Chapter Seventeen
B y the time Becket got home from the graveyard, it was nearly dinner time.
He quickly fed the dogs, put the soaps, cream and perfume he’d bought earlier for Ellie in the bathroom and put on a clean shirt.
He was on the brink of taking a huge step, of steering his life in a completely different direction—it was a thrilling, exhilarating, but also frightening prospect.
How Ellie would react to the link he’d sent, he didn’t know, but she had mentioned her heart. Twice. It had to mean something. And he remembered something Cooper had said to him a while ago—Ellie would stay if someone made her want to stay. And if someone loved her the way she needed to be loved.
He could do that. He wanted to do that. What he didn’t know was whether she had room for him in her house.
As he opened the front door, the dogs rushed outside.
“Okay, guys, we’re going to Ellie’s.” Happy barking interrupted him.
“I know, I’m happy as well. But first,” he calmed them down, “I need to talk to the others.” He opened the door of the truck and Jack and Sadie jumped in; Harper needed help to get in.
She licked his face. “Yeah, I know. I should’ve done this sooner. ”
His mother’s car was also parked in front of Hayden’s house. Sighing, he entered the house. Of course, his mom would be here; in this family there were no secrets.
Everyone was already at the table, eating. As he took a plate from Isabella, he became aware of all the eyes on him, even Luke’s.
“You look different, Uncle Becket,” Luke said.
“Different how?” smiled Willow.
“Happier,” Luke decided.
Becket laughed. “I am. Can we talk?” he asked his siblings. “Mom, I’m glad you’re here. Who told you I’d have something to say? Willow or Cooper?” He touched her hand.
“I may not be fey like your brother and sister,” his mom smiled, “but I am your mother. And mothers have instincts. I knew I had to be here tonight. We’re all dying to know what’s going on between you and Ellie.”
Becket took a deep breath. “Before I get to Ellie, I have something else to tell you.”
“No need,” Hayden said. “I’ve spoken to Coop and Willow. We’re all happy for you to pursue your art dream. I’ve spoken to Hunter, he’s ready to start. He’ll move into the empty house.”
For a moment it was silent. They all knew Hayden was talking about Walker’s house.
“If you’re willing to pitch in during our busy times, especially during the calving season in spring, like Willow does,” Hayden finally continued, “it would help us. Hopefully that will give you enough time for your art.”
With his heart in his throat, Becket stared at his siblings. “That would be perfect. You guys won’t mind?”
“We’ll mind if you don’t do what you love to do,” Willow said. “To get back to you and Ellie, who is the woman you met today? In Java Café of all places, where everyone in town could see you?”
“It was a business meeting,” Becket said. “The woman is June Kincaid.”
“I’ve heard she’s gorgeous,” Isabella interrupted.
Becket nodded. “She is, but there is only one woman for me. June is a publisher.” He continued to tell them about her emails and the meeting they’d had earlier.
“They seem to like what I do. What’s more, they think they can sell it.
I haven’t signed anything—I still wanted to talk to our lawyer, to you guys and to Ellie. ”
“But you’ve already decided?” Willow smiled.
Becket shook his head. “Of course you’d know that.”
“Well,” Hayden said as he got up, “this calls for a toast. I’ll bring the bubbly.”
“I’ll get the glasses,” Laura said as she followed Hayden.
*
Ellie was on her way to Becket’s house when she saw all the Weston vehicles, including Becket’s and his mother’s, parked in front of the main homestead. She’d been there for Laura’s wedding and she’d been to see her friend a few times since then, but she’d never been to the house with Becket.
Slowly, she drove closer and stopped next to Becket’s truck. “Well, Marmalade, this is it. It seems I’m going to have an audience. Not quite what I had in mind, but nothing ever is since I moved to Marietta.” Picking up the cat, she got out of the car.
As she neared the front door, excited voices reached her ears. She rang the bell and waited. After a while, she knocked. Still no reaction. They probably couldn’t hear her above all the laughter and noise.
“I’m not leaving. Let’s see if the door is locked.” The door opened easily.
As she stepped into the house, Arlene appeared in one of the doorways.
Her eyes widened and she held out her arms. “Ellie! I thought I heard the doorbell, but everyone is talking so loudly, I wasn’t sure.
Hello, Marmalade,” she smiled as she hugged Ellie.
“Come on in, we’re celebrating Becket’s wonderful news. ”
“What news?” she got out.
“He’ll tell you.” Arlene smiled.
With Marmalade still clutched in her arms, Ellie walked into the dining room. Everyone had a glass of bubbly in their hands and were talking and laughing so hard they didn’t see her.
For a moment, she stood still, drinking in the scene in front of her.
When she’d left Phoenix early this year, she was hurt and lonely with no real plan for her future.
The only person who had ever loved her, her grandmother, had passed away.
She was only going to visit Marietta because her grandma had talked about it so often.
Finding love had never been in the picture.
And then she’d fallen in love with the town, the people and this family. And with Becket.
At that moment, he turned his head and their eyes locked. His face lit up and he quickly put his glass down. “Ellie!” he called out as he crossed the room to get to her, his three dogs at his heels.
Before he reached her, a pair of hands took Marmalade out of her arms so she had her arms free when he pulled her close. With a sigh, she held on tightly. Underneath her ear, his heart was beating like a runaway train. His dogs jumped up, barking excitedly.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” he whispered in her ear. “We were on our way to you…” Big hands kept stroking her back.
“Okay, you can get a room later,” Arlene finally laughed.
Blushing Ellie pulled out of Becket’s arms. “I know you, and I know you’ll never hurt me on purpose. I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions, and I’m sorry I didn’t want to listen to you.”
Those blue eyes staring down at her were molten pools of ink. He picked up one of her hands, lacing their fingers. “I should’ve told you about meeting June, but I wasn’t even sure what she was offering.”
“Share your good news with Ellie,” Arlene said. “I’ll get another glass.”
“I’ll get you a plate, Ellie.” Isabella smiled. Ellie remembered the friendly woman from the wedding.
“What news?” she asked Becket.
“The woman he met this afternoon is a publisher,” Willow said. Although she was smiling, there was another message in her eyes. “Told you not to jump to conclusions.”
“A publisher,” Ellie repeated, not quite grasping what she was hearing.
“Tell her, Becket,” Willow said as she took a seat.
With Ellie’s hand still in his, Becket motioned for her to sit down as he took the chair next to her. “As I said, we—the dogs and I—were on our way to talk to you. I should’ve told you about June, but I still had things to figure out. Anyway, as Willow mentioned, she’s a publisher.”
“Gorgeous publisher, I’ve heard,” Cooper added drily as he stroked Marmalade. So, he’d taken her.
Becket sighed. “Not helping here, Coop.”
Cooper just grinned.
“She… the publisher she works for, has offered me a deal.”
As he explained to Ellie what their offer entailed, she stared at him.
She saw his mouth moving, but she wasn’t really listening to what he was saying anymore.
This was a different Becket than the suave one who’d swaggered into her shop with his killer smile and a box of condoms in his hands.
Gone were the studied pose and smooth lines, this was the real Becket, the one she’d lost her heart to, the one for whom she’d happily throw away all her plans to stay in her lane and live a boring life.
“…talk to the family because it will affect all of them as well,” Becket was saying. “Like Willow here, I’ll pitch in during our busy times, but otherwise I can focus on my art.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Ellie got out. “You have so much talent. I’ve been following your page for ages, not knowing who ET Beck really was. I should’ve recognized the dogs.”
All three dogs barked.
“Okay, let’s finish dinner,” Arlene said. “I’m sure you two have a lot more to talk about.”
*
By the time they’d finally finished dinner, there were three empty bottles of bubbly. It was late, but nobody was in a hurry. Luke had fallen asleep next to Jessie on the couch with the other dogs snuggled up next to them. Marmalade was still happily cuddling against Cooper.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Becket finally said as he got up, “I’m taking Ellie to my house.” His dogs jumped up immediately and moved to the door.
“You probably have to be at your shop tomorrow morning early, Ellie. Let me keep Marmalade until then,” Cooper said. “Duke will be very happy to see his friend again. You can pick her up when you’re back.”
“Would it be okay if I take Duke as well?” Ellie asked. “Becket has already put him in some of his sketches.”
Cooper nodded. “He’d be one very happy dog.”
As Becket drove toward his house, he kept Ellie’s hand in his. They had so much to still discuss, but for now he was content to just be with her. It had been a chaotic day. He’d experienced so many different emotions, he was drained.
As he stopped in front of his house, Ellie turned to him. “Let’s talk tomorrow? For now, I just want to be with you.”
“A woman after my own heart.” He smiled as he bent down and kissed her.
He only wanted to tease her, but the moment their lips met, desire exploded inside him.
Lifting his head, he gulped in some much-needed oxygen.
“I’ll get the dogs, you open the house,” he got out as he pushed the key into her hands.
By the time he closed the front door behind him, Ellie wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Soft sounds from the direction of his bedroom told him where she was.
“Okay, guys, you behave,” he said to the dogs as he left his hat on the table and walked toward his room.
Before he opened the door, he turned to check whether the dogs had listened to him. They were sitting side by side, their tongues hanging out, big smiles on their faces. Laughing, he showed them a thumbs-up before he entered the room. Three barks followed him.
As he closed the door, Ellie stepped into the room from the bathroom. She was wearing a pair of cute pajama shorts with a loose top that showed glimpses of her golden skin every time she turned.
She pointed toward the bathroom. “The soap, body cream, shampoo, perfume…?”
Pulling his shirt from his jeans, he pulled it over his head and tossed it aside. “For you. I bought it this afternoon. In the pharmacy. Where Aurelia Hill also happened to be.” By the time he’d finished speaking, he was standing right in front of her.
Her eyes twinkling, she spread her hands out over his chest. “Aurelia Hill?”
“Yeah,” was all he got out as warm lips met his skin.
“Ellie,” he breathed, slipping his hands into those soft curls. “I don’t ever want to be without you again,” he whispered against her lips.
Folding her arms around his neck, she smiled. “I like—”
But he didn’t want to talk anymore and broke off her words with a kiss. Within minutes his senses were steeped in her scent, her softness, the velvety texture of her skin, quiet sighs slipping from his throat. He was never going to get enough of her. Never.
Without taking his mouth from hers, he picked her up and gently laid her on his bed. He’d thought they’d take it slow—they had all night—but his blood had already reached boiling point and his body was craving a release only she could give him.
*
Drowning in a sea of sensation after sensation crashing over her, Ellie just held on to Becket.
He was her rock, the one she could hold on to, always.
Deep down, she’d known it, but she’d been so afraid to be hurt again, so afraid to give love another chance.
That was why it had been easier to believe all the wild stories about Becket; she’d been trying to protect herself.
Becket’s hands were everywhere, stroking her, caressing her until she was a shuddering, aching mess. Nearly desperate, she pulled her top over her head, kicked off her shorts. “You’re wearing too many clothes again, cowboy,” she got out as she tried to push his jeans out of the way.
With a grunt, he lifted his hips and helped her. His jeans were still flying through the air and she’d already taken him in her mouth. Groaning, he pulled her up. “If you do that, I’m not going to last.”
“That’s the idea,” she grinned as she tried to crawl back to where she’d been.
“I haven’t had my way with you yet.” He flipped her onto her back. Lifting himself on one elbow, he fondled her breasts. “These,” he whispered as he bent down, “keep me awake at night.” As his mouth closed around an aching nipple, one hand slipped down and he cupped her.
The sensation of his hot mouth and clever hands was too much for her already overstimulated senses. Within seconds she was trembling, crying out his name.
Before she could catch her breath, he’d put on a condom and was hoisting himself above her, his eyes feverish, his breath labored. “Look at me,” he pleaded as he moved forward.
With a cry she welcomed him home, slipping her arms around those muscled shoulders.
She tried to keep her eyes on him, she didn’t want to miss a single expression on his face, but as they raced together up that mountain, her head fell backward and with her heart beating his name, they reached the peak simultaneously.
As they soared, he gathered her close and with his lips pressed against her ear, they tumbled down together.