by Lea Coll
He let go of my hips, reaching around to cup my breasts, tweaking my nipples, the sensation shooting directly to my core. One hand drifted down my stomach, circling my clit, pressing hard.
I went over the edge, free-falling, hoping he’d catch me. My pussy clenched around him; tremors shook me. He lightly bit my shoulder as he continued to thrust before finally emptying himself inside of me.
“Don’t move. I’ll clean you.” He slapped my ass lightly before moving off the bed.
I lowered myself to the comforter, not planning on moving anytime soon. He made me feel so good, loved, cared for. Guilt seeped in that I was hiding something from him.
He placed one knee on the bed, washing me with the warm cloth, throwing it in the direction of my hamper. He rolled me so I was flat on my back. He’d propped himself on his elbow, looking down at me, his hand resting possessively on my hip.
His expression was full of awe. “I love you, Elle. I never thought it was possible to love someone, to trust someone again, but I do.”
A lightness spread through my body, making me feel dizzy. No man had ever said those words to me. Coming from Gray, a man who didn’t trust easily, it meant even more. “I love you too.”
It felt good to finally say the words. I’d been thinking them for a while. I’d wanted to wait until I was sure of his feelings. I’d wanted to wait until I told him everything about me, but would he even feel the same way about me after I did?
“You make me happy.” His fingers traced circles on my hip.
“I am too.” That was the indescribable feeling swirling in my gut, filling the hollow of my chest cavity. Working on the show had been toxic, the people surrounding me tearing me down instead of lifting me up.
This thing with Gray was the opposite. It was better than I’d imagined. I never wanted it to end.
Chapter 19
Gray
* * *
I was flying high on this thing with Elle, yet there was a feeling hovering on the edges of my peripheral, a sense of impending doom. Elle was the best thing that ever happened to me, and good things never lasted.
Stepping into Elle’s shower while she walked Crew before work, I tried to focus on the things I could control. Those things seemed few and far between. I might not get the clinic. I might not get the house I wanted. Elle might not be perfect for me. Anytime I went down the spiral of my past, I tried to rein it in. Nothing bad had happened since I was eighteen. The little voice in my head whispered, “That’s because you haven’t taken any risks. You haven’t had anything worth losing.”
A chill ran down my spine despite the warmth of the water and the smell of Elle’s citrus body wash. I had to believe better things came from putting yourself out there and taking risks, than hiding in my cold, sterile apartment until a contract for the clinic rested in my hands. I couldn’t keep waiting for life to start when it was in front of me, waiting for my next move.
Stepping out of the shower, I quickly toweled off. A few clients were due in clinic this morning before I could see some properties. I’d narrowed my wish list down to farms, and I was excited to see what the realtor found for me.
I wished Elle could join me, but she had appointments this morning.
Dressing quickly, I texted Henry, asking if he’d come with me to give his opinion. He’d grown up on a farm. He might notice things I didn’t. He was quick to respond with a hell yes.
I was cautiously optimistic that one of the properties I saw today could be my future home. Maybe even the home I shared with Elle. I loved that she lived above her shop. Her commute was convenient, but it didn’t stop me from hoping she’d call my new home hers one day.
The things that mattered to me were increasing, making me feel like nothing or everything could go wrong.
I jogged lightly down the steps, excited to see Elle before I headed out. Alone in the shop, the smell of freshly brewed coffee permeated the air. She sat on the stool by her computer at the front counter, Crew sleeping at her feet.
I slipped my arms around her middle, resting my chin on her shoulder. “Hey, you.”
She smiled, turning her head to kiss my lips briefly. “Are you going to look at properties today?”
Straightening to my full height, my hands on her waist, I said, “I wish you could come.”
“Me too.” She turned on the stool, spreading her knees to accommodate me, her arms wrapped loosely around my waist.
“I invited Henry to come. We might get a drink after.”
She looked up at me. “I can’t wait to see what you choose.”
I should tell her what I was thinking, how important her opinion was. My heart rate picked up. “I want you to see it before I make a decision.”
She tilted her head, considering me. “Yeah?”
“I want you to like it too.” I couldn’t say I wished she’d share the home with me one day. It was too soon, despite our declarations of love last night.
“That’s—”
The bell above the door sounded. A blonde woman stepped in, younger than Elle by a few years, with different color hair, but the resemblance was uncanny. They could be sisters.
“Alice, what are you doing here?” Elle tilted her head slightly.
I loosened my hold on her, giving her space.
Alice’s nose wrinkled. “What? I can’t visit my big sister?”
I stepped back so Elle could slide off the stool. She moved slowly around the counter, pulling Alice into a hug. “Of course, I’m happy to see you. I wasn’t expecting you, that’s all.”
Crew moved to stand next to Elle, his tail wagging while he waited for Alice to notice him.
Elle stepped back from Alice, her shoulders tense, her back stiff.
It made me think there was more going on here than just a sisterly visit. Why hadn’t Alice called before coming?
“I came to see what was so great about this town that you won’t leave.”
The tension in the room was palpable. I didn’t remember Elle saying her relationship with her sister was contentious.
I stepped closer, placing a hand on Elle’s lower back to make a statement. “Hi. I’m Gray.”
Alice’s eyes flickered to me. Her eyes widened. “Is this the reason you don’t want to come back? You’re—”
I didn’t know what Alice intended to say because Elle cut her off.
“I’m glad you’re here, but I’m working today. I won’t have time to show you around. I can let you into my apartment.” Elle gestured upstairs.
I didn’t like the idea of Alice taking my time with Elle, but I couldn’t interfere because she was her sister.
Alice waved her off. “I can show myself around. I’ll check out that cute trailer that sold coffee I saw on the way in. What was it called?”
“The Coffee Cowboy,” I offered. Something about this woman set me on edge. Maybe it was the calculated look in her eyes as her gaze flicked from Elle to me or the flashy way she dressed. A revealing tank, jeans so tight they were practically painted on, sky-high heels, and oversized sunglasses were perched on her head. This woman looked like a California girl.
Alice pointed at me. “That’s the one.”
I wasn’t sure whether I should stay or go. Glancing at my phone, I saw my first appointment would be in the clinic soon. “I have to run. It was nice meeting you, Alice. I hope I can spend some time with you while you’re here.”
I touched Elle’s elbow, guiding her to the door. I wanted to ask what she was doing here, but not with Alice watching our exchange. Pausing to face her, I said, “I have to go. I’ll see you later?”
I didn’t want to sound so needy, so vulnerable.
Elle bit her lip. “I’m not sure what Alice has planned or why she’s here. I’ll text you later, okay?”
She finally glanced up at me, uncertainty swirling in her eyes.
I wanted to give her whatever she needed.
“Sure.” I kissed her lightly on the lips before I walked out the door.
The impending doom I’d been worried about just showed up in the form of Alice.
I couldn’t shake the bad feeling all morning. By the time I met Henry at the first property, I wanted to cancel the showings, and head to the shop to make sure Elle was okay. I wanted to reassure myself that nothing had changed between us.
My phone dinged with a notification when I turned down the lane. Parking, I pulled out my phone, my heart rate picking up when I saw the headline: Dean Stanton up for Parole After Serving Twelve Years in Prison for Money Laundering. When I’d set the alert on my phone, I thought I’d want to know. Now, I wasn’t so sure. My skin prickled; the hair on my neck stood up. I closed the notification, not wanting to read the full article. Why now? I was finally starting to live life again. He was going to come crashing into my life, dragging up the past, ruining my future.
It might be headline news again. There might be speculation as to what happened to his family. Ed might find out. I might lose the clinic, Elle, everything. I tried to push it out of my mind, into a box I could open later when I was alone and able to decipher the possible ramifications.
I rounded the hood of my car, my stomach in knots as I greeted Henry with a curt nod.
He leaned against the driver’s side door of his truck with his brow raised. “What’s up with you?”
I sighed, looking at the property we were here to see, not really seeing it. I wasn’t ready to talk about my father, even if Henry knew the story. “Elle’s sister is in town.”
“Yeah?”
I looked from the house to Henry. “I have a bad feeling about it.”
“Why?” His voice was incredulous.
“She doesn’t talk about her family much. I’m sure it’s nothing.” Except it didn’t feel like nothing. Between Alice’s arrival and my father’s pending parole hearing, it felt like a volcano getting ready to erupt. I had a feeling it would destroy everything in its path, leaving nothing behind to rebuild.
My realtor, Allen Grim, pulled up in a black Audi. He climbed out. “You ready to look at some houses?”
Henry nodded. “We are.”
I fell in step next to him, trying to focus on the reason we were here, to find a home. A place to live and grow, maybe raise a family. I tried to ignore the worries, the doubts, the thought that Elle might decide she didn’t like it here. I wasn’t enough to make her want to stay.
The first house was in poor shape, with only two bedrooms and one bath. It needed an addition and renovations. It was a bigger job than I wanted to take on. The second property had a pond. It was pretty. I wasn’t sure about the safety of having a pond on the property if I wanted kids someday. Now that I’d been honest with Elle, it felt like anything was possible.
After the third showing, Allen said, “You don’t seem interested in anything we saw today.”
I tried to refocus on the homes we saw, thinking objectively about them.
Henry rubbed his chin. “This one would be good for you. Enough property for some animals, but not too much you’d need someone to help you with the land.”
“Yeah, the house is in good shape.” Whoever had inherited the property had done some nice upgrades for resale. This was the house I would consider if I weren’t so concerned about what Alice’s arrival meant.
“Think about it. Let me know if you’d like to see anything a second time. I’ll email you any listings I find that meet your criteria.” Allen nodded at me, then said to Henry, “It was nice meeting you.”
“You too.” When Allen got in his SUV to leave, Henry continued, “Is it Elle?”
“I’m not sure what her sister coming into town unannounced means.”
“It might not mean anything, but it’s a small town. We’ll find out soon enough.”
My stomach churned with uncertainty and dread at the thought it was happening all over again. This time would be worse than the last. I wouldn’t be able to move across the country to reinvent myself. I’d chosen to stay here. Telluride was my home. I wasn’t sure if Elle felt the same.
“You need to consider this one.” Henry tilted his head to the property we’d just seen.
This house was perfect. The quintessential farmhouse with a wraparound porch, new siding and roof, even a tire swing hung from the large tree in the front yard. A newer stable had been built next to the original barn. There was plenty of room for animals. Inside, the kitchen and bathrooms had been renovated. The five bedrooms had been changed to make it three with one large master suite. It was move-in ready, with a higher price tag to match. I could see Elle and I sitting on the porch, planning our future.
“It’s an option.”
“A good one. Don’t wait too long.”
He turned to his car, dropping his hand on my shoulder. “You need to stop worrying about Elle. If it’s meant to be, she’ll stay. Her sister won’t be able to convince her to leave. If she goes, she’s not the woman for you.”
My stomach dropped at the thought of trusting her not to change her mind. “Alice asked if I was the reason Elle was staying here. It made me think she wasn’t happy about it.”
“You can’t ignore your intuition if something doesn’t feel right. Although, it might not be what you’re thinking. Maybe Elle and her sister just don’t get along.”
I sighed, letting the breath out slowly. “You’re right. It could be nothing.”
“Want to grab dinner?”
“Sure.” The alternative was going home to brood about what Alice’s arrival meant for me, if dad’s parole hearing would make national news, or if my life was about to implode.
We climbed into our respective vehicles, heading into town. I’d moved away from home twelve years ago, always expecting my past to come back to haunt me. The irony was it didn’t happen until I finally believed I could move past it.
Chapter 20
Elle
* * *
All day, there was a buzzing in my ears. I smiled. I tried to focus on conversations with my clients. It took everything in me not to find Alice and tell her not to reveal my past to anyone. She’d left right after Gray because my first client for the day walked in.
Why was she here? Why had she come unannounced? Especially after she’d said she had no interest in visiting.
She wanted something. There was no other explanation. The only thing I had that she wanted was notoriety, and the ability to get the producers to film another show.
What would she do to get what she wanted? Would she tell everyone in town who I was, destroying my reputation, possibly my business? Would she make it so I had no choice but to return home? I couldn’t imagine leaving Telluride. It had become a safe haven for me. I hated that Alice was bringing my old life here.
I was walking on a tight rope, waiting for an explosion to go off. At any second, my whole world could implode. Everything I’d worked so hard for would disappear.
I wanted to go back to this morning, lying in bed with Gray, enjoying the safety of his arms around me. I’d never felt more content. It was all because of him and this town. I belonged here. It wasn’t a passing feeling or sentiment. I felt it down to my bones.
I’d do anything to get Alice to keep her mouth shut. She had learned one thing from the show: you capitalize on other people’s weaknesses to get what you want. I needed to pretend her visit didn’t affect me. That I wasn’t ashamed of my past.
My back ached with the weight of stress. Alice stayed out all day, not returning for lunch, to chat, or to hide out in my apartment.
I should have asked if she was here with anyone, and how long she intended to stay. I was so shocked at her arrival I couldn’t process anything but that I hadn’t spoken to Gray about my past. He had no idea. My fingers shook with the need to talk to him before she did.
I texted him before closing.
Elle: Can you meet up tonight?
Gray: I’m at the bar with Henry. Stop by after work.
Was Alice at the bar? Would she say anything to Gray? Fear slid col
d as ice down my spine. I was off-kilter, like when I was filming―my future being determined by producers, ratings, and the other castmates. My old life clashed with my new one. I mistakenly thought I could separate the old Elle from the new, but it wasn’t possible.
I shut the door after my last client, changing the sign from open to closed. Stress made my body feel energized yet at the same time exhausted. I cleaned up in record time, taking Crew for a quick walk. I felt bad for leaving him after being at work all day. I had to get to Gray before Alice did. I needed to control an uncontrollable situation, stop the train before it ran over unsuspecting pedestrians playing on the track.
I fed Crew, patting him on the head before leaving. Locking up, I walked to the bar, dread increasing with each step. Opening the heavy wooden door, I squinted, adjusting from the bright sun to the dimness of the bar, searching for Gray. Adrenaline coursed through my body leaving me shaky. I felt desperate to find him. My heart dropped when I saw him at a high-top table with Henry and Alice.
I made my way to him, searching for any sign she’d told him about my past. When our eyes met, he smiled, happy to see me. I took a deep breath trying to steady myself. I still had time.
He stood when I approached, pulling me in for a hug. I savored the feeling of his arms around me, wondering if it was the last time.
I leaned back to get a better look at him. “How were the showings?”
“Good. We found one that might be an option.” He exchanged a look with Henry I couldn’t decipher.