As soon as Elodie got out of her car, I knew something was wrong. Rufus got a guarded smile from her, but she dropped her gaze as soon as I grinned. At the same time, my tongue was lolling out of my damn mouth. The woman’s got legs for miles. The hummingbirds on one of her feet swirl high enough to wrap around her ankles in a shower of blue, green, and black.
Her baggy shirt only teases at what her top the other day showed me. But those shorts? I’ve been fighting an erection since she arrived. Elodie in baggy clothing is a mystery I want to unwrap, but Elodie in shorts makes me revert to a teen who can’t control his hormones. I have images of sliding the fabric down her legs.
Is she wearing underwear?
The peek of red and pink rose petals outlined in black from under the hem across her thigh is almost my undoing. How many more surprises are there?
She’s quiet while sitting on my back deck. The dog is asleep under the table, and I’m prouder than hell of having a girl hang with me at my home while I’m cooking for her. I never thought I’d have a life like this, and there hasn’t been someone who made me think that sharing it would be worth it.
After our lunch, I was stupidly optimistic, envisioning a future just because she told me something about herself. Those fantasies are slipping out of my fingers like a handful of grain, several kernels at a time.
I lay the meat across the grill. “Want a beer, a cocktail, or water? Juice?”
She gives me a faint smile. “I’d better stick with water. What can I help you with?”
“Nothing, chef. You get served today.”
I’m rewarded with a slightly bigger grin. “It feels weird to get waited on.”
I’ll make sure she gets used to it if she gives me a chance. “I called Mae and got a recipe for her pasta salad to go with the steaks. I wasn’t sure if you liked pasta salads with mayo, or if you’re an Italian dressing girl, so I made both.”
Her laugh has a hint of resignation. “You’re too good, Cruz. Either one sounds good. You making a whole other salad is not fine.”
“It would’ve been my bad for not checking first. Wait here.” Just as I pass her, I lean down. “I like to think I finally got the balance right—I’m not too good but the right amount of bad.”
I duck inside to get her water and bring out the tray I have loaded with a pasta salad. The veggies I prepared are already on the grill in a foil packet. When I step outside, she’s gazing into the distance with a stricken expression. Damn, her face is pale. If I ask what’s wrong, she’ll shut down even more. That patience I told her about earlier needs to be in full effect.
“How was your week?” I try to get her talking while I’m grilling, and all I can think of that’s safe are the standard questions.
“Good.”
“Were you busy?”
“Yes, but a normal busy for this time of year.”
I wait, but that’s all I get. Short, succinct answers. Whatever tanked her day before she arrived is still sitting with her. “How do you think the weekend is going to be?”
“I’ll benefit from the Rafting and Tasting crowd. It helps that the booking office isn’t far away from the bakery.” She takes a drink of water and flips her hair off her shoulders. The strandsfall to her mid-back. She crosses one leg over the other, and her shorts ride up to reveal almost her entire leg.
Now I can’t think of a single damn question.
“How about you?” she asks.
It’s a good thing I can small talk for hours. “Yeah, it’ll be a big sales day.”
I have to turn my back to her. Along with seeing more of her leg, a bigger portion of the bouquet of flowers is revealed. I could drag my nose along that creamy thigh, starting at the last hummingbird on her ankle and moving up. She’ll smell as sweet and delicious as the real version of those flowers.
“Apparently, there’s a rafting crew of just women, and Campbell’s warned us that they might be wild.” When I turn back, Elodie’s gaze is flinty.
“How nice.”
I cross to her and squat down. “I might smile real pretty, but that’s in the name of customer service. I’m not interested.”
“You haven’t met any of them.” Her throat works up and down, like she’s pushing down emotion over and over again.
“Elodie, you can talk to me. What’s wrong?”
A shaky laugh leaves her. “I thought I could do this, but I can’t.” She pushes the chair back and stands so fast I nearly topple backward.
