Page 37 of Chasing Shelter

I sent Lolli a smile that spoke of nothing but trouble. “I’m going to rearrange things in his cabinets.”

She let out a hoot. “I gotta get my camera ready for when he sees.”

“Ellie,”Keely began tentatively as we all sat around the dining room table, empty ice cream bowls in front of us. “Can I ask you something?”

I turned all my attention toward the sweet girl next to me. “Of course, you can.”

Her green gaze fell to her lap. “Do you think you could help me with wacky hair day at school?”

A burn lit along my sternum, pure pleasure that she’d asked and utter agony that she was so hesitant to do it.

“Keels, I can help—” Trace started to say, but I cut him off.

“Oh, no you don’t, Chief. I wasmadefor this mission.”

He studied me for a long moment. “You sure?”

“Are you kidding? This is my favorite kind of challenge.”

“Really?” Keely asked hopefully.

I turned back to her. “You’d better believe it. How long do we have to plan?”

She grinned. “A couple of weeks.”

“Phew.” I swiped a hand across my brow. “First thing we need is a theme.”

“Unicorns!” Keely cheered. “They’re me and my other bestie, Gracie’s,favorite.”

“I’m here for it. I’ll start pulling some research images and thinking about what accessories we need.”

“You can borrow my magic mushrooms,” Lolli offered, pointing to the clips in her hair.

“Lolli, do not get my daughter suspended from school.”

She let out a harrumph. “I was just offering to help.”

“You were stirring uptrouble, like always.”

“Someone’s gotta make you live a little,” Lolli argued.

I pushed back my chair and moved to gather the bowls, but Trace reached out, stilling me. It was the barest of touches, the pads of his fingertips barely grazing my forearm. But the heat of the contact scalded in a way that froze me to the spot.

“You’ve already helped enough.”

I arched a brow at him. “You’re just scared I’m going to mix the bowls with the plates, aren’t you?”

Trace’s lips twitched as he pulled his hand away. “Can’t have you messing with a perfectly good system.”

“You mean a perfectly good military state,” I challenged.

Lolli laughed. “Trace, walk Ellie home. Make sure she gets in safely. Keels and I can handle the dishes. Right, angel pie?”

“I’m a real good helper,” Keely agreed.

Trace tipped his head back. “Someone save me.”

I grinned at the floor. “I think I can make it next door on my own.”

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