Page 44 of The Naughty Elf

He practically purrs as I let my hands sweep over him again. His arousal is clear against the inside of my thigh. So many daydreams pour through my mind before I sit up. I could get used to the way he looks at me first thing in the morning.

The wayhelooks first thing…delicious.

But it’s time to start the day before I do something stupid.

The cold air outside nips at my exposed skin the moment I unzip the flap. The sun just peeks over the horizon as I climb out with a supportive hand on my ass. I laugh and turn to find Sawyer crawling out behind me. He closes Gracie inside to keep her warm without his body heat.

That man is a furnace.

But when I step into the campsite, my heart sinks. “Oh no.”

Our food is spread everywhere. It’s all ruined. Nothing is salvageable. My heart sinks, and when I turn back to the tent, I see my daughter’s rosy face peeking out. Her eyes are wide and watery.

The tears are falling before I get to her.

19

SAWYER

Gracie’s tears strike me right between the ribs, and I freeze as Ginger goes to her, wiping her tears away and tucking her daughter into her chest. The sight squeezes me even harder.

I want these two to be part of my life. I should have expected to enjoy Gracie’s company, given how much I enjoy her mother’s. She’s made it easy for me so far, given I don’t have much experience with kids.

But watching her cry makes me feel useless.

Redirecting myself, I start the clean-up, shoving the ruined and scattered food into a trash bag. I find the rope severed from the pulley system Bennett installed in the nearby tree. Something big got a hold of it, and we were lucky it didn’t come sniffing around our tent. I can only imagine the fearthatwould have caused for everyone.

Ginger is sitting with Gracie and rubbing her back so tenderly. I love seeing how close they are, despite the fact that Gracie is a tween.

I wish I could help. The strain and worry coiled within her is obvious, but she doesn’t even glance my way as she sits withher daughter, supporting her. They’re so beautiful together. It makes me wish I had children.

That thought surprises me, and I wipe a hand down my face. How on earth would I raise a child? I barely know how to be nice to my employees, let alone kids.

Wiping a hand down my face, I shake my head. I’ve hardly ever entertained the thought of having a wife—or, more, finding a woman who could put up with me long-term. With my silence. My need to be hands-on.

Not that I found a lot of women opposed to those traits, but usually, if they didn’t mind, they tried to take over and run my life. That didn’t do it for me either. Which meant that I was simply uninterested most of the time.

And then, there’s Ginger, who became an obsession the moment she stepped onto my job site.

She’s stood up again, and is walking around looking at the damage. I move closer, picking up a stray package of hotdogs.

“We’re going to put our brave faces on now, right? The animals left a mess, but they’re gone. We know we can catch some fish, so why don’t we do that, eat, and then go back to the car?” Ginger holds her daughter’s cheeks in her palms as Gracie plays with her red hair.

I’d done the same thing not long ago.

“Can we eat cake when we get home?” Her voice is small but calm. I’m glad her tears have stopped.

The two of them look so much alike, although Gracie’s hair is more blonde than red. Ginger’s is auburn, redder in the sun. Both of their cheeks are dotted with freckles, and they have the same small nose.

Ginger smiles at her, and Gracie’s smile grows slowly in reply. As if she can’t help it.

“Of course,” Ginger says, smoothing her daughter’s hair back.

I step closer again, bringing myself down to her level, too. “Want to teach me how to fish?”

A new smile sprouts across her face, and I watch her spirits lift. “Sure.”

Nodding, I smile at her and she returns the smile. It’s sweet, and different than the kind of affection I’m used to exchanging with others.

---