Everyone suddenly had to leave early.
“Why are all of you in such a hurry?”Ellie asked.
“I’ve had such a busy day,” Vivian said.“By the way, has anyone spoken to Rose, lately?”
“I had tea with her yesterday,” Arlene said.“She’s looking much better, but she still doesn’t go anywhere.Laura, I see your dog is still staying with her.”
Laura nodded.“I don’t have the heart to take Molly away right now.She’s always very happy to see me, but somehow, she senses Rose needs her at the moment.”
“I popped in earlier to ask her if she wants to join us,” Ellie said.“Her answer was the same as always—she’s not ready.”
“I can’t help wondering, though, if someone isn’t worried about her,” Janice said.
“We’ve asked,” Annie said.“She just shakes her head.But I also think we’ll have to do more if we want to help her.Leaving her on her own for a couple of weeks seemed reasonable, but I do worry about her.We still don’t know how she ended up in Marietta.”
“Let’s give her more time,” Ellie pleaded.“We don’t know what she’s been through, but I’ve never seen anyone looking so lost.”
“I agree,” Willow said.“Come on, Mom, I must go now.”
Within minutes, everyone had left.As Ellie grabbed her bag, her phone pinged.Her heart just about jumped out of her body, but the text wasn’t from Becket, it was from Willow.
Are you on Instagram?
Why would Willow ask her that?She texted back she was, before she left the shop.The past week had been so busy she hadn’t had time to read, let alone post anything or scroll through her favorite artist’s illustrations.She was having a fling, an experience that was taking up all of her time, it would seem.
Deep in thought, she locked the door behind her.Was she unfairly making assumptions about Becket, as Margaret had made about Mr.Thornton?Could she trust that he wouldn’t hurt her?Not physically, of course—Becket was always so gentle with her—but she was dreading the day he moved on.At some point he would discover she wasn’t what he really wanted.
She missed Becket with every fiber of her being, but maybe it was a good idea to get a good night’s sleep for a change.
“I thought you were never going to finish tonight,” a soft voice said behind her.
With a yelp, she turned around and there he was.Big and so sexy, her heart skidded to a stop at the mere sight of him.
He quickly touched her arm.“Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you.Willow agreed to try and end things quickly tonight, so I could see you.”
Without thinking, she walked into his arms.“So that’s why everyone left so quickly.”She had to swallow the ‘I missed you’ that nearly slipped out.
This was going to end badly, she knew that, but he was here.
Before she could catch her next breath, he picked her up, holding her close.“I’ve missed you.I’m taking you home.”
Nestling against his chest, she sighed.“I’ve missed the dogs.”
Chuckling, he walked to her car.“Let’s drop your car off at the guesthouse.I’ll bring you back tomorrow.”
Chapter Twelve
The beams ofthe full moon fell across the bed, illuminating Ellie’s beautiful body.She was sleeping.Turned toward him, her hands tucked underneath her face, she was breathing deeply, her body completely relaxed.
Becket tried to inhale, but his chest seemed way too small.He should get some sleep, let her get some sleep as well, but his body was on fire.Again.
He hadn’t asked her about her house yet.It hadn’t seemed important anymore.All he wanted was to be with her.She’d been hurt by the people who had been supposed to keep her safe.Her parents, the previous boyfriend.She wouldn’t believe him if he told her he had no intention of throwing her away.He could show her, though.
Bending down, he trailed his lips lightly over her face, thinking he’d be satisfied with that.
“Hey, you,” she said sleepily as her hands crept around his neck.
“We should probably sleep,” he murmured against her skin.
