Chapter 6
Ellie’s heart trembled a little as Ethan prayed aloud.
She didn’t know too many men who did that.
Sure, Pastor Bryan did, and her dad, and she bet even Jordan had prayed aloud with EJ, but she’d never come across a man so open in his faith that he’d willingly pray aloud with a near stranger.
She barely heard Ethan’s words, her heart was so touched.
Far from being put off by her selfish sister, he seemed to care.
And had kept looking at her like maybe that almost kiss from before wasn’t a mistake. She didn’t know what to do with him.
“Amen.”
She nodded, adding a quiet “amen,” even though she barely knew what he’d prayed. “Thank you.”
He half smiled. “God loves her and is with her, wherever she is.”
“Thanks for reminding me.”
“That’s what friends do.”
He thought they were friends? Her heart tipped. Oh. That was … good. Even if she wondered what that meant about their previous near lip-lock. Did he mean they were friends who could be more? Or had he drawn back because he only wanted them to be friends?
Ugh. Why was figuring out relationships so hard? Not that this was a relationship. Ethan just said they were only friends.
“I’m sorry about my sister. Apart from that, tonight has been a lot of fun.”
“I’m really glad I came.” Ethan smiled at her, and again her heart gave a little shimmy.
Could this work beyond the weekend? Oh, she hoped so. At least she could message him on Instagram, so they could stay in touch that way.
They continued to peer in small rooms, and along the way surprised several other couples who were not happy about being interrupted.
Then she turned into a small alcove she remembered seeing on the guided tour yesterday.
And there, on a silver brocade divan, was her sister, lip locked with Jason, oblivious to the world.
“Ahem.”
Maybe they didn’t hear her, because they didn’t pause from their very enthusiastic kissing. Embarrassment heated her cheeks. She’d known her sister was romance minded, but how could she be so loose to kiss a man she’d only just met?
Conviction clanged inside, along with a fresh round of regret. Hello: log in the eye alert! She’d been about to do the same, until common sense prevailed. Which showed just what a slippery slope attraction could be. “Katie!”
Katie jumped, and Jason blinked, his pupils dark, his gaze hazy as he drew back to look at them. “Wh–what are you two doing here?”
“Looking for you,” Ellie said to Katie. “What are you doing?”
“I would’ve thought that was obvious.” Jason smirked.
Katie glared at Ellie. “How dare you?”
Ellie coughed. “Excuse me? How dare I?” She pointed to Jason. “You’ve known the man all of two seconds, and you’re eating each other’s faces?”
Katie huffed. “Just because you’ve never kissed a guy in your life.”
Ellie stiffened. So what if it was true? It didn’t mean that Katie needed to be so heartless in exposing her in front of the others. She reached for her sister. “I think it’s time for you to go.”
“I’m not a child.” Katie wrenched away. “I don’t need you telling me what to do.”
“She’s definitely all woman,” Jason murmured.
Ugh. She might’ve just thrown up a little in her mouth. “You are old enough to know better.”
“Hey, I haven’t forced her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.”
“It’s late, Katie. You need to sleep.”
“You’re not my mother.”
“No, but I could call our father, and we could see what a former policeman has to say about you kissing like this.”
“Your dad’s a former cop?” Jason frowned. “You didn’t say anything.”
Ellie folded her arms. “And he’s still got friends on the force.”
“Whoa.” He held up his hands. “I’m not looking for any trouble here.”
Which sounded awfully like a man who expected trouble.
“It’s getting late,” Ethan said. “Are you staying here, Jason?”
“Er, no.”
“Perhaps it would be best if we all went to our own rooms.”
Katie tossed her head petulantly. “I don’t want to.”
“Have you been drinking?” Ellie murmured.
“I might’ve had a drink or two. So what?”
“You’re not acting like you normally do. Come on. Say good night.”
“I don’t need you telling me what to do.”
“Katie, do you have plans for tomorrow?” Ethan asked, drawing her to one side.
“I don’t know. Do you?” She rubbed her forehead. Glanced back at Ellie. “I really don’t like how you’re treating me.”
Ellie clenched and unclenched her hand as she studied Jason. “You’ve got somewhere else to be, haven’t you?”
“Hey, you don’t need to worry. I like your sister.”
“I sure thought so, judging from what I just witnessed.” Her gaze narrowed. “So are you going to keep in touch?”
“Of course.”
“You’ve got her phone number, have you?” She hooked an eyebrow.
“I, uh, hey, great idea.”
She rolled her eyes and glanced back at Ethan, who offered his own wry twist of lips. Sorry, she mouthed at him.
He shook his head.
“Why are you apologising to him?” Katie demanded. “I’m the one owed an apology.”
“You need to go to bed.” And not in the way that Jason seemed intent on. “Jason can call you in the morning. If he really cares.”
“Of course he does,” she snapped. “Don’t you?” she asked Jason.
He wrapped his arms around her and pressed another kiss to her lips. “You know I do.”
Ellie knew he cared about something, but Katie’s best interest probably wasn’t it.
“Good night.” She pivoted and tugged her sister away.
“Call me?” Katie begged Jason.
“Every day,” he promised.
“Oh my gosh,” Ellie muttered as she dragged Katie down the hall. Could the guy be any sleazier?
“Stop it.” Katie pulled away. “Why do you have to spoil everything?”
“Because men like him want to spoil women like you.”
“You’re crazy. So judgemental.”
“I’d rather be judgemental and have you kept safe than be stupid and let you get hurt.”
Katie stalked away before pausing, hands fisted on her hips. “I can’t believe you sometimes. What are you doing with him here, anyway?” Katie gestured to Ethan.
“If by ‘him’ you mean Ethan, well, he was with me and concerned for you too.”
“And what were you two doing?” Katie snarled.
“Nothing like you and Jason were doing.”
“Of course you weren’t. You don’t even know what it’s like to like someone like that.”
Ellie refused to look at Ethan. Oh, she had something of an idea.
“Oh my goodness, Ellie.” Katie sighed. “I really think Jason is the one.”
“The one what? The one trying to have his way with you? Yeah, I’d believe that.”
Katie muttered something. “Why do you have to be so negative? No, I mean the one. The man for me. My one true love.”
“You know you’re not living in a Disney movie, right?”
“You’re so lame.”
“No, I’m not the one who believes that fairy tales come true. It’s not real.”
“Romance is real,” Katie snapped.
“Yeah, real hormones, mixed with emotions, shaped by societal expectations and often fuelled by alcohol or a lack of sleep.”
Katie snorted. “You’re being crazy.” She peered at Ethan. “Don’t you think that’s crazy talk?”
He shrugged, glanced at Ellie, offered a smile. “I can see your point.”
“Of course you can.” Katie’s eye roll could probably be seen from space. “Ellie, why don’t you believe in romance?”
This was so not a discussion she wanted to have in front of Ethan. “Right now, we’re talking about you and your actions with Jason. You can’t trust a man you’ve only just met.”
“You mean you can, but I can’t.”
Ellie swallowed a sigh. “I just don’t trust him. He’s a lot older than you, and—”
“You’re being ridiculous. He’ll show you.”
“When he calls you every day? Yeah, I’d like to see that.”
“Well, you will. Just you wait.”
She had a strong feeling she’d be waiting a very long time.
Katie glared at Ellie. “I can’t believe you embarrassed me like that. Actually, I can. You’re just jealous.”
“Of you and Jason? Please.”
“Not everyone is as cold as you, Ellie, and so focused only on work that you never date.”
Ellie smashed her lips together to keep the protest inside. She would date if she met someone she considered datable. And here, tonight, she had.
Oh, she hoped Ethan hadn’t heard that. Far from just embarrassing Katie, this episode had turned ugly for her too, and she had no desire to make it any worse.
They crossed the grand foyer and into the dim lounge area with the last of the flames flickering in the fireplace.
She glanced at Ethan again. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “I might leave you two to it.”
“Good idea,” Katie snapped. “Nobody wants you here anyway.”
Sorry, Ellie mouthed again, as weariness stole across her. “I should say good night.”
He studied her. “I certainly didn’t mean to cause any problems.”
“You didn’t. And I didn’t mean for a great evening to end this way.”
“Hey, not your fault.”
She couldn’t look at him, too conscious of Katie’s intense perusal and the fact that Jason might appear again at any moment. “I should go.”
“Well, um, thanks for keeping me company.”
She shrugged. What could she say that wouldn’t sound lame or trite or pathetic? “I should go. I’ll send you those designs soon.”
“Designs?”
“For your youth group social media? Unless you don’t want them.”
“Oh. Uh, sure. Thanks.”
That didn’t sound like he did. Looked like today was a bust on lots of levels. Hurt creased her chest. She couldn’t pretend she was okay. “Well, I’d better go. Thanks again.”
“It was good to meet you, Ellie.”
“You too.” She dared peek up at him at last, but a loud sigh from her sister drew her attention that way. “Sorry, gotta go.”
He nodded, then paused at the bottom of the steps as they progressed up the staircase. Ellie paused and looked behind her. Made a “Call me” gesture with her hand.
But he’d already turned away.
“Not everyone is as cold as you, Ellie, and so focused only on work that you never date.”
Was that true? Or was it just part of Katie’s pique and a poisonous strike at Ellie to redeem her pride? But it was hard to know, as Ellie’s own behaviour had cooled again as soon as they’d been caught in that near kiss.