Chapter 4
Chapter Four
IRIS
Iwait for Ellis to return from his room. I pour our tea and take the pie out of the warming oven, cutting each of us a slice.
I’m a wife. And this man I just met today…is my husband.
And still, nothing from Raven. When I get a minute alone, I’m sending another voicemail. I need another, more creative threat because clearly, she’s not taking my previous ones seriously.
I set both plates down on the dining table outside the kitchen. The wall that partitions them is decorated with a gallery of family pictures.
Olive as a baby. Olive looks about two, laughing as she runs through the sprinklers.
Oh.
There she is.
Staring at the woman, resting her forehead against a younger, more lively Ellis as they hold a newborn, pulls at something deep. I can’t tell if it’s pleasant or not. She was gorgeous. Rich dark brown hair about shoulder length. Natural, thick curls.
They looked so happy.
Raven and Jed were that happy. I saw the light go out of my sister’s eyes last year. We were just getting our light back after our parents.
Life can truly be a cruel bitch sometimes.
A throat clears.
I jolt and turn, finding Ellis pushing back wet hair. He must have jumped in the shower real quick.
I smile, wiping away whatever expression I wore a moment ago.
“I warmed up the pie. Shall we?” I gesture at the table.
We sit across from each other, and I wait for his first bite.
The fork pierces the flaky, buttery crust as light pink oozes on the plate. Brows furrowed, Ellis examines the pieces as he slowly places the fork in his mouth.
His face softens. His brows ease the tension and raise a smidge.
Success!
I smile, finally forking my own bite.
“Wow,” he says ever so quietly.
“Yeah?” I ask, already knowing he loves it.
“Strawberry?” he asks.
“And cream, yes. My grandmother’s recipe my Momma taught us when we were little. Though Raven, bless her, can’t bake for shit,” I chuckle, then sober up.
“Still haven’t heard from her?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No. And I thought my last threat was menacing enough to at least warrant a proof of life text.” I grumble into the next bite.
“Threat?” he says with a hint of humor.
I sip the English breakfast tea. “Yup. We have this creepy creek behind the property. We used to dare each other to visit alone when we were little. I told her I’d hogtie her to that tree.” I glance up at Ellis’s perplexed expression.
“I promised to leave Bernie, our old faithful Bernese, to watch over her. Like I told her, I’m not a monster. And I’d make sure she got water every couple of hours.”
Ellis stares with a forkful hovering over his plate before he does the most unexpected thing. His expression breaks, and he starts…laughing.
And wow.
Those firm lips I felt pressed to mine earlier part to reveal a stunning, boyish smile. Even behind that bushy beard, his features relax in a way I haven’t seen since I met him, and those dark green eyes? They spark with flecks of gold.
He sets the fork down and pushes back his disheveled thick hair that, damn it, he makes look really good.
“That might be your problem there, Wildflower,” he says with a deep, raspy chuckle. “I doubt you’d get anyone to confess with a half-ass threat like that.”
My brain is short-circuiting. I’m processing too many things at once. I’m still reeling from the laugh and now…
“Wildflower?”
His face drops. Clearing his throat, he continues eating but shrugs. “Just came to mind. Might be your perfume or something.”
He’s uncomfortable, and I worry that if I push, we’ll lose the small progress made.
“What would you suggest then?” I pivot. When he looks up, confused, I clarify. “For a more effective threat when I leave my Houdini sister another voicemail?”
The corner of his lip twitches upward. “I don’t know. Let me think…”
I smile, watching his shoulders loosen and drop.
“How about you tell her you’ve called the cops and put out a missing persons report, but you told them she might be attempting to carry drugs across the border?”
My eyes widen, already picturing Raven’s face.
I cough up my bite when I start laughing. I tap my fist against my chest, catching my breath.
“Shit, you okay?” Ellis’s chair scrapes against the hardwood floor as he swiftly gets up and runs to the kitchen.
“I’m okay,” I laugh, still clearing the lodged strawberry and cream pie.
“Here, drink slowly,” he says, giving me a cup of water. Warmth hits my back as he rubs circles.
I sip carefully, trying to ignore the occasional graze of his fingers on my bare skin over the back of my sundress.
I look up into hunter green eyes. “Raven would definitely have a tittie attack. I might have to try that one.”
“You okay?”
I nod. “I’m fine, Ellis. Wrong pipe. All good. Thanks, husband,” I joke and smile.
A storm of emotions rush through his gaze. He nods, dropping his hand from my back and clearing his plate.
“We should probably discuss expectations. What new normal are we working toward?” I ask, turning in my seat, waiting for him to come around from the kitchen.
He takes a minute.
“As far as myself,” he starts, still in the kitchen where I can’t see him. “No expectations. We’re married in name only. The only reason I let Deke convince me to do this crazy ass idea is for Olive.”
“Deke?”
“Uh, yeah,” he says, coming into view with another piece of pie. Seeing him sit to enjoy another slice has my gut doing a happy dance.
“Questionable, but my best friend is back in Wild Peak. We all grew up together. He was the best man at my wedding.”
“Does he visit?” I ask, continuing to eat my first piece.
“Been a while,” he says around a bite. “He plans to be here in a couple of weeks for Olive’s birthday.”
“Oh! When’s Olive’s birthday? She’s turning six, right?”
My mind races with ideas for decoration and themes, and a cake I can bake.
“The fourth and yes, six. Crazy,” he shakes his head. “How the hell does time turn so fast?”
“Can…,” suddenly nervous, “I help plan it with you? I mean, I’m sure you already have maybe ideas on what—”
“Iris?”
“Yeah,” I stop rambling. He’s only said my name a couple times, and every time it sets off a cascade of warm tingles dancing in my chest.
“I’d love your help,” he says sincerely. “Honestly, I haven’t been able to do much yet. I work long hours. Again, why I needed to do this. I don’t want Olive bouncing around houses and babysitters for years to come. She deserves better than that.”
Iris, don’t you dare fall for your husband.
“You’re a wonderful father, Ellis Michaels.”
Oh, that’s a new look. Beautiful, soft, and peaceful.
“Thank you, Iris…Clarke.”
I grin. “Michaels. Iris Michaels.”
Whoa.
Why does that look he’s giving me now awaken heat I can’t remember the last time I gave attention to?
“Iris Michaels,” he repeats, and my heart races.
“Hello there, Miss Olive,” I greet this adorable girl at the door. “Hi, I’m Iris.” I extend my hand to the colorfully dressed older black woman.
“Well, aren’t you beautiful? Harriet Lawrence. But everyone calls me Mrs. Harriet. A pleasure to meet the new Mrs. Michaels.”
“Hi Daddy!” Olive runs inside, takes her shoes off at the mat by the utility closet and jumps into her father’s waiting arms.
“Hey, kiddo,” he smiles, picking her up and peppering kisses all over her face as she squeals and giggles.
“Big day, huh?” Mrs. Harriet asks, smiling softly at the touching scene in the front hall.
I scoff a laugh. “One could say that, yes.”
She leans in and speaks quietly for my ears only. “He’s a really good man. Great father. I know this, you two, it’s not exactly conventional, but this could be a wonderful gift. For all involved. Just be patient with each other.”
“It’s wild. It hasn’t even been a full twenty-four hours, and I already feel like I’ve been here a week.” I laugh softly, dumbfounded by how true that statement is.
“Daddy, I missed you, and I’m hungry, and it smells yummy,” Olive declares, causing all of us to laugh.
“Mrs. Harriet, I made plenty of food. Would you like to join us?” I ask, then think better of it. “I mean,” I look over at Ellis. “If that’s alright?” Shit. I can’t just make assumptions and decide to invite people over. I have to think like a couple now. So weird.
“Of course,” he says, putting me at ease. “Always welcome. You know that, Mrs. Harriet.”
“It does smell divine, but I must get back and finish a commission I’m in the middle of. Rain check. See you soon, Miss Olive. Behave.”
“Always, Mrs. Harriet. Duh,” Olive states, one hand on her hip as her father balances her in his arms.
“Sassy thing. You better pray them teen years take their sweet time coming,” Mrs. Harriet grins, raising her brow.
We say our goodbyes, and soon, the chaos of an energetic five-year-old takes over, leaving no room for awkward silences anymore.
I made short ribs with vegetables in the pressure cooker, and not to toot my own horn, but the meat came out so tender and flavorful, it falls off the bone. With it, I made cheesy scalloped potatoes in the oven and garlic-roasted broccolini. Dinner is definitely a hit.
Olive does most of the talking, regaling us with Mrs. Harriet’s art pieces and the idea she gave Mrs. Harriet for her next piece. She addresses both of us, but I catch Olive watching me out of the corner of her eye a few times. She really is scary smart for a five-year-old.
As I’m cleaning up, Ellis takes Olive upstairs for her bath and bed. The kitchen isn’t large but is still a good size. I’ve become fairly familiar with where everything is now. After tea and pie earlier, Ellis was MIA while I unpacked in my new room downstairs.
I tried Raven again. Though I chickened out on using Ellis’s threat.
Seriously. Where are you, Rav?
I haven’t told her that I took her place. That’s a conversation we need to have in person.
“Iris?”
Surprised, I turn, dropping the washcloth I’m drying dishes with.
“Shit. Sorry.” Ellis rushes over to pick it up.
“No. You’re good. Sorry,” I laugh softly. “I was deep in my head, I guess.”
He looks around the kitchen. “I could’ve helped. You didn’t have to do all this yourself.”
“Ellis. I get this is going to take some getting used to. It’s only day one—which is kind of weird cause already it feels longer.”
“It does,” he almost grins.
“Yeah,” I smile. “We got married today.”
He huffs out a deep breath. “Shit.” Ellis pushes his hair off his forehead. “I’m still wrapping my head around that. My…wife.”
Okay. Ignore that clench of heat that just rushed below my belly button.
“I live here now too. You’ve had your routine. Hell, I’ve had mine back home. Now, we share the tasks. We’re partners, first and foremost, right? We’re in this crazy arrangement together.”
Ellis leans one arm on the sink’s edge, his body leans toward mine as I rest my back against the counter.
“I know I…kind of disappeared today on you.”
I shake my head. “I think space to process is absolutely warranted given our situation.”
Those deep green eyes stare. “You really have seen a lot of life, no matter your age.”
“Why do you say that?” I say…or whisper?
Are our faces closer than before?
“Every time you speak, your wisdom, awareness, perspective on things…it surprises me greatly.”
A fresh hit of pine, warm honey, and sandalwood overtakes my next inhale. My eyes flutter at the same scent that instantly takes me back to the courthouse…and our very unexpected first kiss.
I didn’t expect the kiss. I knew he wanted an out. I tried to give it to him but something changed in his eyes. They were more alert. Determined.
I’ve kissed four men in my life.
None stopped time or enveloped my senses like my fifth first kiss with Ellis Michaels. My new husband.
“Daddy?” Olive’s voice calls from upstairs.
Both of us jolt apart. Holy shit, I think I was leaning in to kiss him again. Or was he leaning in?
Without saying a word, Ellis briskly leaves the kitchen and marches upstairs.
The moment he’s out of sight, my entire body exhales.
It is literally day one. How the hell am I falling for my husband already?