by Stella Night
Josh leaned back against the chair behind him. He stretched his long legs out. His deep brown eyes took in every movement Ella made.
Heat spread through her belly as she fidgeted with her wine glass. She sipped again before she told him about the first Thoreau collection she had seen.
“After grad school I worked in the Rice University library. Someone donated a classic American collection - Twain, Salinger, Thoreau, Steinbeck. It was intoxicating.”
“I can imagine. So, you came here from Houston?”
She tensed at the question, then gave a curt nod. She tried steering the conversation back to books, but Josh was relentless, asking about her time during school, why she decided on libraries, and why she left Houston and how she ended up on Whiskey Springs. Ella finally gave up with a sigh.
“I left a bad situation. I decided it was time to leave, time for something new. Something better. So I got in the car and I drove. And I landed here.” Her heart tripped when he smiled and offered his glass in a salute.
“Well, Celia and I are glad this is where you landed.”
They spent the next few hours comparing favorite books and arguing the merits of one author over another. Ella realized that it had been years since she had so enjoyed herself.
When the clock chimed midnight, she put down her glass and stood. “It’s late and I really should be going.” She bent to put her shoes back on and said, “Thank you so much. I’ve really enjoyed this.”
“Me too. We should do it again. Soon.”
Ella glanced up at him. “Sure. Next time you receive more books, I can help.”
“No. Go out with me. Tomorrow night.”
Ella stopped, motionless. She must have misunderstood. “Are you asking me out? Like a date?”
“Yes.” His gaze didn’t waver as he offered his hand when she stood.
“No. You’re my boss, for one thing. And I’m pretty sure Liza would not understand.” No one could miss the scowl that flitted across his face before he managed a rather rueful smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Liza and I are just old friends. And this will just be dinner, between two newer friends.”
She hesitated a moment longer. Then he gave her another one of those dazzling smiles. The butterflies were back with a vengeance.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“Think about it.”
She nodded and left before she could change her mind.
As she walked home, she couldn’t believe he had asked her out. Her brain was saying no, but her body was screaming yes.
Her phone chimed letting her know she had a message. She smiled, thinking that the only person she knew who would message her this late would be Celia so she could find out what her brother was doing.
The message was from an unknown number. Ella almost dropped the phone when she read it.
You don’t belong with him. Go home.
Chapter 6
A week later, Ella still had not responded to Josh’s request for a date. He chose not to ask again - yet. He was content to let their friendship take its natural course without pushing her.
That fact that she was human seldom crossed his mind now. All he saw was an attractive, intelligent, desirable woman he enjoyed spending time with and who liked spending time with him.
They had quickly developed a routine of a shared drink after her shift most nights. Their conversations still centered around books and authors, much to his chagrin. Every time he received a new shipment, he invited her to share in his joy and excitement. And when she left, he breathed in her scent while his wolf danced, eager to be let loose.
He felt an almost undeniable need to know everything he could about her while she danced around personal questions, never quite answering. He chose to give her space, hoping eventually she would open up to him.
The only dark spot to his days was Liza. She kept up a constant tirade, never quite making a threat but letting him know exactly how much she disliked Ella being in Whiskey Springs, and at Old Masters in particular. And she was convinced that Ella didn’t belong in either place.
So far, Liza had not called her threatened meeting of the pack. Josh was confident she wouldn’t push against his alpha status and make good on the threat. At this point, there was only one more thing standing between him and the official title, and he was not about to let Liza or anyone else keep him from his birthright.
Turning his thoughts to things more enjoyable, he checked the box on the table one more time before Ella showed up to inspect the new shipment. He was pretty sure she would love this one. His source had managed to find a first edition, first issue of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Beautiful and Damned. She had mentioned the book during one of their discussions just last week, telling him that it was one of her favorite books even though it was one of Fitzgerald’s lesser known works.
***
Ella knocked softly at the door before she entered. He noticed that her face seemed paler than usual. Her shoulders held a tension that hadn’t been there since the first night they met. Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes and he could see dark circles there. Her first sip of wine was more of a hearty gulp.
“Rough day?”
“No, not really.” She put her wine on the table, then sat down, as was her habit, to take her shoes off before she sat on the floor. She leaned against the chair she had occupied moments before. She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before she said “You know, this has to be the easiest job I’ve ever had. I think I may have sold one entire book since I’ve been here. Everything else has been processing Internet sales, and even those are rarely more than two a week.” She turned her sapphire gaze on him and smiled, watching him as he sat down.
Once again, he noticed the dark shadows beneath her eyes.
“Have you been having trouble sleeping?”
Ella quickly dropped her gaze to her glass as she picked it up for another gulp. Still averting her gaze, she said, “I’ll be okay.”
She put the now empty glass down and touched the box as she asked, “So, what do we have today? Faulkner? Henry Miller?”
“Well, look inside.”
She reached in and pulled the book out. Her eyes grew wide and Josh could see the quickening of her heartbeat at the base of her throat. She bounced up and down, her curls bobbing around her shoulders, then she stopped as she opened the antique book carefully. “Oh my gosh!” She closed it and held it to her breasts. “We were just talking about this. You didn’t order this because … “
Josh laughed and was quick to answer. “No, I did not. But now that I think about it, I probably should have.” He watched her, her blue eyes shining brightly with excitement, a total reversal of her demeanor just moments ago. “It was just a bit of serendipity.” At her smile, he rushed on. “Unless you want to take it as an omen?”
Just as quickly, Ella’s face fell again. “No.” She glanced up at him shyly. “But this is absolutely fantastic. I’d love to take it home and read it if you don’t mind. You know I’ll treat it like a cherished baby.” She placed the book on the table.
“Okay, Ella, what’s up?”
He watched her face pale. “What do you mean?” Ella fidgeted with the bottom of her blouse. She wouldn’t meet his gaze. He watched her hand as she reached up to wipe a tear. His wolf whimpered.
“You know you can talk to me right?”
“I know.” She picked up the glass he had refilled and drank, two gulps this time. Her hand shook as she placed the glass upon the table. She took a deep breath and said, “Did you know I’ve been here almost a month?”
“Yes. Is that what’s making you sad? Do you want to go back home? Back to Houston?”
She gave another shaky laugh, followed by a head shake. “No. Never that.” She took another gulp, draining her glass, then lifted her eyes to meet his. They were deep blue pools that threatened to drown him. “I will never go back to that, no matter what.”
She rose slowly and paced the r
oom, touching a book spine here and there. “Did you know he hit me?”
Josh watched her, holding his breath, afraid to move lest she stop talking Not sure who she walk talking about, he simply said “I know.” He sat quietly, waiting, afraid to break whatever spell had her opening up.
His wolf snarled and paced, wanting to rip the throat out of anyone who hurt her. Down boy.
“Just the one time, but it was more than enough.” She had her back to him, one finger tracing the gold leaf lettering on the book in front of her. “I tried to leave him for years. He would always have a good reason for me needing to stay with him but not for him wanting me to stay. His favorite was ‘no one else will ever want you, E.J.’ That and ‘you’d be lost without me, E.J.’ And his favorite ‘you’re so fat, E.J.’ I was sure I had finally gotten away from him.”
“You did get away, Ella.” He paused. “Who’s ‘E.J.’?”
“Me. Ella Jane.” Her laugh was humorless. “And for God’s sake, don’t ever call me either of those names.” She turned to face him. “Never call me that.”
Josh smiled and nodded. “Never. But you have to promise to never call me J.T.”
Ella smiled at him as she walked back to the chair and sat down. “Oh? You mean like that singer?”
“More like ‘Joshua Thomas’, which only my mother used. And then, only when I was in big trouble. Then some of the guys took up T.J. in school.” Josh rose to sit in the chair beside hers. He held his glass up. “So, it’s agreed. No ‘E.J.’ and no ‘J.T.’ No Ella Jane and no Joshua Thomas. Just Ella and Josh.”
Ella touched her glass to his and smiled. “Agreed. Here’s to Ella and Josh.” Her eyes sparked over the rim of her glass as she drank.
Josh felt his heart trip as his wolf sat up, ears alert, tail wagging.
Chapter 7
Ella was having drinks in her apartment with Celia and Mrs. Gilbert. What was meant to be an evening bonding over another classic movie was turning into a confession of sorts as she spilled her guts to them about David and why she left Houston.
“When we first met, I thought he was perfect. I think now it was just a rebellion against my mother, who had insisted up until her last day on earth, that I find a nice man who would take care of me. David was the bad boy she always warned me about. I’m just glad she died before I met him.”
She had built a nice fire to ward off the humidity from another seasonal rain storm. They had pulled the chairs over to sit in front of the fireplace. Ella stretched her toes toward the flames as she sipped her wine and nibbled on the cheese Mrs. Gilbert had brought. Then she slid down to sit on the floor.
“Where did you meet him?” Celia had kicked off her shoes as well. Ella watched the reflection of the flames dance in the rosy liquid of her glass.
“I took my car in for a tune-up and there he was - this good looking guy, all surfer blond, tight jeans, tight white t-shirt. He even rode a Harley.” She chuckled at the skeptical look on Celia’s face. “I’m not kidding. He was so different from everything else in my life. I really thought it was love at first sight. He said it was for him, so maybe I just decided it was for me as well.”
“Was that when the blinders came off, dear?” Mrs. Gilbert asked.
“Oh yeah.” Ella stopped, deciding how much she was willing to tell them about David. “The first time he got fired, he got blind drunk and smashed the window of my car. That bill was several hundred dollars.” She drank deeply and shifted against her chair. “He had just asked me to marry him but told me he didn’t have a ring. I told him I didn’t need one, but he kept insisting. Then when they fired him, he just sort of lost it.”
“Is that when you left?” Mrs. Gilbert was sitting in the chair next to her, sipping bourbon.
“Nope. But I did eventually. And here I am.”
Celia stood and brought the wine bottle over to the table near them. “Well, I’m glad you left. And I’m glad you ended up here.” She filled her glass and Ella’s, then plopped down on the floor next to her friend.
“Well, here’s to new beginnings, ladies.” Mrs. Gilbert lifted her glass, green eyes twinkling in the firelight. “And to good friends.”
Three glasses clinked.
“To new beginnings.”
***
She and Celia had finished dusting and were cleaning the front counters when Ella heard the chime of her phone. With a sense of dread, she pulled it out of her bag to read a new message.
Don’t ignore me. You don’t belong with these people. Leave!
Her heart beat was like a panicked bird beating against the bars of its cage. Who is sending these? Why are they doing this? Liza was the only person who made sense. Ella couldn’t believe the woman would stoop to such measures.
Her hands shook as she put the phone back in her purse. She could feel Celia’s eyes on her as she willed her hands to still. She offered a shaky smile to her friend and went back to cleaning off the already spotless counter.
Celia walked to the front door to lock it then stopped and stared across the street. She kept her eyes focused on something outside as she walked back around the counter. She opened the cash register and began counting the cash in it.
With a sigh she asked “Ella, do you believe in love at first sight?”
Ella followed Celia’s gaze out the window toward a young man named Rick Gerald. He had introduced himself just a few days ago, telling her that his parents owned the Hungry Boar, the only restaurant in town and inviting her to come in for a complimentary meal. He had a cute, rough and tumble, shaggy vibe going on, one that she could see would definitely be attractive to younger girls.
“Oh, I don’t know. Do you have someone in mind?” Ella smiled as she watched Celia start over in counting, having lost her place.
“Maybe.”
“It’s great for books, along with Prince Charming and happily ever after.” And big bad wolves in tight jeans. “Are you sure there’s no one in particular?”
“No, just asking.” Celia closed the cash register drawer and put the money into a bank bag so she could make a deposit on her way home. A tourist had actually wandered in and bought three books, which had given them both something to do other than dusting. “So, Josh got a delivery today. Aren’t you going up tonight?”
Ella had forgotten his mention of a surprise. She shook her head then pushed her curls out of her face. “I don’t know, Celia. I’m not sure I feel up to spending the evening with anyone.”
“Well, if I know my brother, and I do, if you don’t show up he will track you down to find out why.”
Ella laughed. “Well, in that case, I’ll go up.”
Celia gave her a gentle push toward the back of the store, following behind to lock the back door that led to the stairs to Josh’s apartment.
“Go on, off with you. Don’t keep him waiting.” With a cheery wave, Celia let herself out through the kitchen to where her car was parked in the back.
Ella walked slowly up the stairs, knowing her heart wasn’t in socializing tonight, especially Josh. The man usually made her feel so good about herself, but obviously someone was not happy about that.
Her thoughts turned to Josh for a moment. She was amazed at how perceptive he was, remembering books she had gushed over. Even though he swore he hadn’t picked The Beautiful and Damned based on their conversation, she hadn’t been quite sure she believed him when she opened that box.
Why couldn’t life just be like a fairy tale? Things would be so much easier.
***
Ella knocked softly, then entered the study. Josh was standing by the fireplace. Gold lights glinted in his tawny hair. His eyes were almost bronze with the flames reflected there. Ella felt her heart stop and start again, her breath little more than a gasp.
She forced herself to remember that this was her boss. The one man she shouldn’t be attracted to.
“Are you coming in, Ella?”
Josh’s question pulled her out of her thoughts. She blushed as she w
alked into the room and took the glass of wine he offered.
“Sorry. I was just thinking of something Celia said.” She walked over to the chair and sat down to remove her shoes after putting her glass on the low table near her.
Josh stood before the fireplace, leaning one arm on the mantle.
“And what was my sister saying?”
Ella paused. Not meeting his eyes, she said “She asked if I believe in love at first sight.”
He sat in the chair next to hers. “And what was your answer?”
She looked up to find him watching her over the rim of his glass. His brown eyes smiled at her. Her cheeks warmed again.
Dropping her gaze, Ella finished slipping off her shoes. She took her customary position on the floor and sipped her wine.
“Ella, you’re stalling.”
Meeting his gaze again, she tried to still her heart. She could still feel the heat in her cheeks. And a different type of warmth in her core.
“Fairy tales.”
Josh laughed and shook his head.
“Explain, please.”
Ella sipped, truly stalling for time now. “I don’t think love at first sight exits outside of fairy tales. That’s all.”
Josh slid to the floor next to her, his shoulder and thigh brushing hers as he leaned against the chair behind them. Ella felt the damned butterflies start up again.
“And what would it take for you to believe in love at first sight?” he asked quietly.
Her glass stopped halfway to her lips. It felt like her eyes were huge in her face, a deer caught in headlights.
She slowly turned toward him and whispered “What do you mean?”
Josh smiled, dimples deepening. She looked down when he took her hand, his seeming to engulf hers. His skin was warm and smooth. Her arm tingled when he began making circles with this thumb on her wrist.
“I mean what would it take for you, Ella McInery, to believe in love at first sight?”
He was so close she could feel his breath on her cheek. She dropped her gaze to his sensual mouth, wondering how those lips would feel on hers, on her neck. Anywhere. Everywhere.