Page 25 of All I Need

Aside from the fact that her face consumes my dreams.

“Okay, give me your five minutes.”

“Five minutes?”

“Tell me everything about you I need to know—you’ve got five minutes.”

“Are you joking?”

I smile at her, resisting the urge to reach for her hand. Or tug her into my lap. The urge to touch her, hold her is so strong, like something that I need to do. Make her feel some level of comfort. Or maybe it’s me who needs comforting by her touch. Instead, I lean forward, my knee brushing against hers under the table when I shift. I don’t miss the way she inhales sharply, her chest rising, her pink tongue snakes out to lick her bottom lip and… shit, I’ve been listening to Willow go on and on about the damn books she reads too much.

“Yeah, Ellie. I’m joking. Here’s the deal, though. Polly trusts you and she has the best instincts of anyone I know. As soon as I told her Linda was leaving, she said we should talk. If it makes you feel better, we can start on a trial basis. If you don’t like the work, no hard feelings. I just figured you could use…”

I let my words drift away and squirm in my seat as I watch her body stiffen. I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t finish the words I was about to say.

“I’m not a damn charity case, Walker.”

“I didn’t say…”

“You didn’t have to. I can see it in your eyes. You think I can’t help myself. That I was some kept woman or something.”

“I never said that,” I defend. I have no idea how I got myself into this or how to explain myself out of it.

“First you find me a place to stay and then… I’m not a charity case,” she repeats.

She stands abruptly and starts stacking dishes. The clang of plates clattering against each other provides a shift in the atmosphere. The quiet and calm of the backyard is suddenly loud and tense. Her jaw clenches, heat slowly creeping up her neck.

Reaching out, I place a hand on her forearm and her body stills, focus aimed on where our skin touches.

“I didn’t mean that. I’m so sorry. I don’t think of you as a charity case. Far from it.” She closes her eyes and blows out a breath before slowly lifting her bright blue eyes filled with tears to mine. “Ellie, I was simply trying to help. If you would rather not come in for the job, I won’t be upset. I mean that. I know you can find a job on your own—but I’m in need of someone to fill a suddenly open position. You’d be helping me out.”

She holds my gaze then slowly nods. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have reacted that way. It’s just… I haven’t exactly been myself for the last few years.”

I hold her gaze steadily, feeling like she wants to say more but I won’t push her.

“How about if I come to the clinic tomorrow and we can talk more?”

“Perfect. So it’s a plan.” Miss Polly claps her hands together, scaring Brutus enough that he lifts his head before groaning, stretching and laying back down.

Ellie moves to sit next to Brutus, resting her back against the side of the house as her legs stretch out in front of her. She giggles at his laziness when he nuzzles the top of his head against her thigh and drapes one of his front legs over her. Between him and Miss Polly, I think they’re already picking out our wedding invitations.

Miss Polly’s next words cement my suspicions.

“Well, kids. This old lady is heading to bed. You two feel free to stay out here for as long as you’d like.”

She moves to start cleaning up the table but I stop her, telling her I’ll take care of it.

Ellie’s head is downturned, looking at Brutus. She scratches behind his ear and he moans. “I don’t think we’ll be moving him any time soon,” she giggles. “Have a good sleep, Miss Polly.”

She pats her on the cheek as she walks by. “You too, honey.”

“Night Polly. Thanks for dinner.”

“Don’t thank me. That was all Ellie.”

The sliding door clicks closed behind her and the air suddenly feels heavy. It’s the first time Ellie and I have been alone together since we met.

How strange that it feels like it’s been years since she joined us in our sleepy town. How she fit so seamlessly into Miss Polly’s home and, unfortunately, my thoughts, is a little unnerving.

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