Page 13 of Sweetheart and the Grouch
“I am. They’re so young, Dyl. Too young to be up here alone.”
“That’s how I felt when I saw Millie movin’ in. But these women might seem helpless to the likes of us, but they’re tougher than you think.”
“I’m still gonna keep an eye on things.”
He chuckles. “Has Jade been up to visit you lately? You know what she’d say if she saw you fawnin’ all over the new girl.”
“The Soulwink?” I pinch my cell between my ear and shoulder as I pull my wet shirt off my chest and work my way out of it. “That’s not what this is. It’s… I don’t know. I’m concerned, is all.”
“You do what you think is right, brother,” he says, amusement in his voice. “I’ll see you soon. We’re leavin’ here today.”
“OK. Talk to you when you’re back home. Drive safe.”
He chuckles yet again. “You should probably stay safe too.”
AINSLEY
“Why’d you do that?” Elena asks when I come back wearing a dry shirt.
“Do what?”
“Make Ajax leave. He’s done nothing but help us and you were mean.”
“I wasn’t mean. It was just time for him to go.”
“Is it because he was looking at you like he wanted to kiss you?”
“What do you know about that kind of stuff, El? He wasn’t going to kiss me at all. He thinks we’re in trouble because you couldn’t keep your little mouth shut.”
“Why is it so bad to tell him we ran away so we could stay together? He’s not gonna tell.”
“How do you know he won’t? We hardly know him.”
“Same way I knew that hedidwanna kiss you. It’s in his eyes.”
My cheeks flame hot. “Stop saying that. There was no kissing.”
“There could have been. He looked at you in the same way John Smith looked at Pocahontas beforetheykissed. So I think I know what I’m talking about. You should ask him to be your boyfriend and then he can help take care of us.”
“I don’t think he wants that, Ellie.”
“But—”
“Enough. I don’t want to hear any more talk about Ajax. The only thing we need to worry about is getting this cabin cleaned and aired before it gets cold out. So hop to it, missy.”
She lifts her arm and salutes me. “Yes, ma’am!”
With a genuine smile on my face, I watch her skip back into the living area before I head out to the porch where all the supplies are so I can grab a mop to clean the ceiling. The soot goteverywhere.
What I find instead is a shirtless Ajax standing next to his truck.Oh my.
“You’re still here,” I blurt, realizing my mouth feels incredibly dry all of a sudden. I could tell he was ripped from the way his clothes fit against his body, but seeing the actual skin taut against his muscles is the kind of thing wet dreams are made of. Wow.
“I’m in no hurry to leave.” He turns to face me, pulling a clean shirt over his head and tugging it down to settle around his waist. I blink twice before I drag my gaze to his. “Was hopin’ you’d change your mind about talkin’ to me.”
I move to the edge of the porch and step down to get a little closer. “What did you mean before when you said you’d find out for yourself?”
“Exactly that.”
