“I’ve decided I don’t want to go with you,” she said crossly.
“It’s just a drive, Ellie.Relax.I like you in yellow.And before you say anything, it’s not a line, you really do look amazing.If no one has told you before, you’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.Do up your seat belt.So, have you been to Bozeman before?”
He changed the topic so quickly, Ellie couldn’t react right away.
“Truce?”Becket asked, holding out his hand closest to her.“I don’t wanna fight with you, it’s a beautiful day.”
Shaking her head, she looked at him.“You always get your way, don’t you?”
“Not always.”The quick smile he sent her left her breathless.Seriously.
Bozeman.He’d asked whether she’d been there.Talk.She could do that.“Yes, I’ve been to Bozeman.With your mother, actually.We went shopping for a wedding dress for Laura.”
*
By the timeBecket dropped Ellie at a shopping mall, she was far more relaxed than she’d been when he’d picked her up.
“Just a minute,” he said as he quickly got out and walked around to help her down.
By the time he got to her side of the truck, she’d already opened the door and was frowning again.“This is ridiculous.”
He held out his hands.“Come on, shortcake, you’re wasting time.”
Grudgingly she put a hand in one of his.That was all he needed.With one movement, he had her in his arms.”
“Becket, don’t do that!”she was scolding again.
“How else do I get to hold you for a while?”he joked.
“Put me down.”
“Of course.”Ever so gently, he slid her down his body.The idea was to tease her, but by the time she was standing on her own two feet, he was out of breath, his body on fire.
She’d felt his body misbehave, if the blush creeping up her face was any indication.
“What can I say?You have this effect on me,” he growled.
“Becket…”
And then he couldn’t help himself, he simply had to touch her again.He cupped her face.“You make me ache for you, Ellie.And no, I’ve never said that to anyone.”Bending down, he kissed her forehead.“How much time do you need?”
Looking beautifully confused, she stared at him, clearly not registering what he was asking.
“For shopping?”He chuckled.“I should be finished by five o’clock.I’ll meet you over there,” he motioned toward a restaurant across the street.“I haven’t been there in a while, but their food is usually very good.”
“Okay, thanks.”Turning on her heel, she quickly walked toward the mall.
Lightheaded, Becket leaned against his truck for a moment.He had no idea what was going on here, but Ellie was driving him crazy.Not only had she intruded into his dreams, his thoughts, she’d also invaded his sacred space—his drawings.
To his amazement the reaction to his sketches of Ellie in front of the house with her cat and the dogs, had been overwhelming.He’d posted the illustrations he’d finished last night; it would be interesting to see what the feedback would be to these.
A part of him wanted to show her the sketches he’d made of her, but she was so skittish, maybe not yet.
Checking his watch, he quickly got into his truck.He had tractor parts to buy and two hundred sketches to ship.
*
It took Elliea few minutes after she’d entered the mall to realize where she was and what she was supposed to be doing.Damn, that man.He could rattle her with one look, turning her insides to mush and confusing her usually logical thoughts.
