“I’m slightly offended that just because you’re dating Eli, you didn’t call me to help you move after I specifically blocked this week out upon your request.”
I turn to look at my brother, his eyebrow lifted, and arms crossed over his chest.
“Just slightly offended?” I cross my arms to mimic him. “I’d expect you to be more than that if you’re showing up here, claiming this.”
“Well…” he shrugs.
“And technically, I asked you to reserve the weekend. I’m just moving some boxes to get a head start,” I play along.
“I figured two trucks were better than one.” He gives me his signature smile—showing off his pearly whites and the corners of his eyes crinkling—The Finn charm. It’s the kind of smile that makes you want to trust him, easy-going and kind. But if you’re a single woman he’s interested in, that smile is lethal.
“I appreciate it.” I hug my brother and grin. “Honestly, I could use your help. Even if just to keep me sane.”
“Best job I do.” He ruffles my hair, messing up the top of my braid.
“Jerk,” I tease and shove his shoulder. I comb back the strands of hair as best I can, worrying about fixing it later. It’s only bound to get messier.
“How was your trip?” Finn asks as he lifts a box stacked in the entrance.
“Good. Those treehouses are really cool,” I tell him, describing the one we stayed in.
I have to admit, Eli’s surprise was worth the worry I felt when he called me. And, as promised, he helped me finish packing on Sunday when we got back. Then, on Monday and Tuesday, guaranteeing me I’d be ready to move this weekend like I planned.
Now that it’s Thursday, and everything is ready to go, I decided it would be smart to start taking things over to the house so I can focus on unpacking and organizing this weekend.
“Happy to hear that. I’m sure with all the things you have going on, it was nice to take a step back and relax.” Finn smiles before taking the box he’s carrying out to his truck.
I must be really uptight lately for him to continue insinuating I need to relax and take it slow. I never wanted this business to become a burden. My goal is for it to enhance my life, push me forward while I live out a dream.
“Hey, was that Finn I heard?” Eli walks out of my bedroom.
“Yeah. He came to help.”
“Good, we’ll be able to move this all tonight then.” He leans in for a soft kiss.
“Thank you.” I look up into his eyes, golden honey soothing me.
“You don’t have to thank me every five minutes.” He grips my fingers and gives me a lopsided smile.
As he lifts one of the boxes in front of me, I tilt my head and stare at his butt. This handsome, sexy, kind man is mine. As Eli stands, he looks at me over his shoulder as if he knows exactly what I’m doing.
His eyebrows raise knowingly, and he smiles. “Like what you see?”
“Very much,” I waggle my eyebrows.
Eli chuckles and heads out to the truck, leaving me alone to look around my almost empty apartment. With Finn’s truck, we’ll be able to stack the rest of the boxes in one truck and my sofa and coffee table in the other.
Tomorrow, all I’ll need to move is my bedroom set along with a few other pieces of furniture. And that’s it. I’ll officially be living in my own house. Small, but mine.
I smile to myself, helping the guys take boxes out to the trucks.
Everything that fits in the pickups is packed in half the time it would’ve taken Eli and me alone, and we head to the house to unload. The soft brushing of Eli’s thumb against the side of my hand as he drives causes my heart to flutter.
Since we returned on Sunday, there has been a palpable shift between us. We’ve gone from dating and doing things separately to making joint decisions, consulting one another.
“I know you’re tired, but how about we unload and grab dinner with Finn to thank him for helping us?” Eli’s voice washes over me, and I blink my eyes open to look at him.
His profile is lit by the streetlights we pass, highlighting different parts of him. His straight nose and full lips, the shadow of his scruff.
His eyebrows shift on his forehead as he looks at me out of the corner of his eye. “Did you hear me?”
“Oh, yeah.” I blush, biting down on my lips. “I think that’s a great idea. I’m so hungry.” I place my hand on my stomach. I think back and realize I didn’t eat lunch. I was too caught up in packing the last few things and having the boxes taped shut before Eli arrived after work, that I skipped lunch.
My stomach growls, causing Eli to chuckle. “I can tell.”
Why is it that as soon as someone mentions food, you’re suddenly famished?
“Oh, hush.” My stomach growls again, and I giggle. I press my hand into it, willing it to quiet down though I doubt that works. “I skipped lunch,” I use as an excuse.
“You can’t do that, Averly,” Eli sighs.
“I know, I know. Time just got away from me, and I didn’t realize it.”
“We’ll eat soon,” he promises, giving my knee a squeeze that causes me to laugh.
As soon as we get to the house, we do quick work of taking the boxes inside and piling them in the rooms they belong in. The ones marked for my bedroom go in there, the living room and kitchen items stay in the living space, and my sofa gets placed by one of the walls in the living room.
“Why doesn’t it surprise me that you painted your front door pink?” Finn chuckles.
“Hey, it looks great against the gray siding outside, and it livens up the house. Besides, it’s blush pink, not bubble-gum pink.” I scrunch up my nose. “There’s a difference.”
“Clearly,” Finn jokes.
I chose an off-white for the inside of the house, keeping a clean and bright feel, and the pink door adds character to it since it’s seen from the main part of the house.
“Dinner?” Eli claps his hands.
“Yeah, I think Averly’s stomach is going to explode if we don’t feed it,” Finn laughs.
“Are you out to embarrass me?” I bite down and open my eyes wide at him.
“That’s cute, darling, but after the growl fest you put on in the car, you don’t have to be embarrassed.” Eli wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in.
Eli and Finn both laugh at me, and I stick my tongue out at them. “Jerks,” I murmur, glaring at them.
“You know I love it when you get angry,” Eli whispers. My stomach contracts at something else besides hunger, and I release a deep exhale. I will keep myself under control in front of my brother.
I roll my eyes at Eli and pinch my lips to hide my smile.
“Let’s go eat,” I announce, opening the front door.
“Clarke’s?” Finn asks.
“That’s perfect. I can go for their burgers,” I agree with a nod and stomach rumble. “Goodness gracious, I need food A-SAP.”
Eli laughs the entire walk to his truck, and as he opens the door for me. I shake my head but can’t hide my amusement. I’m in a ridiculously good mood, and not even humiliating stomach noises can ruin that.
I’ve decided the past no longer has the power to ruin my relationships. I want to be with Eli, and I need to release the notion that every man is going to hurt me. He’s different. He’s honest and caring, yet he still treats me like me, even when discussing the renovations at the bed and breakfast. Just because we’re in a relationship doesn’t mean he’s going to give in to my demands. It’s kind of hot, too.
Eli… He’s everything I never wanted out of fear that I’d get my heart broken again. A man like him, who could have any woman he wants. Why would he want me? But he does, and he’s proved it time and again since we started dating.
I’m falling in love with him, and although my mind tries to scare me out of it, a weird sense of peace silences it. This feels right, and for once in my life, I’m going to allow something to break my plan a little bit so that it can become an even better vision than I h
ad.
When we finish dinner, Eli takes us back to his house without question. A silent understanding has fallen between us this past week that we spend the nights together. It doesn’t matter where.
And it’s my favorite part of the day—talking while we’re in bed, discussing our jobs, our friends, anything. It’s a moment where it’s just the two of us.
I lie in Eli’s bed wearing one of his tee shirts while he brushes his teeth in the ensuite bathroom. I hold my phone up, scrolling through my Pinterest app. My mindless browsing through this app always gets me trying a new recipe or finding more ideas for the bed and breakfast, which is a dangerous thing.
When Eli walks out of the bathroom in his low-hung pajama pants, shirtless, I place the phone on my chest as my eyes follow his body as he moves around the room, turning off the ceiling light. I make no attempt to hide my ogling, and he smiles knowingly.
“What are you looking at?” He gets in bed and leans over, kissing me as he grips the side of my thigh playfully.
“You.” I shake my shoulders in a half shimmy.
“I like it when you stare.” His eyebrows bounce on his forehead.
“That sounded creepy,” I tease.
“Coming from the person that accused me of being a serial killer when I was trying to surprise you with a romantic getaway in a treehouse.” He looks at me with wide eyes and raised brows.
I shrug. “Well, for all I know…” I giggle when he tickles me.
“Ain’t no way I’m gonna let you out of my life.”
I snort and furrow my eyebrows, turning to look at him. “That just upped your creepy vibe.”
“It came out wrong.” He rubs a hand across his cheek.
“I know.” I lean in for a kiss. “I’m so tired, but…” I look up at him through my lashes and pout.
“Uh, oh.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I know that look.” He holds his head up with his hand, his elbow digging into the mattress as he looks down at me.
“It’s nothing bad,” I defend.
“Tell me,” Eli demands, removing my lip from between my teeth with his thumb.
“It's just, I saw this really cute idea,” I smile widely, hopeful he’ll listen through. “I think it could look great in the kitchen.”
“The last time you gave me a suggestion for the kitchen, the ceiling caved,” he deadpans.
“Hey, that’s not fair.” I sit up, crossing my arms.
“Show me your new idea.” Eli holds out his hand for my phone.
“First, let me…”
Eli grabs the phone from my chest before I can finish my sentence.
“Rude,” I shoot my narrowed eyes at him.
He smiles and winks before he looks at my phone. “What is this?”
“It’s a barn door design to cover the ventilation hood. I love the detail and the metal corner braces that finish it. This website has the DIY info, and it seems easy enough.”
Eli doesn’t respond as he taps on my screen and looks at it with small eyes and the tip of his tongue peeking out the corner of his mouth. I hold in my excitement, however. If he’s focusing that much on it, it could be because he’s actually considering it.
He sighs and puts the phone down, looking at me with a frown.
“So?”
“You’re totally using the I’m-dating-the-contractor card with this.”
“Yeah,” I don’t deny it.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
I squeal and hug him. “You’re the best. Thank you.” I press my lips to his in a sloppy kiss.
Laughing, I move away and settle on my side of the bed. Eli’s hands are still loosely wrapped around me, and he taps my behind.
“But that’s it. Remember, this is a business. You want to focus on that.”
“I know,” I nod. “I’m just excited, and this totally goes with the farmhouse feel of the house.”
Eli shakes his head, but he smiles. “Women,” he throws out jokingly.
“Hey, now,” I jab a finger into his hard chest. “You like me for my persistent and driven personality.”
“And your stubbornness. Don’t forget that.”
“Pot meet kettle,” I respond.
I yelp when Eli pulls me onto him. He thrust his hips up, and I feel his hardness between my thighs.
“My kettle wants to meet your pot.”
I burst out laughing, sputtering saliva all over his face. “Oh my God, sorry!” I wipe his face with my hands, my body shaking with laughter at his horrible joke.
“You hurt my feelings. My kettle is pretty offended, too.”
“Doesn’t feel like it.” I wiggly my hips against his, my laughter bubbling in the back of my throat again.
Try as he might, Eli can’t contain his laughter anymore, and his chest rumbles against mine. “It was a pretty bad joke, wasn’t it?”
“I think you’ve been hanging out with Poppy too much lately.”
“I did make you laugh, though.” He smiles proudly.
“You sure did, and you’re making me the vent hood I want. I think someone deserves a reward.” I wink, moving my body down his.
Eli hisses as his hooded eyes look down at me. Yeah, nights like this are definitely my favorite time of the day.
Averly
The last few weeks have been exhausting between moving and setting up the house, overseeing the renovations, working with Ainsley, driving to Montana with my dad to buy the horse, and starting to collect resumes. I might just experience my Britney Breakdown and do something as drastic as shaving my hair.
The bed and breakfast opens in three months, and I am starting to go into panic mode. As much as I tell myself that everything is on schedule, the little voice in my head that loves to sabotage things is whispering all the ways this can go wrong.
I walk into my house and drop my purse on the sofa on the way to my room. I pause when I pass the bathroom, my eyebrows furrowing. As I walk in, I gasp, bringing my hand over my mouth.
The tub is full of water and bubbles, a wine glass is filled with red wine on the caddy’s cup holder, and the book we’re reading for book club is resting on the stand. A small tea light candle is placed on the tray and a lighter set next to it.
A soft smile brushes my face. When I dip my hand into the water, it’s still warm. Eli must’ve planned it in time to me getting home.
The green notecard catches my eye, and I pick it up to read.
Darling,
I know how hard you’ve been working, but it’s also important to slow down and enjoy the things you love. Sit back, drink your wine, and read your book. Don’t worry about a thing, we’ll figure things out together.
Yours,
Eli
I sigh, my vision becoming blurry as I fold the note back and place it on the sink. I’ve been living in this house for two weeks, and I still haven’t taken a proper bath in this tub. It was the first thing I thought I’d do when I moved in.
I undress and sink into the tub, sighing as the warm water relaxes me. Using the lighter, I light the tea candle and take a sip of wine.
Ah, this is what I need.
Eli knows exactly how to help me clear my mind, whether he’s present or not. Tipping my head back against the edge of the tub, I close my eyes as the lavender scent pulls me away from stress. My hands move under the water, creating ripples, and my muscles release their tension. The warmth of the water creates a comforting blanket that soothes my worries as they melt away.
Blinking my eyes open, my paperback catches my attention. I sit up and shake the water from my hands before I open my book and continue reading.
“What’s got you smiling like that? Me, I hope.” I lift my gaze from the page I’m reading and see Eli standing in the bathroom entrance. I was reading with rapt attention, I didn’t even hear him come in.
“The hero in this story just did the sweetest thing,” I smile up at him.
“Oh, yeah?” His eyebrows po
p up as he tries to hide his frown.
“But…” I pause and look him up and down. “What you did for me today,” I look at the caddy and now empty wine glass, “is book-worthy. Seriously, Eli, no one has ever done something so thoughtful for me before.”
He walks into the bathroom and sits on the edge of the tub, leaning down to kiss me.
“I’m glad you liked your surprise.”
I beam up at him. “Loved it. I needed this.” I tilt my head toward the caddy.
“Good.” His eyes linger down my face and neck. When I follow his gaze, I realize that my breasts are now out of the water. Seeing him watch me with fire in his eyes shoots desire straight to my core.
I place my hand on his thigh and lock eyes with him when he lifts his gaze. “Join me,” I demand.
A slow smile spreads on his face, one that captures my heart and makes it beat faster.
Eli lifts the bathtub tray and carefully places it on the vanity. He undresses slowly, giving me a show as he exposes inch by inch of his skin as he removes the buttons on his flannel shirt. When he’s finally naked, I scoot forward in the tub, giving him space to sit behind me.
I giggle as I settle between Eli’s legs, the length of them not fitting in the bathtub. He keeps them slightly bent, cradling me safely between him.
Eli’s hands roam up and down my arms, cupping water and letting it drip down my shoulders and back. I lean my head back against his chest and close my eyes, allowing his soothing caresses to pull me into a state of relaxation. Now, this is perfect, having him here with me.
I shiver when I feel the familiar scratching of his scruff tickle my neck as his lips move lazily across my sensitive skin. Goosebumps break out on my arms as I roll my neck to the side, giving him better access for his lips to roam.
“I love you, Averly,” Eli whispers into my ear. Another shiver runs down my spine as I sigh.
“Really?” I breathe out.
“Yeah.” His voice is louder now.
I turn to look at him, smiling. “Thank God because I love you, too, and I’ve been too nervous to say it or not sure when is the right time,” I bite my lip, my eyes searching his.
“Always tell me how you feel.” Eli cradles my face. “We’re in this together.” He brushes his lips against mine, and I relax.
Make You Mine Page 17