Embracing Ellie: K&S Securities Series

by A. J. Andersen

  Wanting to get done as quickly as possible, I gather the sheets and drop them in a pile by the door and step into the bathroom. The spicy male aroma is stronger in here! With a small groan, I gather up the used towels and add them to the pile in the bedroom before returning to hang up fresh ones. Now for the bed.

  Blowing out a quivery breath I return to the bedroom, and he’s there. Right there by the darn bed. Oh my-Lanta! He looks so good, stubble darkening his jaw, flannel shirt with rolled back sleeves untucked over a tight t-shirt. He looks perfect. More flipping perfect than any man I’ve ever seen in my life.

  “Ready?” his deep voice rumbles, making me squeak in surprise even though I knew he was right there. Ugh! Why? I used to not be this lame. I used to know how to act around boys, men… whatever. Blake is, without a doubt, all man, and I have no idea how to act around him.

  “Yes.” I rush to fill the expectant silence stretching between us. He grins, a sexy little twist of his lips that shows a quick flash of dimples in his cheeks that I definitely wasn’t expecting. Dimples too? How perfect can one man be?

  “So am I,” he prompts, raising an eyebrow at me and looking pointedly at the clean sheets that he must have tossed on the bed while I was in the bathroom.

  “Oh. Yeah. Sorry,” I mumble, reaching for the fitted sheet and snapping it out over the mattress with a practiced move. He grabs a corner and together we put it on the bed, followed by the rest of the bedding.

  Stuffing the pillows into new cases, I dare a glance in his direction. He’s moved to lean against the door jamb, silently observing the stiff movements of my wooden limbs. I think I’ve developed a crush on my boss’ friend. Business associate, whatever he is. This is so not good. I’ve got to get out of here.

  “Well, there you go,” I chirp in an overly high voice, scooping the laundry up off the floor and moving swiftly to get out of his bedroom. Out of his apartment. I need to get away from him and back to Faye’s so I can help her and then get back to my regular work downstairs.

  I cannot be alone with this man again. I just can’t. Not when it makes me feel confused and completely out of sorts.

  Chapter Nine

  Blake

  That didn’t go as planned. Not that I exactly had a plan. I’m not sure what spooked her, but whatever it was sends her racing back to Faye who is watching us from her doorway with a smirk on her lips. I hated watching her clean up after me even though all she did was change the sheets and pick up used towels. It wasn’t so bad when I was helping her, but I don’t ever want her to do it again without me by her side.

  “Why do you look so flustered?” Faye’s laughing voice reaches my ears, but I can’t hear Ellie’s reply as the door closes behind them.

  I can’t put my finger on what it is about Ellie that draws me to her. I’ve never wanted to be near anyone as much as I want to be around her. It’s more than just her gorgeous face and trim little body, although I’m not complaining about her physical beauty. It’s the aura of sweetness and kindness that clings to her. She radiates goodness and I want it for myself.

  I want her, but I’m pretty sure that I terrify her. Gonna have to figure out how to get past that. I really should have set her straight when she assumed that I had the power to get her fired. Even if I could, there is no way in hell that I would ever do anything that would cause her a single moment of stress. In fact, right now the biggest problem on my mind is how to get rid of the douche who is making her miserable at work. I should be thinking about Dominic Cerelli and helping Xavier pin down where he’s hiding. It’s part of what he’s hired Travis and me to do, but every time I catch sight of the petite girl with hair the color of dark chocolate, I have a hard time remembering that.

  After watching Faye close the door behind them, I do another walk through of the casino. There are areas that I have already identified as possible security issues, the biggest one being the main housekeeping area. There are doors that lead directly outside, into an alley, and there are always people coming and going. It’s likely to be the easiest area for someone unwanted to gain entry. Travis and I have a plan to make it more secure, but it’s going to take time to implement. New electronic locks that will require an individual code for each employee will be the first thing we set up. I just need to get Xavier’s approval.

  When I find myself going back in through the housekeeping area, instead of just going to the street and in through the front doors, which would be quicker, I have to admit to myself that I’m hoping for another glimpse of the girl who’s captured my attention. She isn’t there, of course. That’s no surprise since she’s bound to still be working upstairs. Needing to kill some time, I take a detour through the café. I discovered that fuck, Lawrence, is in charge there too and there’s never a bad time to gather intel.

  I can’t stop my grin when I start to slip into an empty seat at the long, wood topped counter and notice Ellie in a corner booth with Ana and Faye. Her delicate hands cradle a steaming mug and there’s a slice of pie on the table in front of her. It’s the first time I’ve seen a genuine smile on her face. She looks happy. It looks good on her. In that instant I know it’s one that I want to see every day. No matter what, I’m going to be the guy who gives her that happiness. There isn’t anything that could make me happier.

  I just need to figure out the best way to accomplish it.

  Not wanting to intrude on their girl time I turn to leave.

  “Elinor, aren’t you supposed to be working somewhere?” The contempt-laced words snap through the room, halting my departure. Turning back, I ease down into the chair at the counter to wait.

  “It’s my break time, Lawrence.” The meek tone is back in her voice. The one I hate to hear. The one that illustrates that she believes she’s beneath this man even though he isn’t worthy to breathe the same air as my angel. I hate bullies. Being the new kid every few months as I bounced between foster homes always made me a prime target for them. Once I got big enough, I swore I’d never sit back and let anyone get away with hurting someone just because they can.

  “No Elinor, your break was over two minutes ago. Now get back to work before I report you to Margot. You people are so lazy.” He mutters the last under his breath, but I hear him and my loathing for the man increases. The looks of disgust on her friends’ faces say that they heard his slur too.

  Ellie rises to her feet, tan cheeks flaming red, murmuring an abashed apology to Ana and Faye. She hurries past me with her eyes locked on the floor. She doesn’t even notice me, or if she does, she pretends she doesn’t. The pain in my knee slows me down, but I catch up to her before she pushes through the doors into housekeeping. Reaching out, I grasp her elbow to stop her forward dash and turn her to face me.

  “Are you okay?” My voice is rough, exposing the anger burning in my gut. My need to destroy the weakling who put despair and humiliation on my girl’s face. Yes, my girl. Mine! And I’ll be damned if I’m going to walk away while there are tears glittering in the dark pools of her eyes.

  She nods once, sniffling and blinking back her tears.

  “What did he mean when he called you lazy?” Not my smoothest move, but I’m rusty when it comes to talking to women, and I hate unanswered questions. Him saying it bothered me because I know what he meant, I just want her to confirm it.

  “I...” she hesitates then starts over. “He thinks because I’m Latina that I’m lazy.” She shrugs helplessly, then whispers, “I’m not, he’s just racist.”

  A racist who still wants to bang her. I knew he was a piece of shit; I just didn’t realize how much of one.

  “It’s obvious to anyone who pays attention that you’re a hard worker, Ellie.” Damn! That sounded a little creepy, didn’t it?

  She doesn’t look disturbed by my words though, for the first time she looks squarely into my eyes and smiles. My clumsy words made her happy! I swear my heart stops beating for an endless moment and when it starts again it belongs only to her.

  “Thank you.” Sh
e whispers, her dainty fingers reaching out to touch mine. When she realizes what she is doing she pulls back quickly, but not before the feel of her gentle caress is burned into my skin.

  “I need to…” she flutters a nervous hand toward the heavy double doors, “get back to work. Thank you, Blake.”

  I’m still standing there, replaying her smile and the soft graze of her hand against mine when she pushes through the doors and vanishes from sight. Yep. She’s mine. The only thing I need is a plan.

  Chapter Ten

  Ellie

  I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to stand up against Loser Larry. He’s a bully and I know that if you let a bully push you around, they won’t stop. It’s even worse because I know that I’m not the only one he does this to. I know that if even one of us would stand up to him the rest would, but everyone is so scared they’ll lose their jobs that they won’t say anything. I need this job. I’ve only been working here for the last year. Before housekeeping I was working part-time at a bookstore and chipping away at classes, working toward my teaching degree.

  I’m try not to dwell on it though. It is what it is. I just wish Larry hadn’t chosen today to pick on me. I know that Ana understands, she had to deal with him before she married Mr. Cerelli, but I am just getting to know Faye and it was humiliating being talked to that way. Especially since I hadn’t done anything wrong. Ana and Faye had looked angry on my behalf, but all I could think about was getting away from him which meant getting away from them.

  I didn’t expect to turn around to make my escape and discover that Blake had been there to witness the whole thing. Knowing that he saw Lawrence talking to me that way, again, while I said nothing to defend myself makes the entire situation even more distressing. Then he followed me to make sure I was okay. That was so sweet of him. No one has checked on me that way in ages. At home everything is about Lizzie and Auggie, as it should be, and at work I try not to let anyone see that maybe, just maybe, I need someone to ask if I’m okay. Tina’s the only one has ever noticed that I’m not always okay.

  I’m too young to feel so defeated by life. Is it too much to ask that, occasionally, I just get to be a normal girl my age?

  Ugh! Now I’m just being whiney, and I hate whining. It’s time to get back to work and stop feeling sorry for myself. Everyone knows that Lawrence is a jerk and that his opinion about me doesn’t matter to anyone but him.

  I’m on bathroom duty again, so I gather up the supplies I need. I don’t have it that bad, despite the rare pity party I throw myself. I have a decent paying job that provides insurance, family and a home. There are so many people who have it so much worse than I do. I shouldn’t complain. At the end of the day I’ll go home to people who love me, and I know the value of that. Not everyone can say that. I’m sure Larry goes home to an empty house. I should remember to keep that in mind the next time he’s being mean to me. It might help me keep perspective, but I doubt it. Being lonely isn’t an adequate reason for being hateful.

  He thinks if he pushes hard enough that I’ll sleep with him. That’s not going to happen. Not in a million years. I will quit and work somewhere else first. I’ve already been checking the want ads in the paper, knowing that I might have to make that decision if things don’t improve. This is Vegas, there are always jobs in hotels and casinos and it just so happens that I have experience working in them. I even think Ms. Smith would give me a good recommendation, I just wouldn’t be able to list waitressing on an application because there’s no way to predict what Lawrence might do to mess up any opportunity that comes my way. I’m okay with that. I haven’t enjoyed waitressing all that much, if I’m being honest.

  When I push my heavy cart back out into the hall, I’m half-expecting Blake to still be standing there waiting for me. Instead it’s Ana and Faye. Ana’s face is scrunched in a fierce frown. Faye just looks worried.

  “Elinor!” she snaps, throwing her hands into the air in frustration. “Why did you run off like that? You know that you gave him just what he was looking for.”

  I can’t argue. She’s right. I did give him exactly what he wanted. A reaction. I should have just ignored him. Any reaction feeds his need to intimidate, and by running away I handed all my power over to him. I have no doubt that things are only going to get worse now.

  “I know,” my sigh is resigned. “I just didn’t want to sit there while he made a scene in front of the whole café.”

  Ana’s giggle takes me by surprise, I didn’t think it was funny, “You wanna hear about Larry making a scene?” she asks, chuckling harder. Faye and I both nod, distracted by her burst of humor.

  “Loser Larry was hitting on Heather last night in the lounge,” she starts laughing even harder. “I guess she put him in his place!” Still giggling hard, she suddenly crosses her legs and gasps. “I’ve gotta pee!” she hurries toward the nearest ladies’ room, leaving Faye and me standing in the hall.

  “After what I just saw I’m glad someone put that jerk in his place. I’m just not sure why it was so funny,” Faye says, looking at me with a confused expression. I guess she hasn’t met Heather yet.

  My own small laugh bubbles out when I think about it, “It’s because he’s, well, you’ve seen him,” I say a little meanly. “Heather is gorgeous. One of those tall girls with a curvy figure and long strawberry blonde hair. You know the type.” She nods, because don’t we all know the type? Perfect.

  “So, not the kind of woman who would give him a second look? Ever?” Faye clarifies.

  “Not even if she dated men.” I finally burst out with a wholehearted laugh, the humor of it really hitting me as I voice the words. “Her girlfriend is an equally perfect brunette named Julie, and Jules is super territorial about Heather! She gets all up in anyone’s face if she thinks they are looking at her girlfriend wrong. It’s actually kind of sweet.”

  Faye sputters, trying to formulate a response. It’s just that funny. It really is.

  “Oh, that’s freakin’ amazing! And she told him off in the lounge? In front of a bunch of people I’m guessing?”

  “Must have,” I shrug because I don’t know, but I’m absolutely going to ask Heather about it the next time I see her! Together we walk in the direction Ana disappeared. I push my cart ahead of us. I have to clean in there anyway. Might as well get started while I visit with the girls. I have girls! Talk about Amazing.

  Ana is walking out into the hall as we approach. “Sorry about that. Someone is standing on my bladder today.” She smiles fondly, rolling her eyes as she pats her round belly. “You wanna know the best thing about the whole Larry/Heather thing?” She asks like our conversation had never been interrupted. Faye and I both giggle at her enthusiasm for her story and say yes at the same time, which makes us all giggle more. It feels so good.

  “Blake was there and saw the whole thing! I guess Geno saw it go down from the security cameras and let X know too. X said that Blake had mentioned something about Larry being shitty to the waitresses, so now they are watching him. He won’t be around for much longer.”

  “Will they be fitting him with cement shoes and dumping him off of Hoover Dam?” I can’t help but quip.

  Faye snorts and covers her mouth with her hand. “Sorry,” she mumbles, “I just had a mental picture…” she doesn’t finish her thought because she is too busy trying to hold back her laughter.

  Ana rolls her eyes, “Ha ha. You’re so funny Ellie.” I know I am. I guess I just forgot for a little while. Impulsively I hug my friend.

  “I’m so happy you’re home, Ana,” I mumble into her soft blonde hair.

  “So am I, Ell.”

  “Can I get in on this?” Faye asks, squeezing in between us and wrapping an arm around each of us. “I’m feeling a little left out.” Her words make us all release more peals of laughter and when they finally leave me alone to do my work my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. It’s awesome to have friends. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed goofing off like that. It makes me long
for those days with Lizzie. She had always been my best friend, but since her accident things have been so different... but I’m not going to think about that today.

  Chapter Eleven

  Blake

  It’s time to talk to Xavier about Lawrence again. I’ve been giving him time alone with Ana, but what I have to say shouldn’t take long. Taking my cell out of my pocket I tap out a quick text, confirming that he’s in his office today. Considering that I just saw Ana in the café, I know it’s a good bet. His response is almost immediate.

  On my way down. Meet me in the lounge in five.

  Replying with a quick affirmative I head in that direction, hoping to find an available booth where we can talk without interruption. I’m in luck, and slide into the last open booth just as the server finishes wiping it down.

  “Well, hi there, handsome,” she simpers, batting her heavily gooped eyelashes at me. Why do women do that? Both the insane amount of mascara and the rapid blinking. It does nothing for me.

  Returning her eager smile with a tight one of my own I order, “A couple of draft beers, please.” I’m sure that X will have a beer with me, even if it is only a little after noon. The waitress prances away shaking her ass, but I hardly even notice as I sit back to wait for Xavier.

  “Hey,” he greets, sliding into the booth across from me as the waitress returns and sets a pair of frosty pint glasses down in front of us.

  “Mr. Cerelli,” she gasps with surprise when she sees him. “Is there anything else I can get for you?” Her voice is professional now, not a trace of the flirtation coloring her words.

  “You hungry?” he asks me.