Page 14 of Hot Chicken

A small frown turns down her sweet lips, and I worry I’ve offended her. Hastily, I hop out of the truck and reach into the passenger side window to retrieve the worms I purchased to fish with later in the week. “So, do you have any other terrifying wildlife roaming about your farm?”

I place the sack on the edge of the truck bed beside her before reaching up to help her down. There’s no doubt this girl could manage alone, but I’m dying for another excuse to have her near me.

Ellie hesitates momentarily before leaning forward, allowing me to wrap my arms around her and pull her against me. I’m reticent to let go as I drop her onto her feet. She must think I’m a class-A creeper as I hold her to my chest and gaze into her green eyes. It’s as if the stars are reflected back at me in those gold-speckled irises.

God, she’s pretty.

Reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, I catch the stunned expression on her face and immediately drop my arms by my sides.What the hell is wrong with me?“So, where did you find Jimmy Dean?”

“The folks on the farm next door were selling and moving up north. They said they couldn’t find anyone interested in Jimmy Dean as a pet. The only takers wanted him for bacon.” She grimaces and opens the paper sack with Jimmy Dean’s take-out in it. “I couldn’t let that happen.” As if the swine can understand English, he snorts, putting a proverbial exclamation mark on her sentence.

“We only feed him appropriate scraps left over from the hot food counter and the market that would’ve been tossed out anyway. Lettuce, celery, berries, or nuts. He’s really no trouble.” She pauses and looks at me for effect. “Unless you mistake him for a gator.” She giggles.

“Ha ha. See if I come to your rescue again.”

Even in the dark of the night, I can see a slight blush stain her cheeks as she looks up at me through her long lashes. “Thank you again.”

Fuck, I’m sure I’m going to be picturing this later.

“It’s no problem. I’ll text you once I figure out what’s happening with your car.” I start to move toward my driver’s door when I notice something on the ground. Bending to retrieve it, I find a small oval rock with a green frog painted on its flat surface. It looks faded, with the edges of the paint chipped in a few places.

“Oh, that’s mine,” Ellie says, swiping it from my palm. “Thank god you saw that.”

“You’re a little old for pet rocks, aren’t you?” I tease.

Her face drops, and I instantly regret joking with her. Coming forward, I put my hand on her cheek. “I’m sorry. What is it?”

She shakes her head as if trying to ignore the hurt I somehow caused. “It’s my gratitude rock. Jo has one too. After my grandma died, he and I went for a walk on the beach and picked them out. He said it was important to have something that would remind you to be grateful for all you had. Even when it felt like there was nothing in your life worth being thankful for.”

Shit. I’m such an asshole.This beautiful girl continues to amaze me with her grace. Unable to stop myself, I lean forward and place a kiss on her temple. I need to get her old pickup going again. The last thing Ellie needs is to have one more thing to worry about. And deep down, I want to be someone she’s grateful to have in her life.

Even if it’s only for a few months.

Chapter 16

Ellie

“God, I needed this.” Char sighs as she raises her hand to grab the server’s attention. “This has been the longest week.”

“You can say that again,” I answer into my Margarita before taking another refreshing sip.

There was a time I avoided coming out with Char for fear I’d be left nursing a glass of water while she drank. There’s definitely no spare change for cocktails lying around. But one night, she convinced me to join her for ladies’ night at The Wild Shrimp, and I was shocked to discover the drinks that were delivered my way. Now I try to arrive with enough to cover one drink and an appetizer, just in case. But I’m usually pleasantly surprised.

“Ladies. These are compliments of the gentlemen at the bar,” the server says as he slides another Margarita and a Cosmo between us. I mouth a quiet thank you as Char leans back in her chair to peer around him, giving the gentlemen in question a coy wave.

“Please tell me I don’t have to talk to them,” I groan. It’s almost not worth the free drinks to have to make idle chit-chat with men I have absolutely no attraction to. Char knows full well the only men I have any interest in are hot, quiet, and only in town for a few days.

“Oh, I don’t think you’ll mind.” She giggles.

“Hi, girls. Any chance you’d mind some company?”

I nearly choke mid-sip on my Margarita when I recognize Matt’s sultry voice. My head snaps up, and I find him and his brother Harrison at our table. He’s wearing a pair of dark jeans with a black button-up. The domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral tease me from the ink tattooed atop his chest where the buttons remain undone.

“We’d love some.” Char grins up at Harrison before patting the seat beside her.

My eyes connect with Matthew’s deep chocolate orbs, and my breath catches in my throat. I was in no way prepared for this tonight.

“Have you two eaten?” Matt asks, nudging me with his firm body.

---