Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
I turn and clear the search history on the computer before closing all the open windows. “She’ll stay with me. I have plenty of room.”
She’s shaking her head. “I offered for her to stay with Ford and me, but she said no. We’ve gone back and forth on this, and she says she’s found a shelter in Jasper.”
“She’s not going to Jasper. Thank you, Lilian. I’ll take care of her. Don’t worry.”
I’m running to my truck before she says anything else. I don’t know how I’m going to do it or what I’m going to say, but there’s no way I’m letting her go to a shelter. She’s mine to protect, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Chapter 14
Elle
I’m trying to focus on the screen in front of me, but it’s hard to think of anything when I’m not sure where I’m going to be sleeping tonight. I’ve tried calling the shelter in Jasper, but no one is answering the phone. I’m not going to panic. I figure if I keep telling myself that, I’ll eventually believe it. First my car, now this. What could possibly be next? My whole body fills with dread just thinking about what could be next.
I look at the blank screen in front of me. I’ve taken pictures of the living room space and loaded it into the app, but I haven’t started any designs because I’m having a terrible time concentrating. I’m about to give up working when the front door opens. I wipe at my tear-stained cheeks and force a smile onto my face. “Hey there. I’m glad you’re home. I’m going to call it an early day, if that’s okay. I don’t have a lot to show you, but I’ll be sure to have the living room done for your approval tomorrow.” I set the laptop on the countertop and reach for my purse.
I’m looking everywhere but at him, and when he puts his hand on my shoulder, I can barely keep it together.
“Ellie, look at me, honey.”
I shake my head. I can’t look at him because I know I won’t be able to hold the tears back.
He reaches for my chin and lifts it, searching my eyes. “Honey, you’re not going to a shelter.”
I gasp and try to pull away from him, but his hands go to my shoulders. “Lilian told me, and she’s worried about you.”
“I can’t stay with Lilian. She just got engaged and—”
He shakes his head. “You’re not staying with Lilian either. You’re staying with me.”
I inhale sharply and put my hand to my chest. “I can’t… I can’t stay with you, Hudson.”
He smiles and brushes his finger along my cheek before pushing a piece of hair behind my ear. “It’s Huddy. And yes you can.”
I should be pulling away from him, but all I can do is plant my feet to the floor to keep from swaying. “Huddy, listen, I know you think…”
He grabs the purse off my shoulder and pulls the strap down before putting it on the counter. “I don’t think anything. I know.” He gestures to the house. “Look at this, Ellie. It makes perfect sense for you to stay here. You’re working here. There’s a bedroom upstairs with a bed already. It’s a perfect solution.”
I shouldn’t, but I want to give in, and that fact scares the hell out of me. “I’m going to be in your way. What if you want to bring someone over or if—”
He interrupts me. “I’ll bring them over.”
I do pull away from him now. There’s no way I can be here and him bring a woman home. I have no claim on him, and I should be keeping my distance anyway, but just the thought of him with someone has me ready to run. “No, I really need to stay somewhere else.”
“Who do you think I’m going to bring over?”
My face flushes, and I can’t answer his question. “It’s your house, Huddy. You can bring in whoever you want to.”
He nods and comes to stand in front of me. “Yeah, but who are you thinking I’ll bring over?”
I roll my eyes. Of course he’s going to make me say it. “Huddy, you’re a single, handsome, genuinely kind man. Of course you’re going to want to bring women over. I can’t believe there haven’t been women standing in line at your door to bring you meals or whatever else.” I mean geez, what’s wrong with the women of this town?
He’s shaking his head. “Nope. There’s only one woman who’s not related to me that I want here.”
That stops me. My mouth hangs open, and I stare up at him. I point to myself. “Me? You’re talking about me?”
He pulls his truck keys out of his pocket and holds them up. “Yes, the one and only. Have you picked up the things you’ll need from your apartment?”