Page 26 of Rancher's Heart

Running my hand over her throat, Elle’s pulse thrummed under the pressure of my thumb, matching the beat of my own heart. Overwhelming lust filled my brain, and there wasn’t any room for anything but her. Gasping for a breath I pulled my head back from hers and I stared at her swollen, red lips.

“What am I going to do with you?” I asked as I let my head fall back onto the cushion.

“When was the last time you took care of something?” Elle’s voice was so quiet I almost missed the fact that she’d spoken.

“Not quite a year ago.” The truth rolled off my tongue before I had time to think about what I was saying. I didn’t want any secrets between us. If she was going to be here, she needed to know the truth. I wasn’t like the others who wanted to hide what we’d done. If I was trusting someone enough to let them into my life, I needed to fully let them in.

“Was he bad?”

“He’d abused Fallon for years, then when she ran home he found her and abducted her. He wanted to take Lottie away from here, too.” Looking up at her, I saw her frown, and I guessed they hadn’t gotten to Fallon’s story tonight.

“You’re so worried about everyone else being looked after, who’s looking after you Griff?” Her eyes were locked on me, and I could see sadness creeping in.

“Maybe you will now that you’re here.” I couldn’t believe the words rolled off my tongue.

“Maybe I will.” She smiled and the sadness left her gaze as quickly as it had filtered in. “I should go to bed,” Elle said as she tried to move off my lap.

“Yeah, I suppose you should.” I agreed but kept my hands on her hips so she couldn’t move, my arousal hard to miss.

“I shouldn’t be mixing business with pleasure, Griff… it never ends well.” She let her head fall against mine. “No matter how much I want to. I’m here to help you, not complicate things. When Parker’s here, I can’t have him walking into you and I being all over one another.”

“I know, I agree. Whatever this is will just have to sort itself out. Kissing you won’t happen again unless we’re alone here.” Letting my hands fall from her hips, I was surprised at the disappointment that rushed through me.

“I kissed you this time, so we’re even.” She smiled sweetly as she moved off my lap. “Good night Griff,” I watched her walk down the hallway until I couldn’t see her anymore.

She was right. This wasn’t a good idea, but I could still feel her body pressed against mine, and I wanted her back straddling me. Letting my head fall back again I stared at the ceiling.

Reaching for my tablet on the coffee table, I opened the site I was using to learn ASL and started my next class.

CHAPTER 16

ELLE

The ER had been a revolving door, mostly stitches, indigestion, and people with colds who couldn’t wait to see their family doctors. Even the ambulances hadn’t stopped. Broken bones, an accident on a ranch that knocked out one of the ranch hands. My heart raced until I knew it wasn’t anyone from the Diamond.

Finally, sitting in the break room, I grabbed my lunch out of the fridge and sat down. Nothing looked remotely appealing, and I was to blame. I’d packed my meals, and I needed to get groceries. We’d been living with Griff for almost a week, and his fridge was getting close to empty.

My mind had been a little preoccupied thinking of Griff. It had been three days since I’d sat on his lap and kissed him. True to his word, he hadn’t made another move, and while I was impressed by how much of a stand-up guy he was, all I wanted to be was kissed again by him.

“Hey, Elle, there’s someone at the back door to see you,” Nancy said, as she popped her head around the corner.

“For me?”

“Yeah, and he’s hot.” She wiggled her eyebrows and grinned before she walked out of the room, and I got up, heading forthe back of the department. Sliding my name badge through the card reader, I opened the door, and sure enough, there was a tall, impeccably dressed, hot, cowboy leaning against the wall. He had his arms crossed over his chest, his cowboy hat pulled down low on his head, and he looked good enough to abandon my duties.

“Well, I’m not used to seeing you on this side of the doors, Mr. Harp.” I walked up to him and smiled.

“Can’t say, as I’ve ever been in this hallway under my own power before.” His laughter echoed through the hallway. Two younger nurses walked by and looked Griff up and down. They slowed and smiled at him. Griff nodded politely and quickly returned his attention to me.

“So, what are you doing here?” I crossed my arms and leaned against the cinderblock wall.

“I brought you lunch.” He held out a bag from one of my favorite sandwich places. “I might have taken a peek in your bag before you left and I needed to come this way anyway.” He shrugged, and I took the bag from him.

As I opened the bag it made noise that echoed in the hallway. “Chicken teriyaki?” The mouthwatering smell of warm grilled chicken, caramelized onions, and tangy sweet sauce wafted out of the bag as he nodded.

“I might have had a little help from Parker. Before he got on the bus this morning, I asked him what your favorite fast-food place was.”

“This is so sweet. Did you get something for yourself?”

---