Page 72 of Wrecked for Love
I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Maybe a little.”
“Damn, that’s sexy!” She switched mischief with seduction.
I hadn’t let her out of my sight for long, always making sure she was with someone we trusted. But after that ominous note, nerves took control. Every instinct told me to keep her close.
“And I suppose you want to have lunch with me too?” she added.
I grinned. “Would that be too much?”
“No. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have given you the idea. See you then.”
I kissed her again, this time slower, promising myself that nothing—nothing—would happen to her.
29
ELIA
It was the first day of winter, and The Lazy Moose had never looked more serene. This was my favorite time of year—if I took off my rancher’s hat for a moment. The barn and snow-covered fields practically shouted “holiday,” and this year felt even more special with the old Christmas decorations making their comeback.
Claire and I had spent last night rummaging through boxes that hadn’t seen daylight in years. We put up the Christmas tree, strung lights around the house and porch, and hung a wreath at the ranch’s gate.
The boys and I had just finished stacking feed for the cattle, making sure we were set for the cold months ahead. The bales were piled high, and the air was crisp with the scent of hay mixed with the sharp bite of winter.
I stomped the powdery snow off my boots and pushed open the door. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt eyes on me. A tail wagged so hard that I thought it might knock something over. Koda. His signature Collie gaze was the same—bright and intelligent—but his mane?
I laughed in wonder, dropping to my knees and running my hands through Koda’s coat. “What did Claire do to you, buddy?”
Koda barked as if I hadn’t quite given him enough credit for how sharp he looked.
“Did she sign you up for a show?”
His fur was still long but now neatly trimmed at the edges, soft and fluffy under my palms, and he smelled great. Really great. Like he’d just walked out of a spa.
“Elia? Is that you?” Claire’s voice floated in from the back. She appeared, smiling as she caught me rubbing Koda’s fur like we hadn’t seen each other in years.
“How’d you pull this off, Claire? With me, it’s always like a full-blown wrestling match just to get him in the tub.”
She grinned. “Even a guy likes to feel fancy once in a while. I left most of his length—it’s winter, after all. But come summer, I might just trim it a bit shorter.”
I stood and wrapped my arms around her, still laughing. “You’re full of surprises, Chili. And whatever you’ve got cooking smells incredible!”
We ambled toward the kitchen, where Claire had insisted on making her New York specialty for the night—Yankee pot roast, a slow-cooked one-pot wonder.
For the first time since the attack, everything seemed to settle back to normal. No strange notes. No shadows looming nearby. But I wasn’t fooled—this was just the calm before the storm. I could sense it.
“Are you sure we need this much?” I asked, eyeing the growing mountain of chopped vegetables.
“I figured I’d make enough for lunch tomorrow—for you and the boys.”
Most of the guys had left for winter, but a handful stayed behind. We planned to use the downtime to fix some broken equipment. Plus, feeding the cattle was an all-year job.
“What would I do without you?” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “By the way, we’ve got a new guy joining us. Fritzy. He’s been around before, but back then, I couldn’t take on another hand—we were full. Then he came back, practically begging for a spot. Can’t deny a man’s persistence, right? So far, he’s doing okay, but he needs a lot of direction.”
She paused, her eyes scanning me. “Hey…” she said softly, stepping up behind me and pressing her fingers into my shoulders. “Sit down. You’re tense.”
“Rancher’s shoulders are always tense, sweetheart.”
“Yours are especially tight!” she exclaimed, her fingers pressing into the knots with surprising force.
