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 ignore his flirting and reach for the hem of his shirt. I tug it up as high as I can until he has to help me get it off his arms. When he lowers his arms, I see it. His upper left arm has a white bandage wrapped around it. I gasp and cover my mouth with my hands. “You’re hurt.”
He reaches for me, and I take a step back. “Ellie, honey. Come here.”
I don’t move. I can’t.
He takes a step toward me, and I still don’t move. I’m frozen in my spot, my gaze locked on to that white bandage. He reaches for it. “Do you want to see it? I’ll show you it’s nothing.”
I shake my head. Just imagining what’s underneath has me wanting to pass out. I walk away, my arms around my middle. Huddy was hurt, and it’s all my fault.
He walks toward me and stops in front of me. One hand goes to my shoulder, and the other tips my chin up. “It’s nothing. I only had to get ten stitches.”
My mouth falls open. “Stitches! You had to get stitches?”
I start to ramble, and he stops me by slamming his lips to mine. There’s no fighting it. Everything that I’ve been through the past few months has come to a head. All my pent-up worry, anxiety, and fear has been released, and now I’m projecting it all into the kiss with Huddy. He groans, and I pull away. “Did I hurt you?”
He shakes his head and nudges his waist against mine. “It’s not that kind of hurt. Let’s go to bed.”
He tries to pick me up, but I stop him. “Don’t do that. You’ll pull your stitches.”
He snarls his nose up and starts walking me backwards toward the bedroom. I slap him on the uninjured arm. “You do know it’s not bedtime, right?”
“Ha ha, that’s funny because whenever I’m with you, it’s bedtime.”
“You’re insatiable, Huddy.”
“Honey, there’s no doubt I want you, but I’ll be happy just holding you too. Whatever you want, as long as you're in my arms.”
There’s no way I can deny him, nor do I want to. Instead, I walk ahead of him toward the bedroom, pulling his hand along the way. “I like the way you think, Huddy Blaze.”
Chapter 25
Hudson
I’m on my way home, and I can’t stop smiling. It’s crazy to think it’s been a week since the Casey father and son were arrested, and the difference in Ellie has been astounding. She has been so happy and carefree. She’s still working in the mornings at the office and in the afternoons at the house. My house is coming along perfectly. She has all the downstairs done and one of the bedrooms upstairs complete.
I barely get parked in the driveway and I’m out of my truck and walking into the house. Coming home to Ellie is everything.
“Honey, I’m home. I would have been here sooner, but I had a meeting with Beau.”
She’s spent every night in my bed, and it’s been great. Sometimes, I still have trouble falling asleep, but Ellie takes my mind off it.
I toss my keys into the cup, and kick my loafers off, and slide them into the bin. Ellie and I went shopping after Ford convinced me I couldn’t wear jeans, T-shirts, and boots to the office every day. I make my way into the kitchen and living room. It’s only when I see a packed suitcase that I come to a stop.
My heart starts to race, and my head starts to pound. With my hands in fists as my sides, I holler again, “Ellie, I’m home.”
She comes to a stop at the top of the stairs. The smile I’ve come accustomed to is nowhere near as big as it has been this week. “Hey, Huddy, I didn’t expect you home for a few hours.”
I nod, pointing at the suitcase. “What is this?”
She comes down the steps with a small bag in her hand. “That is my suitcase.”
I nod. “Yeah, I remember helping you carry it from your car. What I’m asking is why is it here?”
She stops and is looking everywhere but at me. “Right, well, my landlord called, and the renovations have been completed and everything has been cleaned up. He said it’s ready for me to move back in.”
I don’t even hesitate. She’s crazy if she thinks I’m letting her leave me. I grab the suitcase and roll it to my bedroom. She’s kept all her stuff in the bedroom upstairs this week, and I didn’t care at the time. As long as she’s been in my bed, I didn’t care where she left her clothes. But now that she’s packed, we might as well move her into our bedroom officially.
She follows behind me. “Huddy, what are you doing?”
I pick the suitcase up and put it on the bed. I open the zipper and pop it open before grabbing some clothes out of the top. “Unpacking.”