Page 74 of Love Finds Home

Tiny: I missed my Half-Pint. Other than that, it was bliss.

Ranger: What’s our next plan with Elle and her problem?

Joker: Still working on it. Coming to see you when we know something.

Ranger: Good to know.

The Girls

Trish: Uhh, Davis just said someone texted the group about being with someone else, and I’m a little upset that someone didn’t tell us herself.

Lottie: Tiny just told me.

Ginny: What? What’d I miss?

Trish: Elle…

Lottie: Elle…

Ginny: Oh, my God, Elle? What’s wrong with Elle?

Elle: Other than my muscles are a little sore from being overworked, oh, and someone is out to ruin my life, nothing’s wrong with Elle.

Ginny: What am I missing then?

Elle: So…Ranger and I…

Ginny: Shut. The. Fuck. Up. Seriously??

Elle: Yeah.

Trish: And I had to hear it from Davis!

Lottie: Tiny might have gotten a little emotional. His found brother dating his real sister? He just couldn’t keep it all inside with how happy he is.

Elle: Oh, no. Sappy Tiny? Tell him to stay away unless you want two Workmans in tears.

Trish: LOL. Writing that one down for future use.

Elle: Gotta go. Ranger’s looking at me like he wants to devour me. Talk later!

Chapter 27

Elle

We’ve fallen into aroutine. We returned to Boulder Canyon early in the week and it felt like coming home. I never thought I’d miss this little slice of heaven in the mountains, but I did. There’s nothing for me in the city anymore. Jorge can run the gallery just fine and maybe we’ll get a resident artist in the studio I never want to step foot in again.

But this—this place—is where I’m supposed to be.

There haven’t been any flowers or dead petals left on my doorstep. I haven’t seen any strange people lurking about. But I don’t really have to keep watch. Ranger is doing that for me. And I guess it’s out. Everyone knows. Of course, it was after he claimed me as his. What a man.

Joker is supposed to be stopping by the shop later today to go over the information they found. So that’s where I’m headed. Figure I’ll bother Ranger until Joker gets there.

“Elle! How you doing, Doll?” Barbie greets me when I walk down the stairs into the shop.

“Hanging in, how you doing, Barb”

“Can’t complain. Wouldn’t do me any good, anyway, would it?”