Page 71 of Love Finds Home

“I’m not sure that makes me feel better, Mr. Cross,” she quietly says, shuddering before going stiff beneath my fingers.

I share a look with Joker, shrugging my shoulder, but I don’t miss the quickness she removes herself from my touch and into Jorge’s arms. Jorge gives me a ‘told you’ look, and I have to admit, he might be right. Well, fuck that. I haven’t done anything to get the cold shoulder, and I don’t do well with miscommunication. I’ve read enough of Trish’s romance books to know that’s where the third act breakup happens and then the guy has to grovel for forgiveness before they live happily ever after, and that’s not going to happen here. A simple conversation would have solved almost every one of those breakups and I might be an asshole, but I don’t like not knowing why someone is pissed off at me.

Daniel and Joker stay behind with Jorge to call the local cops and I put Elle in my truck and drive her back to her townhouse. The plan is to head back to Boulder Canyon tomorrow, and a part of me wonders if Elle is going to change her mind and decide to stay here. I don’t force her to talk, and she doesn’t offer any words of wisdom, and by the time we make it to her garage, I’m on edge and itching to show her why she’s mine.

As soon as we’re through the door, Elle tries to escape. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Hold up a minute.”

“No, really, I just—”

“I asked you to hold up a damn minute. Can you do that for me, please?”

“Look, you don’t have to—”

“I don’t have to do shit, but I want to know what the fuck is going on in that gorgeous head of yours that you’ve decided I’m a pariah.”

She spins on me, her eyes shiny and her cheeks flushed. “I don’t know, Ranger. Why would I decide that? Maybe to protect myself.”

“From what?”

“From you!” she explodes. “You make me feel all the things, Jonathan. Things I don’t necessarily want to feel, but I can’t help it when you’re around. When you look at me. Touch me. But you feel nothing for me, and that’s fine. I’m not the person to talk you into doing anything you don’t want to do or feeling anything you don’t want to feel. But don’t expect me to just become a fucking emotionless robot!” She wipes under her eyes before throwing her head back and growling. “And damn these fucking tears. I’m not sad. I’m angry!”

As soon as she’s finished, the lightbulb goes off in my head. “Elle,” I try, but she shakes her head. “Elenore,” I try again, to no reply. “Tink. Look at me,” I demand. I wait until she finally makes eye contact. “You heard me tell Joker I felt nothing, but not who I felt nothing about,” I tell her in a softer tone.

“Wha—what do you mean?” she whispers.

“I mean, Joker was asking what I felt when he said Vanessa’s name. Not yours. I feel nothing when I hear her name now.”

I cup her face, my thumbs wiping the angry tears away.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” I smile at her. “And the next question you have is what do I feel when I hear your name?” She slowly nods her head. “When I hear your name, my heart beats. That thing has been dead for so long, it still scares me sometimes. My palms twitch with wanting to touch you when we’re in the same room.” I lean closer, my lips on the edge of hers. “And when you look at me,I feel like I could climb a mountain. I feel like you’d be worth trying for again.”

“Jonathan,” she breathes against my lips. “Kiss me. Please?”

It’s not a declaration. It’s too soon for that. But it’s a request I’m more than happy to fulfill. “My pleasure.”

I do exactly as she requested and bring her lips to mine, pulling her to me and angling her head just where I want it. My blood boils with want. Her hands roam my arms, my back, squeezing my ass. I pull back and swing her up into my arms.

“What are you doing?” she squeals.

“You said you wanted a shower. I’m taking you to the shower.”

“What?” she laughs. “No, we don’t have to—”

“If my girl wants a shower, a shower she will get.”

“Your girl?” she asks, all laughter gone and a seriousness about her.

“Mine,” I growl into her ear. “You’ve been mine, and now you know it.”

“Yours.” She nods, a small smile tilting up the edges of her lips. “But we really don’t need to go to the shower.”

There she is, my Tink with the attitude.

“Oh, I disagree,” I tell her, sitting her on the sink and kissing her again. “I plan on getting very dirty with you, and a shower is just what we need.”

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