Page 18 of Hot Chicken

“Thanks.”

I return to the room, and a sense of calm takes over that I haven’t felt in ages. Knowing they’re okay has had a bigger impact than I expected when I first started driving in their direction tonight. I knock on the door before reaching for the knob. “Hey, it’s me. I’ve got dinner.”

Ellie turns, and I stand frozen to my spot on the floor. I notice she’s changed. Her hair is still damp, but her skin is clear of the makeup that was smeared under her eyes earlier. I can see a few extra freckles that I hadn’t noticed before. She’s wearing a dry Rolling Stones T-shirt and a pair of sleep shorts. She’s like a wet dream come to life.

She slowly walks over and takes the bag from my hands before placing it on the table beside her. I expect her to start taking inventory of what’s packed inside, but instead, she spins back to me and circles her arms around my waist before burying her face in my chest. “I don’t know what I would’ve done.” She chokes out a sob. “If something had happened to him and-”

“Shhh. You do so much. You’re only human, El.” I bury my nose in her damp hair and hold her close, hoping to offer comfort to this strong-willed superhero. “It’s okay to let someone else help once in a while.” I kiss her temple before I realize what I’m doing and quickly try to change the subject. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to sleep on the pull-out tonight, though.”

“That’s okay. I’m sure it’s better than the one I have at home.”

My heart squeezes. I should’ve known.

She abruptly pulls back from me. “Where are you sleeping? Do you have to go back out in this mess?”

“I’ll be okay. Or I can sleep on the floor.”

“No, of course not. I’d do that before I’d let you. Not after all you’ve done for us.”

“Well, let’s get you fed before we worry about that.” I walk over to the bag the Innkeeper packed, retrieve a sandwich, some fruit, and a bottle of water, and give it to Ellie. “Take this to Pops. We can eat after he’s settled.”

She returns moments later, and we eat in comfortable silence, the sound of the rain hitting the inn’s metal roof creating the perfect accompaniment to our meal. I have to keep my eyes trained on my food. It’s hard to swallow when the sight of her nearly steals my breath.

“I’m going to hop in the shower real quick. I was leaving work when the storm hit, and I’m pretty gross.”

“Of course,” she reassures me.

Grabbing the bag, I keep in my car with a spare set of clothes for when I’m so hot from working on the construction site with Harry that I can’t even stand to smell myself for my ride home, I head to the bathroom and try not to disturb her grandpa. Looking toward the bed, it appears he’s already succumbed to sleep. I’m sure all of the commotion tonight has completely worn him out.

I make quick work of showering and don a clean T-shirt and shorts. I have to go commando, as I don’t typically have an extra pair of boxers in my car. But if I’m sleeping on the floor tonight, I’m not pushing it by wearing wet boxer briefs all night.

As I walk back into the sitting room, I find Ellie has set up the sofa bed and is curled on her side under the blanket. Scanning the room, I decide to use the extra pillow and crash near the bookshelves in the corner until I hear her.

“It’s a double. I trust you, Matt. Please don’t sleep on the floor.”

Holy shit. It might be easier to sleep on the floor.How am I supposed to lie next to the one girl I’ve dreamed of more than any other? “Um. Okay. If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.” She reaches for the lamp on the table beside her, and I climb in as the room goes dark.

My heart is thudding in my chest. God. Can she hear it? The lightning intermittently flashing through the blinds illuminates her silhouette and causes my dick to swell. I clamp my eyes closed and try to think about Jimmy Dean. Anything to make my cock behave next to this sweet, beautiful girl.

Ellie rolls to face me. I try to lie still, not wanting to make her uncomfortable after she’s just told me she trusts me. After a few moments, she leans forward and lets the pads of her fingers tease the stubble on my jaw. “You might need a trim soon.”

I gulp. The feel of her stroking my chin is causing my breath to catch.

“Or people will start mistaking you for Milo.”

“Who?” I whisper, praying she won’t stop touching me.

“He’s the marine biologist who came into Salty Jo’s the other day when you were there. The guy with the ornaments hanging from his beard. He works as the marine vet at the local refuge,” she says, her voice sounding gravelly as she continues to stroke my jaw. I swallow hard. I’m not sure I caught a word she just said, completely distracted. My dick literally has its own heartbeat right now.

With that, she places a kiss on my cheek.Sweet Jesus, what kind of torture is this?“Good night, Matt.” Her breath dusts over my whiskers, fanning the flames of this fire.

Fuck. I want to kiss her. To wrap her in my arms and kiss her until the sun comes up. I’ll just have to tell her to ignore the steel pipe in the bed between us. I start to throw caution to the wind and reach for her when thunder booms, shaking the walls of the inn.

Her eyes fly wide, either at realizing what we’re doing or Mother Nature’s intrusion. Either way, she drops her hand from my face and swiftly rolls away from me.

I can’t help but scoot closer. But only to comfort her. I’m not taking advantage of her like this. No matter how much I want her. Placing my hand gently on her shoulder, I lean into her now dry hair. It smells like Christmas spice and sex. Okay, everything about this girl does that to me. She’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. “You okay?”

---