Page 79 of Perfect Imperfections

“Nice meeting you, Ginger Snaps.”

Cam raised one dark cinnamon eyebrow but said nothing. She tucked the bird in her arms, turned and headed out a door he assumed led to the outside enclosure.

“What the heck was that all about?” Ellie whispered to him as she stood by his side again.

“I think my brother just met his match and I gotta say, I’m going to enjoy your friend taking him down a peg or two.”

Ellie scoffed. “Cam wouldn’t do that. She’s the sweetest person ever.”

To Ellie maybe, and he’d throw her a parade for that fact alone, but to horndogs like his brother, the woman obviously gave no quarter. He loved Gavin. The guy was a great brother and a fantastic uncle, but he’d always been lacking in the relationship department. It’d be nice to see a woman get the upper hand on his little brother for once. Let the man know he wasn’t God’s gift to all women the way he assumed.

“Awww, I didn’t get to feed him.”

Charlotte’s pouty voice caused Sullivan to look down into the disappointed face of his daughter. He was just about to give her a speech on being thankful for what she had—come on, how many people got private tours with actual animal interaction—when Ellie wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“I know, sweetie. But don’t worry. I have a big surprise for you.”

“A surprise?” Her tiny, round face lit up. “Really?”

“Really.” Ellie nodded.

“When do I get it?”

Ellie laughed. The sound did strange things to Sullivan’s chest. Warm, squishy things he wasn’t sure he was prepared for.

“How about right now?”

“Yes!”

He had no idea what was coming next, but between the enthusiasm in his daughter’s steps and the joy in Ellie’s eyes, he’d follow these two anywhere. The thought made him pause, but he soon found himself being dragged along and out the door.

They headed out of the aviary through a back door leading to another door that took them into a very large, very smelly building.

“Stinky!” Charlotte complained, wrinkling her tiny nose.

“Yes, I know. But I think the smell will be worth it once you see—”

An extremely loud trumpeting sound interrupted Ellie. Sullivan turned his head to see far into the large space, at the back end, what looked like the entire side of the wall had opened and an enormous, grey elephant was currently making its way inside.

They were all currently standing behind a mid-height concrete wall so they could see the animal but had a modicum of safety. One glance down to his daughter’s face and he saw the wall meant nothing. Charlotte’s eyes sparkled like emerald gems, shiny with overwhelming elation.

“Is that a real live elephant?”

Ellie crouched down, placing her hands on his daughter’s shoulders. “It sure is, sweetie.”

“Can I ride him?”

“Her,” Ellie corrected. “And they don’t really like to be ridden, but I have some special branches here, and I bet we can get Tia to come over for a snack. Would you like to feed her?”

“Yes, please.”

The words were whispered out in a hush of awe. He knew his daughter hadn’t expected a moment like this. He didn’t even know how to repay Ellie for this once in a lifetime memory he knew she was giving his daughter. This was a dream, Charlotte’s dream, and Ellie had somehow managed to secure it.

I love her.

The words whispered in his head, but he dismissed them. No. He was just in awe of her. Grateful for the unique and astounding opportunity she’d provided for his daughter. He was grateful to her, enjoyed her company, liked her immensely. But he couldn’t love her. He’d lost too many people he loved. It was hard enough worrying about something happening to Charlotte or Gavin. He couldn’t add another person into the mix. The worry would kill him before he was fifty. He couldn’t survive another loss, and he damn well wouldn’t do that to Charlotte.

“Holy crap, Ellie,” Gavin exclaimed. “This is amazing.”

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