Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
ELLE
T he sun shone brightly and was only covered momentarily by the fluffy white clouds in the sky. “I have a question to ask you,” I said as I dragged my feet through the cool water.
“Ask away,” Griff said from behind me. We were sitting on the dock before I had to leave for work. Griff had laid back, one arm behind his head, and the other resting on my back.
“Mrs. Gordon asked me if I’d consider working full-time at Jake’s clinic. I guess Phyllis is retiring, and they don’t want to post the job to the public if they don’t have to.” I avoided looking at him, but I didn’t know why.
“What would it mean for you?” His voice was low, and I turned to look at him. His eyes were closed, his jeans rolled up to his knees, and his usual plaid shirt untucked from his pants.
“No more shift work, a shorter commute to work. I’d be home by six every night and every weekend off.”
He let his head roll to look at me. “What do you think?”
“I was asking your opinion.”
“And before I tell you what I think, I want to know what you think.”
“I would miss the excitement of the ER, but I want to be a mom who works regular hours and be present for Parker every day. Have more time with you.” I looked from Griff back to the water and waited for his response.
“If you want to take the job, and I think you should take it. And for the record, I’d be very happy to have you home every night.” He sat up, and I shifted, so I was looking at him again.
“Really?”
“Really.” He grinned and leaned forward to kiss me.
With one quick movement, I stuck my arm out and pushed him off the dock. He wasn’t paying attention and lost his hold, tumbling into the water. His white cowboy hat bobbed along from the ripples he made.
Standing there waiting for him to surface I bit my lip, worrying that he’d been down there too long. Suddenly, without warning, he surfaced with a splash, his hat on his head and water cascading down his body.
Taking a step back as Griff swam to the dock, I watched his muscles flex under his white, now soaking-wet t-shirt as he hoisted himself out of the water and back onto the dock. He stalked toward me, his boots squashing with water every step he took.
I rolled my lips trying to stop the laugh that was threatening to escape. He raised his arm and motioned with his index finger for me to come to him. Shaking my head I kept walking backwards, but he was gaining on me.
Turning, I took off up the hill. I didn’t dare look over my shoulder. I could pretend I was further ahead than I really was. His thundering footsteps behind me let me know he was close. He slid his finger around my belt loop and pulled me off the ground mid-step.
“No, Griff, let me go,” I begged through my laughter. “Please I didn’t mean it.” I couldn’t even say it with a straight face.
With little effort, he hoisted me over his shoulder, and my hair fell over my face, and I bounced along my head, almost hitting his ass with every step he took. His powerful arm was hanging onto my legs, and I reached out to slap his ass. “Let me down you big brute.” I wiggled on his shoulder but he just held onto me tighter.
His footsteps changed, and we were back on the dock, but he still hadn’t said a word. “No Griff, please don’t throw me in. I can’t swim. Please.” I squealed and wrapped my arms around him. If I was going in, so was he, again.
“You really can’t swim?” He asked as he stood at the end of the dock. I hesitated to answer and that was the wrong move. He effortlessly threw me off his shoulder and the cool water cocooned around me.
Getting my bearings I did a forward flip and swam effortlessly to the shoreline. “Thought you couldn’t swim?”
“I was a competitive swimmer for ten years,” I said as I looked over my shoulder and walked away from him.
“You lied to me.” He’d walked to where I stood on the bank wringing my hair out.
“Yeah I did.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want to get all wet.” I shrugged.
“I don’t mind when you’re wet.” His eyes trailed down my body. My shirt clung to me, and his gaze lingered on my breasts. “Are you wet other places too?” He took a step toward me and popped open the button on my jeans with very little effort, even though the denim was soaked.
“No.” I snarled.
“But now I know you don’t always tell me the truth so maybe I should check for myself?” He pulled the zipper of my pants down and reached for the waistband of my panties. His hand felt warm on my cold, damp skin, and if I wasn’t wet before, I would be for sure now.
Locking my eyes on him, I silently dared him to dip his fingers between my legs. I ached for his touch and I'd never felt this animalistic desire before. Every part of me wanted his hands all over me. If he told me to kneel, I’d drop to my knees without question, and that thought terrified me slightly, but I loved the power he had over me when he wanted it.
“Griffin, are you here,” a woman’s voice called out.
“He’s probably over at the other ranch Gwen,” a man’s voice said a moment later.
“Fuck.” Was the only word out of Griff’s mouth, as he pulled his hand out of my pants like he’d been stung by a bee.
I fumbled with the zipper because my fingers were cold, and when the couple crested the top of the slight hill, my button slid into the hole, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Griff pulled me in front of him and I frowned as I turned to look up at him. He rocked his hips, and his rock-hard cock pressed into my back. “Fuck,” I whispered.
“There you are.” The woman beamed as she looked over me to Griff. “Son, why are you both sopping wet?” And there it was, the answer to who these people were. Griff’s parents were here.
“Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?” His voice was less than enthusiastic.
“We just wanted to check in on you. You never call, or come home, so we came to you.”
“Looks like he’s doing just fine.” Griff’s father smirked.
“Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Elle Greggory. My girlfriend.” I turned and looked up at Griff and scrunched up my face. I was far too old to be a girlfriend. “Partner?” He asked, and I shook my head. “Lady friend,” he said firmly and I rolled my eyes.
“Girlfriend is fine,” I said, wanting to push him back in the lake.
“Elle, these are my parents.” Griff let out a sigh of relief when the introductions were over.
“It’s nice to meet you both.” I shook their hands and took my place back in front of Griff. “I should go get ready for work. Excuse me.”
Showering, I dried my hair and got in my scrubs. I heard voices, so I stopped and hesitated at my door before walking out into their discussion.
“She seems lovely.” Gwen’s voice carried down the hallway.
“You have no idea Mom. She’s amazing.”
“And her son is deaf?” My stomach rolled and I felt the world spin in the opposite direction. This was Troy’s family all over again. I wasn’t about to let a stranger bad mouth my son. I didn’t care whose mother she was. “Having kids isn’t something you’ve ever wanted. In fact you’ve been adamantly against it in the past, and this isn’t just you’re average child.” His mother’s voice dropped a little lower.
“Mom, you’re right. I never wanted kids before, but people change, and Parker is amazing,” Griff’s words made me stop halfway down the hallway. “I’m so lucky to have him and Elle in my life.”
Griff stood when I walked into the room, and I headed straight for him, wrapping my arms around him. I didn’t care who was in the room, I kissed him like we were alone. When I pulled away, I smiled up at him. “See you in the morning. I’ll be late, I have to pick up Parker.”
“I’ll go get him, just come home and get some sleep.” He wrapped his arms around my lower back and pulled me tightly against him.
“Are you sure? Troy’s leaving early tomorrow.” Griff put his finger on my lips and made me stop talking.
“I’m absolutely sure. Go to work, I’ve got things handled here.” He reached over the counter and grabbed my bag, turning me toward the door and walked out to the truck with me.
“You didn’t let me say goodbye to your parents, they’re going to think I’m rude.” I frowned at him. Griff opened the driver’s door and set my bag on the opposite seat.
“I’ll tell them you said goodbye. Maybe I can get rid of them tomorrow.” He pinned me between the seat and himself and lowered his head to mine. Kissing this man was like ascending to heaven every time.
“Shoot, I have to fuel up the truck.” I glanced at my watch and grimaced. I was going to be late, not actually late, just later than I liked to be.
“I did it yesterday for you.”
“You’re the best.” I rolled up on my toes and kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t forget about Parker tomorrow. There’s steak marinating in the fridge for you, there’s enough for your parents also. The potatoes are in.” He cut my words off, by putting his finger over my lips.
“Go to work. I used to live alone, and I survived. I’ll get Parker, don’t worry. Have a good shift, our bed will feel empty without you.” He winked as he backed away from the door. I had enough room to get in, and he closed the door.
“Don’t tell Parker about Jake’s offer, I’ll tell him tomorrow when I get home.” I’m not sure why I felt the need to say that but it was my responsibility to tell him. This is all he’d ever known so I questioned how he would react.
“Chanelle, get to work, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.” He stepped away from the truck.
“See you in the morning.” I smiled as I put the truck in reverse, backing up into the barnyard and shifting into drive. I pulled away from the man I was falling in love with. For the first time in my life, the allure of the emergency department wasn’t there.
I’d always been excited before a shift because every day was so vastly different, never knowing what scenario would come through the door, and now all I can think of is I’m tired of it. In my gut I knew I didn’t need to talk to the guys about the job, I was going to take it. Today sealed the deal for me. I was tired of missing out on so many moments with Parker, and now I was starting to miss them with Griff too.
My phone buzzed and I picked it up. I groaned when I saw the text from the unknown number. Except it wasn’t unknown, it was Billy Hays.
Unknown: Hey sexy nursey, I’m ready for my exam, maybe I’ll see you later tonight.
What the hell was wrong with that man?