Page 35 of Promise You Forever

He runs the wand over her while I keep her distracted with snacks. “She’s definitely pregnant with at least two.” He looks at the screen for another minute. “Everything looks good for her.”

Eli’s brought Dorothy over, so he repeats everything with her. It turns out she’s also pregnant with twins. Eli peppers the vet with questions, some I could answer, but some I wouldn’t have been able to. She’s so curious, and as he gives her answers, I can almost see her locking away the information in her mind.

“Are you planning on relocating here?” Jack asks her as we’re walking him back to his truck.

“For the time being, yes.” Her answer is deliberately vague.

“Long distance with your fiancé?” he asks.

“How is that any of your business?” I snap.

He holds his hand up. “Sorry, you’re right. I’m just too curious for my own good.”

“It’s okay.” Eli shoots me a glare. “I’m the same way. And to answer your question, the man who gave me this ring is back in LA.”

I return her glare with one of my own. Something about the way she phrased her answer feels off. It was more of a deflection than an answer.

“Nice to meet you, Luke.” He waves as he gets into his truck. “I’m taking over livestock duties for Dr. Black, so if you need anything, call.”

“Will do.”

He’s not even halfway down the drive when Eli turns to me, anger flaring in her eyes. “What is your problem?”

“What do you mean?” I tilt my head.

“Don’t play innocent. You were a complete dickhead to him for asking a simple question.”

“A question that was none of his business.”

“He was just making conversation.”

“He was flirting.”

“He wasnot.” She tosses her hands up and turns away from me before turning right back around and poking her finger into my chest. “Even if he was, you don’t even use Brandon’s name, why would you care if someone was flirting with me?”

“I don’t give a fuck about Bobby.” I cover her hand with my own, pressing her palm flat against my chest and holding it there. “But if anyone is going to flirt with you, it’s going to be me.”

She swallows while a storm rages in her gunmetal eyes. “I hate you.”

“I don’t think you do,” I say quietly. “Denial is nothing but a defense mechanism. I know that better than anyone.” I lift my free hand to cup her cheek. Her eyelashes flutter as I run my thumb across her lower lip. Then she does the one thing that I know means she wants me to kiss her, the short, sudden intake of breath as her eyes slip to my mouth.

It feels like we’re locked in a tractor beam when our eyes meet again. I can’t tell who closes the distance first, but the moment my lips touch hers, I feel it through every inch of my soul. She presses her body against mine as her lips part, welcoming my tongue.

Her kiss feels like home.

My chest expands as her tongue moves against mine. Her free hand slides into my hair, knocking my hat off. I drop myhand from hers and bend down, grabbing the backs of her thighs and lifting her into my arms. She grinds her hips against mine and whimpers as I thrust against her. I spin us, carrying her around the side of the barn and pressing her back to the wood.

She drops her hands from my hair down to my chest, her fingers roaming over the shirt stretched tight against my muscles. They continue their exploration of my body, moving down lower toward my belt, and fuck if I’ve ever been this hard before. I feel like my dick could burst through my jeans.

I could take her right here. I know she’d let me.

Everything comes to a crashing halt, though, when Sam calls my name. She pulls away from me, dropping her legs from my waist and pushing me back. Her eyes are wide as saucers as she looks at me.

“We can’t do this.” She covers her swollen lips and runs, crossing the yard, and disappearing into the house.

After I adjust myself so the world doesn’t catch a glimpse of my hard on, I grab my hat off the ground and put it back on. She might say we can’t do this, but I know she wants it. I spent every waking moment with her that summer studying her. I’m fluent in the unspoken language of Eli Hart, and I’m not giving up on us.

“There you are,” Sam says as I round the corner.

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