Chapter 10: Chapter 10

ELI

Eli was checking the fences. Again. You never could do enough fence-checking on a ranch.

He had woken up this morning with the same gut-churning feeling that had plagued him last night, up until he’d fallen asleep at the miserable midnight hour.

It was a competition between the gut-churning feeling and the guilt that was settling deep inside him.

He should still be mourning his brother and sister-in-law. He shouldn’t have felt the happiness he had felt last night, but Andie seemed to pull it out of him without even trying.

His parents were still so upset about Caleb, and he didn’t blame them. He was upset too, but one woman and two little girls made it disappear a little.

He’d just been there last night, and he wanted to be with all three of them already. Part of him had been glad Andie hadn’t called him last night, but the other part was a little hurt and upset.

He knew she couldn’t feel that at ease all of a sudden. She was burying it again. Just like she always did.

Ugh. What was he thinking? He was never going to talk to his brother ever again, and it hurt, but there was nothing he could do about it.

But he could keep himself from becoming a mechanical robot like everyone else had done around him. Everyone but Andie.

She could have become robotic, but she didn’t for the girls, and he admired it instead of being upset like he had been the day they had found out about his family.

He needed that un-robotic interaction. Someone who wasn’t going to tiptoe around him.

He made another round of the fences, then returned to the barn, where he unsaddled his horse and sent him to the pasture. Finally, he headed inside to get freshened up.

Sure, his clothes had the permanent smell of hay, horses, and leather soap, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to smell clean.

He finished, went out to his truck, and drove to Andie’s. Something twisted in his gut, and he didn’t know why.

He pulled up into her driveway beside her car, and anger seeped through him when his eyes landed on Andie.

“Andie, what are you doing?” he demanded, seeing her fidget on the ladder as he came up beside it.

ANDIE

Andie put the girls down for their naps after she fed them. She’d changed into a pair of black shorts and a purple tank top and gone out to the garage to get her ladder.

She’d leaned it against the gutter at the front of the house and planned to make her way around it slowly.

She hadn’t felt the hair-standing-up feeling all day, so she figured she’d be okay to get her gutters cleaned out. She’d grabbed her garden hose, hooked it up, and climbed up the ladder.

She’d gotten up on the eighth rung when her foot got tangled in the hose. She let out an aggravated sigh and tried to get her foot out of the hose.

She was holding onto the ladder with one hand and had her untangled foot on the rung while trying to yank off the hose. She didn’t notice the ladder sliding against the gutter a little.

The deep voice below her scolded her, making her jump, and the ladder slid off the gutter sideways.

She screamed as she fell into his hard body and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck. They both tumbled to the ground, and the ladder crashed beside them.

She pushed back when she heard a loud “oof” from below her.

Gray eyes met amber, even though her face was somewhat covered with her hair. She felt a hand run up her side to her hair, brushing it behind her ear.

“Andie, what were you trying to do?” the unmistakable voice asked as they stared at each other.

“My gutters need cleaning out, and I got wrapped up in the stupid hose.”

Eli slowly rolled so she was on her back. “And was that such a good idea?” he asked as he searched her eyes. Then those eyes moved to her lips.

“It was a good idea, actually, until I got my foot stuck, and you scared me.” Her eyes involuntarily looked to his lips. Their breath seemed to hitch a little bit as their eyes collided together again.

She licked her dry lips and tried to swallow. Her breath became faster and shallower as his thumb brushed against her cheekbone like the night before.

“Are you at least okay?”

She was only able to nod as she was captured by those rare eyes of his, which turned a more coppery tint right before he leaned down and caught her lips and sipped at them ever so gently.

Her toes curled at the feel of his lips on hers as he increased the pressure once she began to kiss him back.

She gasped in a breath, which allowed his tongue to dart between her parted lips, dancing and curling with her own.

God, what was she letting happen? She felt the burning ache of desire come alive as he gently wove his hand into her hair.

She felt the chill that had been surrounding her melt away, and she began to feel warm.

He pulled his tongue from hers, making her whimper in protest, and her hand clutched his huge, muscled forearm.

He slowed the kiss to a less fiery, hungry urgency, and he pulled back, then asked, “Where are Lily and Lucy?”

“Napping,” she whispered, wishing he’d kiss her again as the coldness began to overtake her once more.

He brushed his hand against her cheek. “Sorry, why don’t you let me check the gutters?” He slowly sat them up, then stood and helped her to her feet. “Might give you a chance to relax after that scare.”

“I wouldn’t have had that scare if you hadn’t snuck up on me,” she said and frowned at him. “I had everything under control until you made me jump.”

“Didn’t look like that to me. The ladder started sliding before I came over to help you.”

“You call that help? You could have just held on to the ladder for me.” She spun away from him, so angry. Had he apologized for scaring her or for kissing her?

She marched to her front door and grabbed the silver knob when a shiver ran down her spine. She turned back to face the street.

The next thing she knew, Eli was right beside her. “What’s wrong?”

Her eyes darted around as she grabbed Eli’s arm tightly. His other arm wrapped around the front of her, and he laid his hand against her hip.

She moved closer to him as her eyes continued to stare. This was getting annoying. She didn’t look up at Eli but answered when he squeezed her hip.

“The same feeling as yesterday,” she whispered, which made him tighten his hand on her more, and he began to look around too.

“You go in and check on the girls. I’m going to take a look around.”

Her head snapped up to look at him, and his lips landed on hers briefly.

“Go on. I’ll be in in a minute.” He opened the door and ushered her inside.

When he shut the door, she rushed to the nursery. Both girls were in their cribs, still sound asleep. She leaned against the wall and slid down to sit on the floor.

She pulled her knees up, resting her head in her hands. Was she finally cracking?

Between losing Candice and everything that had happened in the past week or so, now, suddenly, she wanted to kiss Eli again. Was it all finally too much?

She stared at the purple wall before her as so many thoughts began to roam through her mind.

ELI

Eli looked both ways before he crossed the street. He didn’t know where else to look. He carefully searched between the few houses that lined the other side of the street. Nothing.

But something had Andie really spooked. Maybe he had come on too strong as they had laid on the grass.

He hadn’t known he was going to kiss her when she had looked at his lips, and he had looked at hers, then their eyes connected, and something inside him snapped with need.

And he had acted on that stupid need. She’d tasted as good as he had thought she would. Like pure sugar, as if she had been made for him.

Then right before he sent her inside, he’d kissed her again, and it felt, well, right. Maybe if he had taken the time to get to know her, like Caleb had wanted, they might be together now.

Maybe nothing would have happened to his brother and sister-in-law. Maybe they all would have been a happy family? He let out a groan as he came up between the last two houses.

Nothing.

He made his way back to Andie and the girls, rushing into the house. He began to panic a little when he couldn’t find Andie.

He hurried to the nursery and sighed in relief when he found all three of his girls safe. His girls? Two kisses, and he already thought of them as his? With Lily, it made sense. With Andie and Lucy, not so much.

He checked on the girls and then knelt in front of Andie. She looked so lost sitting there with her head in her hands.

He slowly pulled her hands away and lifted her into his arms. He took her to her bedroom and then the bathroom. He turned the water on and began to fill the bathtub.

“Andie, why don’t you take a bath? I’ll keep an eye out and an ear open for the girls. I’ll do the gutters later.” He touched her shoulder gently as she just watched the tub fill with water.

She looked at him slowly, and her bottom lip began to tremble a little. “Okay,” she whispered.

He squeezed her shoulder, which wasn’t enough. So he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly for a few moments. He wanted to kiss her again but fought the urge.

Finally, he let her go and went to the living room. He sat sideways on the couch, his back pressed against the arm, and stared out the huge bay window, begging for something to catch his eye. Still nothing.

He let out a groan, scrubbed his face with his rough hands, and threw his Stetson to the other side of the couch.

He didn’t care how much Andie protested; he would be staying the night. Maybe whoever this person was who gave her the creeps would see his truck in the driveway overnight and back off.

He stretched his one leg on the couch and placed his other foot on the floor. This couch wasn’t going to be comfy, but he’d make do. He was not leaving them alone tonight.

ANDIE

Andie sighed as she sank a little further into the water. She’d be lying to herself if she said she wasn’t scared.

Why was she feeling so many things all at once? Fear, loneliness, sadness, and a dug-up want for the uncle of the little girl she had been given guardianship over.

She heard a little grunt on the monitor, and she knew the girls were waking up. She pulled the plug on the tub.

She had been so good at hiding every emotion she’d ever felt because that was what had been beaten into her. Seen, not heard.

And every time she made herself heard one too many times, she’d be shipped somewhere else. No one ever thought she was worth anything except Candice. And she was gone.

After getting out of the tub, she wrapped herself in a towel and rushed to the nursery. She scooped Lily up and went to get Lucy as Eli walked in.

He froze for a minute as his gaze raked over her. Then, he began to walk closer to her and the girls. “I’ll get them, Andie. I told you I would.”

“It’s okay, really. I shouldn’t have even tried to indulge in the bath.”

“Yes, you should have. It won’t be the end of the world if you let me step in for a little bit and help out.” He took Lucy and Lily out of her arms.

She let him take them, and part of her hoped he’d lean down and kiss her in the process, but he didn’t.

She couldn’t keep thinking like this. She couldn’t let him keep trying to become part of her life.

She was a loner, and the creepy feeling she kept having didn’t mean he had a right to pull her out of the loner path she had created for herself.

“Go, Andie. It’s okay.” He moved aside to let her walk out of the nursery, and she did because she couldn’t keep standing in front of him stupidly in only a towel.

She rushed to her room and finished drying off, then dressed in gray sweatpants, a blue tank top, and a black bra and panties. She went to the nursery, where she saw Eli just finishing getting Lucy redressed.

“Is Lily done?” she asked quietly.

“Yes, she is,” he replied. He stood and took both girls to the kitchen to get their snacks. She followed him and watched as he placed first Lily in her chair, then Lucy, and fastened them both in.

She bit her bottom lip hard. He would have been just as capable of taking care of Lily. Why had Candice and Caleb done this to him? He loved Lily and would have put her first every single day.

She let out a sigh as she headed over to help him.

ELI

Eli heard the sigh, and he turned toward her. “What’s wrong?” he asked gently as he placed the girls’ snacks on their tables.

“I’m sorry, Eli.”

He frowned at her and pulled her down into his lap as he sat down in one of the wooden kitchen chairs. “For what?”

“You had more of a right to get Lily. I know you would have taken care of her. You’re great with her. I don’t know why Candice and Caleb chose me, and I’m sorry.”

She turned away from him so he couldn’t see her eyes, but it was too late; he had already seen them filling up with tears.

He gently tilted her head to his, and his eyes searched hers.

“It’s okay. They knew I was so dedicated to the ranch they didn’t think I was ready to take care of a baby. She’s safe with you, and you love her as much as I do.” He rubbed her cheek gently with his thumb.

“Please don’t cry. We’re figuring this out, and so far, it’s okay. Except for you falling off the ladder.”

His voice became serious and stern. “No more doing that stuff. You have two little girls to think about. What if something had happened and I hadn’t been there to catch you?” he asked.

“I’m serious, Andie. I better not catch you doing something like that again because there will be consequences. Do you understand?”

She swallowed hard. “I’m not sure what you mean exactly.” That wasn’t entirely the truth. She was pretty sure he was talking about spanking her. Who knew Eli was like the heroes in the books she loved to read?

“You put yourself in danger, and you won’t be sitting comfortably for quite a while. Do you understand now?” he asked while watching her intently.

“Yes, sir,” she squeaked. ~Sir? Where did that come from?~

“Have we settled things now?” he inquired.

She shrugged. “Yes, but what if this stupid feeling doesn’t go away? What if they are in danger?” She looked at the girls.

He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her as she laid her head against his shoulder. “We’ll do everything we can to protect them, Andie. Nothing is going to happen.

“I’m staying here with you guys tonight. Hopefully, if they see my truck in the driveway all night, they’ll realize you have someone else on your side and will just disappear.”

She let out a shaky breath. “You don’t have to stay, Eli, really.”

“That’s not up for discussion. I am staying no matter how much you fight me. I am making sure my ladies stay safe tonight.”

“And where will you sleep?”

“The couch. I’ve already made up my mind about this. We’ll let the girls finish their snacks and have some playtime. Then we’ll fix supper, and get them ready for bed, just like last night.

“The only difference is I’m not leaving.”

She searched his eyes for a minute and seemed to give in. That was proof enough to him that she was actually scared, and this was the closest she was going to come to admitting it.

ANDIE

They did exactly as Eli had said they were going to do. They managed to scrape together a nice warm chili soup and some cornbread.

After they fed the girls and fed themselves, they got the girls settled down for the night and headed back out to the living room for a little bit.

The tension that hung between them was almost stifling. Andie wanted to ask Eli about those two kisses so badly, but she was so scared to ask at the same time.

She was caught off guard when he sat sideways on the couch and pulled her down between his muscular thighs. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her back against his chest.

She felt her body begin to warm as his warmth soaked into her. She laid her head back against his shoulder a little. “Eli, I didn’t think I was ever in trouble. I’ve never felt this until that day Rose and Bruce left.”

“I believe you. It’s going to be okay, Andie. I’m here to help. I guess I’m making up for being such an asshat. I know it’s not near enough, but I’ll slowly make up for it.”

She turned a little and laid her head against his chest. “I wish Candice were here. She’d know what to do, and I could leave Lucy with her while I try to figure this out.”

He rubbed her back gently and kissed the top of her head. “I could see if my parents will watch them for a little bit?” he suggested.

“Maisy and Todd would watch Lily with no problem. Lucy would be another story. She’s not their granddaughter. I would never ask them to watch her since she’s nothing to them.”

He sighed but continued to hold her and rub her back. Her eyes slowly began to close as she snuggled against his chest more and held onto his shirt.

ELI

Eli felt her body relax in his arms. He looked down and saw she was asleep. He kissed her forehead gently and sighed as Andie snuggled closer.

He turned to look out the window behind the couch. Something out there was scaring Andie, and he didn’t know what to do.

The cops would want proof before they did anything. They wouldn’t just go off of gut instinct or a feeling.

He managed to get a better hold of Andie in his arms and carried her to her bedroom. He laid her down on her bed and covered her up before switching on the alarm and putting her phone on the charger.

He softly kissed her forehead and brushed her cheek with his knuckles, letting out another soft sigh. Then he returned to the living room, kicked his boots off, and lay down on the couch.

This was going to be a very long night, he decided as he tried to get comfortable. His legs were scrunched up, and he was almost falling off the edge. But it would be worth it to keep his girls safe.