Dazed, Becket ended the call a few minutes later.A publisher was interested in his work.He was still struggling to accept it wasn’t a scam.
Chapter Fourteen
When Ellie enteredher house Thursday afternoon after work, the sounds from the second story indicated Becket was still painting.He’d stopped by her shop earlier to get the key, but she’d had customers and couldn’t really talk to him.
Her heart tripped and, catching her breath, she put the pizzas and beer she’d bought on her way here on the kitchen counter, before she fetched her bag from the car.What a lovely feeling to get home to the sound of Becket somewhere in the house.Sighing, she jogged to her car again.There she was, dreaming the impossible again.
Only a few of her things were still left at the B&B.Tomorrow she’d say goodbye to Annie, pick up the last of her stuff and settle her account.
With the bag in her hand, she ran up the stairs.She couldn’t wait to see Becket.
He was standing in front of the windows and as she entered he turned around.A beautiful smile lit up his face.“Hello, gorgeous.Are you a sight for sore eyes.”Holding out his arms, he stepped closer.“I’m all sweaty,” he grinned.
Slipping into his arms, she inhaled his maleness.“I don’t mind.I’ve missed you.”For another moment, she allowed herself the sheer bliss of holding on to him before she turned in his arms.“I want to see what you’ve done.”
“Added another layer of paint.What do you think?”
Looking around the room, she sighed.“It’s perfect.I don’t even want to think of what it looked like last night!You’ve done a wonderful job; I don’t know how I can ever thank you.”
“I have a few ideas,” he grinned, nuzzling her neck.
“You must be hungry.I’ve brought pizza and beer.Shall we eat before it gets cold?I promise you as soon as I’ve moved in properly, I’ll cook a meal for you and your family to thank you for all your help.”She held out her hand toward him.
Becket took her hand but instead of leaving the room, he pulled her closer.“Oh, I’m hungry, but not for food.”Bending down, he caught her lips with his.
Sinking into the kiss, her heart sighed.How was she ever going to say goodbye to this guy?
The ringing of his phone finally brought her back to earth.
Pulling out of his arms, she turned away.“You answer your call, I’ll see you in the kitchen.”
As she left the room, she heard him on the phone.
“Hello, June.”
She stopped.Who was June?
“Okay, it could work.Java Café at one tomorrow afternoon.I’ll be there.”
Ellie quickly jogged down the stairs and hurried toward the kitchen.As she opened the pizza boxes, her heart was beating so fast, she was worried it might jump right out of her body.
June?June who?Was this the first sign Becket was moving on?She couldn’t remember hearing the name before, but she hadn’t been in Marietta that long.Maybe she was a flame from a few years back?Maybe it was someone he’d met recently or…
“That smells great,” Becket said behind her as he slipped an arm around her shoulders.“Thank you, I hadn’t realized how hungry I am.”
Any moment now, he was going to give her an excuse for not taking her home with him.But they finished eating and while she unpacked her bag in her newly painted bedroom, he cleaned the kitchen.
He was also the one who made sure everything was locked as they left the house “What time on Friday are you expecting the movers?”he asked as he helped her into his truck.
“Janice has agreed to help out in the shop on Friday afternoon, so I’ve asked them to be here at around one.”
As they left town, he picked up her hand as he always did.“I’ll come and help you as soon as I’m finished.Ellie, we… we must talk.”
Ellie’s heart sank.
“I’m still trying to figure out a few things, so give me a couple of days?”
“It’s okay.If you’d rather I stay at the guesthouse tonight, it’s…”
