“So when can I come visit you? I have some time off before Greta wants me on set.”
“Anytime. You know that.”
“Um, so how did the shoot go?”
“Already talked about that last night.” Wren smirked. “Are you just trying to come up with things to talk about to distract me so that I don’t chicken out and go back home?”
“Maybe? I mean, you can’t blame me. You skipped out early the last time.”
“I’m not going to this time.” She turned west onto the road that would lead her straight to Elias’ door.Or rather, the Lion’s Lair.Cute. I’ll have to tell him that one.
“You know what? I can hear in your voice that you aren’t. Go get ’em, Wrenbird.”
“Thanks, Barbie Doll. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“I’m happy for you. And I can’t wait to meet him.”
“He’s got a lot of hot friends, just saying.”
Barbie laughed. “That’s justyourway of getting me to visit sooner.”
“Maybe.”
“I’d rather live vicariously through you for the moment. I’m too busy for a beau.”
“Suit yourself. Byyyee!”
“Mwah. Byyeee!”
Wren’s heartdid that fluttery thing as soon as Elias’ house came into view. The one that was always accompanied by what felt like a tiny sun warming her chest every time she thought of him. She pulled up in front and parked, then grabbed her tote and barely kept herself from sprinting to his front door. When she got to his porch, she could hear the clicking of Chuck and Penny’s toenails on the hardwood floor, followed by Elias’ footsteps growing closer. The sun in her chest grew warmer.
I feel like a teenager about to meet her favorite rockstar.
Then the locks clicked as he unlocked the door and turned the knob. The door opened, and there stood her Lion looking at her with those intense lagoon-blue eyes, so gorgeous she couldn’t move. His white tee stretched across his chest, and hewore a pair of jeans identical to the ones in her tote. He was barefoot, and even his toes were sexy.
Okay, when did I develop a foot fetish?She giggled nervously.
Elias gave her a slow, lazy grin. “First laugh point of the day goes to me and I don’t even know what I did, except answer the door. Is there something on my face? Or maybe my feet? You were staring at them.”
“They’re good feet.”Great. I’m the queen of lame comebacks again.
He looked down as he lifted one and then the other. “Had them all my life.” He pinned her with his gaze again, his eyes sparkling. “You’re not planning on stealing them, are you?”
“Oh, I’d never. I keep my thefts strictly to clothing. Specifically, yours.”
Penny chose that moment to squeeze past Elias and put her front paws on Wren’s knee as she looked up at her, tail going a thousand miles a minute. Chuck whined behind Elias.
“All right, you two, enough upstaging me,” Elias said. “Come on in, babe,” he told Wren. He quickly swiped Penny and tucked her under his arm. Wren watched Chuck follow obediently behind Elias to their room. She laughed quietly at the trio as her heart swelled.
He’ll make an outstanding father.
The sudden thought shocked her. And then, something even more shocking—she settled into the idea.
He wasn’t mad at the dogs for getting in the way twice now. He hasn’t raised his voice once with me. Even through this misunderstanding, he’s been funny and sweet. I can see myself making a family with him.
She’d never been close with a man like Elias before. The few relationships she’d braved always in ended with yelling, assuring that she’d never look back—and never get close to another man.
“All right,” Elias said as he came back down the hallway, big smile on his broad, lion’s face. “Come here.” He opened his arms wide as he crossed the room.
