Page 40 of Rough Ride

“Eli,” she said from behind clenched teeth.

“Yeah?” God, she smelled better than the food. There was something so intoxicating about her scent that he constantly found himself sniffing the air like a stallion scenting a mare in heat.

“Stop doing that!”

Eli shook his head. “What I am doing?”

“First, you were growling when Devon was talking to me.”

“I did not.”

“Yes, you did. There was a rumble sound and I know it was you. You have no right to get territorial about me.”

“I...”

He broke off when he realized he was about to admit to wanting that right. It was a good thing they were seated because there would be no doubt in her head just what he was thinking.

“Secondly, why are you acting like an idgit?”

He blinked. “A what?”

“Good lord. You’d think you didn’t have a brain in that pretty head of yours.”

“You think my head is pretty?” he asked. “I kind of like that.”

She rolled her eyes and moved away, but he stopped her. The baby stirred between them drawing his attention. Lizzy blinked open her eyes and stared right at him. Lord.

“She’s pretty, isn’t she?” Crysta asked.

“Yeah.” He looked up at Crysta. “Probably going to give Micah fits when she starts dating.”

She laughed. “I bet.”

He let her go because seeing her hold a baby had stirred feelings in him he hadn’t had. Ever. Being a foster kid made him his own man. He had no family, save Joe. Now that he was gone, Eli pretty much had no one. And that’s the way he had always liked it.

But now, he thought glancing at Crysta rocking the baby in her arms, he was wondering why starting a family had been something he never thought about before now.

* * *

Crysta tried to enjoy the night even with Eli acting like an ass. Truthfully, since his episode when she first started talking to Devon, he had behaved. It had been fun to just laugh and gossip. It had been so long since she’d had a night out like this; she didn’t realize how much she had missed it.

“So, the ladies say you’re going to Dupree’s tomorrow for lunch,” Micah said as he walked them to the door. Evan popped his head out of the kitchen. “Hey, are y’all already leaving? It’s early.”

Eli chuckled. “For you it is. Crysta and I work on a ranch, so we get up early.”

“Besides, both Dee and May want to show me Rough ‘n Ready tomorrow night. I need some beauty sleep.”

Micah chuckled and kissed her on the cheek. “We’ll give you the silver dollar tour.”

Evan stepped up, grabbed her and bent her at the waist. “It was very nice meeting you.”

He kissed her on the check as she giggled. He pulled her back up and handed her off to Eli, who did not look happy with the situation.

“Good night,” she said and stepped through the door.

“Give us a call tomorrow,” Micah said to Eli.

They were walking down the path to the rental car when Eli said, “So, you liked them?”

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