Big time.
I wrap my arms around myself tighter and shiver. I knew men could be scary, but I’d never been terrified like I was with Jake. And I sure wasn’t going to wait around for him to stop by and try to play his head games again. It might have been an overreaction, but when Camila again brought up me staying with her, I took a chance.
Tracie, my neighbor and friend, didn’t want me to leave. Like me, she works from home and doesn’t have a circle of friends other than Cam and I. But like a real friend, she understood the situation. She heard exactly how mean and nasty Jake was with me and witnessed the anger in his eyes.
I needed to get away, and Camila, though she had no idea what I was running away from, somehow sensed I needed a change of scenery, offered me her cabin for a steal! I gave up my overpriced, rundown studio apartment and packed up me belongings, everything fitting into my compact SUV. I don’t havemuch. But then again, I don’t need much. I got into my car and didn’t look back. Until I somehow got lost in the small mountain town of Moonlit Pines and met Eli.
Eli Woodman.
Who apparently, for some reason, insisted on driving me to Camila and his brother’s place. It’s right then that I realize what just happened. Like a lightbulb turning on, I get it. He is driving me here instead of having me follow him. Why would he do that? Now, we’re going to have to go back to town to get my car. It’s so much extra work. I’m about to mention this when I feel him slow down and put his truck in park.
I glance at him, my mouth ready to say something, but when our eyes meet, I shut it. I’m not sure of what to say. I look at him, and my mouth is suddenly dry, yet my entire body feels really hot.
“That’s Reed’s place.” He points and turns his head across the street. “That’s Cami’s. Or it used to be. He moved her in officially about two seconds after she told him she was pregnant.” A giggle escapes from me, and when I glance in Eli’s direction, there is something about the way he’s looking at me that makes my heart race.
“You have a beautiful laugh, Stella,” he notes, and my eyes widen as my face heats up.
“Oh, umm… thank you… I, uh—" I stutter almost uncontrollably. My nerves always get the best of me when someone compliments me. Especially someone who looks like Eli. So, I do what I know how to do best, which is change the subject to one of my favorite subjects. My bestie.
“I still can’t believe they’re going to have a baby. Cam, she had an amazing mom. She’s going to be a great one,” I note, but he just keeps looking at me. Something about the way he’s staring has me thinking he’s deep in thought.
“We should go inside and—“ His hand takes mine, and I look back at him and down to his hand on mine. His touch makes me almost breathless, and I have to fight the urge to squirm or lean closer to him.
“Go out with me.” It’s not a request but an order. I blink, my mind not fully processing what he just said.
“Excuse me?”
“Dinner. With me. Tonight,” he quickly says, almost like he is afraid of missing an opportunity, which is insane since it’s just me
“Tonight?” I repeat. He nods easily. I’ve been in Moonlit Pines a total of maybe an hour, and this seriously sexy mountain man asked me on a date. Why didn’t I come here sooner?
“Tonight,” he repeats with an uncanny confidence. I can’t seem to get my brain to work.
“Umm…” I lick my lips, and his gaze drops to them. I swear they tingle under his scrutinizing stare. It’s a good feeling, but then again, just like Jake the fake taught me, I’m not the best judge of character.
It would be easy to turn him down. But I find as I sit there as we stare at one another, the silence between us easy, comfortable, I really don’t want to say no. “Please?” he asks sweetly, and something about that has me dropping my guard.
“Sure.” I smile and keep talking, “Dinner. My treat.” I smile brighter and don’t miss the way his manly face turns serious.
“Your treat?” he repeats in a deeper tone.
“Yeah, for helping me find my way here,” I explain. It’s only fair after the way he helped me find Camila’s place and leaving his work early.
Men, especially men who look like Eli Woodman, don’t just straight up ask women like me out. Short with a little too much junk in the trunk who are completely dressed down.
“Baby, I get you’re from the city but you’re in Moonlit Pines now,” he says. Something about his stern tone is seriously sexy. “Let’s get something straight right here, so there is no possible way you could twist up what this is going to be?—”
“Eli—”
“This is a date, Stella. One I’m taking you on, a meal I’m gonna pay for.”Oh my.
“You don’t have to?—"
“I want to,” he announces, and I breathe in through my mouth and exhale slowly. “Now, again, don’t know what the men you’re used to are like, but I’m gonna get out of the car, and you’re gonna keep that sweet little behind in your seat until I open your door. You understand?”
“Umm…”
“Stella, do you get me?”
