my rescue without knowing anything about me. I’d never known a man so good.
A low rumble from deep in his chest and a clench of his jaw was the only warning I had before the warmth of his mouth was pressed against mine. Slipping my hand around his neck, I closed the microscopic distance between us and leaned into him. He smelled like sage and cedar, mixed with leather and hard work. My senses were completely filled with this man. His powerful hand on the back of my head, his soft lips against mine. His body pressed against me, towering over me, making everything that happened tonight disappear.
I’d built a wall around myself after Troy left, I didn’t date, and I definitely didn’t go around kissing men I’d known for less than a week. But my heart was screaming for this. My body ached for the touch of this man. His tongue swept against mine, and I took a ragged breath, filling my lungs with his scent.
Gone was the tense kiss, and in its place, we stood devouring one another. Griff let go of my head, hooked his hands under my ass, and set me on the counter. We were as close to the same height as we’d ever get now. He moved his hands to cup my face as he pulled his mouth from mine and trailed kisses down my neck. Letting my head roll to the side, I gave him better access. His hands were clamped on my upper thighs as if he had to hang on to me not to let them wander. Oh god, I wanted them to wander. I silently begged for them too wander.
As if he’d been burned he pulled his hands off me, wrenched his mouth from mine, and took a step back, breathing heavily. “Go to bed, Elle.” His eyes were wild, raking over my body, and he clenched his fists before letting out a frustrated groan and turned away from me. I watched the muscles of his back ripple as he walked down the hallway. The slam of his door made me jump. Closing my eyes I pressed my lips to my mouth, wanting to hold on to the feeling of his mouth pressed against mine, aching for that closeness.
Hopping off the counter, I leaned down and grabbed the t-shirt that I’d dropped to the floor and took one last look down the hallway. My room was on the opposite side of the house. I couldn’t even pretend to wander into his room by accident. Not that I would have; that’s an invasion of privacy, and no matter how much aching I had between my legs for the touch of Griffin Harp, I wouldn’t ever do that.
My door made a soft thud as I closed it, and I looked at the luxurious sleigh bed with crisp white sheets, the chandelier light above the bed sending out a warm, welcoming glow and the sense of safety that this house had given me in a matter of thirty minutes.
The fluffy white carpet under my feet was a stark contrast to the masculine feel of the entire house. It was like he’d had this room designed with something softer in mind. The furniture was dark, but the rest of the room was bright and welcoming, right down to the oversized chair in the corner of the room, with a reading light behind it.
Walking into the bathroom, I looked at the large clawfoot tub and longed to sink down into it, but that could wait for another day. Tonight, I just wanted to sleep. Pulling off my clothes, I slipped into Griff’s shirt, and the cedar, orange and cinnamon scent of him wrapped around me just like his arms had been. Flipping the sheets back, I sank into the deliciously soft bed and lifted the hem of the shirt, gliding my hand over my bare mound, and thought of the man whose shirt I was wearing.