Chapter Three #2
Willow shook her head. “Difficult to know. She’s clearly very upset about something, but she’s not talking.
We’ve all tried. Lost is probably the best way to describe her state of mind.
She seems to be embarrassed about something, but she’s also traumatized.
Hopefully she’ll soon talk to one of us. ”
“I wonder…” Coop said, looking away. “That same evening, I was in my truck behind a car that nearly landed in a ditch. The driver managed to get the car back under control, but it was close. I think that could have been Rose.”
“Knowing you, you probably tried to help her?” Their mother smiled.
Cooper grimaced. “Tried but… let’s just say, the lady wasn’t interested in getting any help.”
“I’m not sure if and for how long she’ll be staying,” Willow said, “but at the moment she seems happy not to have to make any plans.”
*
Listening to the voices around her, Ellie tried to relax.
It was difficult. She couldn’t breathe properly with Becket sitting behind her.
There was more than enough space between them, but she was still way too close to him for her peace of mind.
And on top of that, his jacket was draped around her shoulders, effectively trapping her inside the heat that had remained in his jacket after he’d given it to her.
She was surrounded by his scent—an earthy, musky, male smell that was driving her nuts.
What she should’ve done was shrug off the jacket and insisted she’d fetch her own, but she’d been so stunned by his action she couldn’t react.
And by the time she’d realized what he’d done, everyone was talking about something else.
Acutely aware of his every move, every soft breath he took, the heat radiating from his body, it was a struggle not to turn her head and stare at him. Why was that? Cooper, also a seriously handsome cowboy, sat beside her, but he didn’t disturb her the way Becket did.
“So, Coop, how many stray animals are living with you right now?” Arlene asked.
“I’m not sure.” Cooper smiled. “There’s a new mutt, a border collie crossed with something, and a stray orange kitten found her way to me yesterday. They’re keeping each other company at the moment.”
“They have names already, I assume?” His mom smiled.
“We’ve settled on Marmalade for the cat and the mutt liked Duke.” Cooper chuckled.
“Ooh,” Ellie said. “I’m looking for a pet. I love dogs, but seeing that I’m a spinster, I feel obliged to get a cat. Obviously only when I have my own place.”
“Would you like to meet them?”
“Yes, I would. I mean…”
“I have to see whether they like you,” Cooper said.
Taken aback, Ellie stared at him.
His mother laughed. “He talks to animals, my dear. Strange, but there you have it. Willow, here, the artist in the family, is fey, like her grandmother. She knows things, much to the chagrin of her brothers. Coop has it too, he just prefers animals to people. And if I’m not mistaken, our Luke also seems to instinctively know things. ”
Uncertain, Ellie looked at Willow. She’d picked up from Laura that members of her family-in-law had a sixth sense, but talking to animals? “So, all of you… um…?”
“Are a tad mad?” Willow laughed. “I’m afraid so. It seemed to have skipped Becket and Hayden. Walker though…” She bit her lip.
“Who’s Walker?” Ellie asked as she saw Becket stiffen out of the corner of her eye.
“My other son,” Arlene said quietly. “We lost him in an accident five years ago.”
Ellie felt horrible. She wasn’t usually inquisitive about other people. Laura had briefly mentioned a brother who had died, but she hadn’t used his name. “I’m so sorry…”
Arlene smiled softly. “It’s a process, but we’re learning to live with the grief.”
“I still miss my grandmother something fierce as well,” Ellie got out, her throat tightening like it always did when she spoke about the woman who’d raised her. “She passed away at the end of last year.”
A warm hand briefly touched her back. Or was she hallucinating?
“So what story is going around town about you in Becket’s arms, Ellie?” Arlene asked, all smiles.
Ellie gasped, not believing what she was hearing. She’d heard about the gossip mill, several rumors had even reached her ears, but she’d never been the subject of one. “I… um…” she stuttered.
Becket groaned. “What is up with people in this town? Ellie was standing on an unsteady ladder. I was in time to stop her from falling and hurting herself. That’s what happened.”
“If you say so,” his mother chuckled.
Someone tapped on the microphone. The band was back. Ellie sighed in relief. Thank goodness.
“Are you ready?” Janice called out. “The band is ready to perform!”
Huddling into Becket’s jacket, Ellie tried to find a comfortable way to sit. It was difficult. Janice’s chair was in front of her and Cooper was sitting to her right and if she scooted back so she could sit cross-legged, she was even closer to Becket.
“Here,” Becket said from behind her and the next moment, she was pulled against a solid wall of muscle.
She tried to move away, but his legs were on either side of her, his arms resting on his knees.
“I don’t bite.” His voice in her ear sent delicious chills down her back.
Oh, my goodness, she was behaving like a starstruck teenager. She should get up and go home as soon as possible. But the singer of the band was crooning something about slow hands and for the life of her, she couldn’t move. Didn’t want to move. Didn’t want to leave the cocoon of Becket’s body.
Ignoring the hysterical little voice and the warning lights exploding all around her, urging her to get up and leave, she found herself relaxing against Becket’s firm, warm body.
Nothing could happen. His family was here. She was merely leaning against him.
Minutes later, she had to gulp in some air. Oh, my. Was it her imagination or was it getting hotter by the minute? Nobody else seemed to have a problem, though; it seemed like it was just her.
Becket’s scent had found its way through every pore of her body.
It was in her bloodstream, rushing through her veins, making her more aware of him with every passing minute.
And oh, my goodness, she was hot. There was a real possibility she’d go up in flames at any moment.
It was absolute torture to be so close to him, to feel his breath on her neck, to hear his heartbeat. Or was it hers?
One thing was very clear, though—she had to stay as far away as possible from Becket Weston. He’d managed to light a fire inside her, one which was urging her to throw caution to the wind, forget about being safe and staying in her lane, and hurl herself into his arms. And that would not do.