I need to stop being a freaking creep.
Elle finally stood from her desk and all myself scolding went out the window as I took in the rest of her. Curves for days and just a few inches shorter than me, I imagined lazy mornings of cuddling and relaxing near her soft, warm body. Holding her, her head resting under my chin or her face tucked into my neck and letting me tickle her with my end of the day scruff. She would complain but secretly love it.
She wore a t-shirt tucked into a long skirt that hugged her hips and then flared out. The shirt had different types of flowers scattered around and I had to force my eyes back to her face before she caught me staring at her chest. A chest I’d love to take a nap on.
Stop. Being. A. CREEP.
“Miss Elle, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” I stuck my hand out—trying to call upon all the manners my parents instilled in me while they were around—while secretly hoping she was a hugger like her sisters. She took my hand and I had to keep a straight face as a spark ran up my arm, zapping me in the chest.
“I’m sure it is.” Her reply was dry which only caused my smile to widen. Not quick to open to strangers.
Smart girl.
Beautiful girl.
Creepy boy.
Seriously dude, stop.
She said no more and for a beat we stood face to face, our hands still joined. I couldn’t bring myself to break the connection. She was going to be a tough nut to crack but I wasn’t going anywhere. Elle finally seems to realize that we are still holding hands and drops it like it was on fire, I had to bite the inside of my cheek not to smile at her, again.
“I really appreciate you sharing your space with me for the next couple of weeks. Your sisters only had positive things to share about you.” A small scoff escaped her lips, I knew I was laying it on thick now but she seemed so perturbed by my general existence. Meanwhile I felt like a fool who couldn’t wait to rush in. Elle offered me a quirk of her brow, as if she didn’t believe me, and a stiff nod before gesturing to the small desk shoved into the corner.
“That’s your space, please keep within that area. There’s a bathroom, obviously, and a small mini fridge that you are welcome to use.” She waves her hand to the mentioned areas, not moving from behind her own L shaped desk. “I cleared off the bottom shelf for you, make that space work. I like my area how I like it and wouldappreciateit if you stayed out of it.”
I nod along as she speaks and make my way over to the small desk, dropping my backpack on the ground before turning back to her and leaning my hip against the desk. It was pressed against the wall so I was able to see Elle and her desk out of my peripherals. I also had a side view of the door so I didn’t have to twist when someone came in. Even being an inconvenience to her, she still made sure to put me in a prime position.
“Do you have any other questions for me? I need to get back to work.” I had a million questions but with her tone and lack ofwarmth, I was sure she was more put out by my presence than Lola had let on. A pang of guilt hit me in the chest and I made a goal to be as little of a disturbance as possible while I got set up. Resolve settles in my gut and I decide to keep things simple for this first day.
I had no intention to go anywhere and while I knew I would try my best to not disturb her work, I also knew I was going to do whatever I could to get to know more about this grumpy goddess. “Just one. Is Elle short for anything?” As the question settles between us, it feels like the air drops 10 degrees as the question passes my lips. I focus on Elle and her face is turning a deep red and for a moment, I worry she’s stopped breathing.
I start to rush over to her, trying to remember the Heimlich maneuver but Elle puts her hand up, motioning to stop me.
She takes a deep breath, though it does nothing to help the redness still staining her cheeks. “I will say this once, so please use whatever brain cells you possess to commit this to memory. You will call me Elle. You know I’m a Warren. Those are the only facts about my name you need to know. If you try to pry into my life outside of those facts, I will make sure you’re working out in one of our unused fields, weather and preparation be damned,” She slaps her hand onto a folder that is resting on her desk. “This contains all the permits Jude and Paul need to collect tomorrow morning so they can finish the construction on the tour building. I will be gone for the rest of the day. Don’t touch my shit.” She hisses out the last sentence as she comes around her desk.
Finally getting the full view of the middle Warren sister combined with her short rant have me dumbstruck, no chance to formulate any type of response. Elle is already out the door, letting it slam shut behind her. I scratch my chin, nervously, looking around the now empty office building, hoping I didn’t just get myself fired before I got to take out my first tour.
Chapter Four
ELLE
How dare he!
I’m storming away from my building, seeing red.
A small voice tried to remind me he has no way of knowing about my past problems with my name but I ignored it. How fucking dare he!
I’d stopped acknowledging my full name in second grade. Tammy Jacobson called me Smellspeth in front of our whole second grade glass when I was presenting my book report. That awful nickname stuck with me until middle school when Tammy moved to California.
Bitch.
Mom and Dad frequently tried to remind me that my name, like the farm, was a family legacy but I’ve refused to share my name with anyone or answer to anything outside of Elle from that moment on. The only person that did not apply was Henry. He could call whatever he wanted. He seemed to prefer to just screech Eee at me but he was only two and half but he would learn eventually.
Stupid sexy intruder.
Stupid tall tattooed intruder.
Stupid perfectly curly hair—no, stop. BAD Elle.
