Page 23 of Protected By the Surly Carpenter

“Hell yeah,” I snort. “Out here we obey both the written laws and the unwritten ones. And those include not screwing around with our townsfolk.”

“But I’m not really townsfolk. I mean, I was going to just be passing through for a few months. But now…”

My poor sweet girl looks so lost. Holding her close, my lips graze her temple. “How about this? You stay here with me for a couple of weeks. Then we’ll know for sure that you’re safe and that your father has given up.” I kiss my way over to her ear. “Then, if you’re enjoying it here and feel like this is a good place for you, you stay a few more weeks. Then a few more. And a few more.”

Leaning back to study her expression, I expect a little smile. Instead, Elena’s bottom lip is wobbling.

“What is it, baby? If it’s too much too soon, we can keep looking for an apartment for you. I won’t be offended.”

She starts to cry again, then hiccups. That makes her laugh for a second, thank goodness. Finally, after she catches her breath, her eyes drop closed. “It’s just, every single time in my life I’ve been sure of anything,” she whispers, “it’s been taken away from me. Dad went from normal to distant to psycho, then disappeared. My life changed from normal teenager to someone who had to work all the time. Then Mom died. Then all this crap about a safety deposit box. I just assume that it will be taken away from me as well, whatever’s in it. And then…”

“Oh, baby.” My fingers thread through the back of her hair. “Are you afraid I’m going anywhere?”

“Well… It would certainly follow the pattern.”

If it weren’t for the fact that sitting curled up on the kitchen floor is pretty much the most unromantic place for a proposal I can think of, I’m ready to ask her right now. Instead, I shift my legs to stand up while still holding her, then sit her on the kitchen counter.

“What can I do or say that will make you believe that I want to be yours forever?” Our eyes are level as she stares at me in disbelief. “Yeah, I know. It’s too early to say things like that. I don’t care. You’re the light of my life. The woman I’ve been waiting and hoping for. The perfect woman for me. As far as I’mconcerned, this is a done deal. But you’ve just had one hell of a scare and you might be all rattled. What if we just put all the heavy talk on hold for now, and do nothing but relax you for the rest of the night, okay?”

Her palm strokes my beard, and I lean into her hand purring like a cat. Well, a cat with a bass-baritone voice, maybe.

“You know, for a guy with resting grumpy face, you really are the sweetest man I’ve ever met.”

My finger presses to her lips. “Ahem. That’s a secret. Don’t tell a soul.” Lifting her by the waist, I set her down, then bring the candles out from the kitchen and light them on the dining room table. “Every time we burn these candles, I want you to think of it as a victory.”

She nods. “You got it.”

I pull out her chair, and she sits down, dabbing at her eyes with a napkin. “What should we toast to?”

I sit and lift my glass. “I want to be all serious and say this is the beginning of forever. That’s not very light. So how about… To the best cook who’s ever lived in this house?”

Elena’s laugh rings out through the room. “And the very best and sexiest sous chef I’ve ever had.”

She thinks I’m sexy. She’s not afraid of me talking about forever. And most importantly, my beautiful girl’s tears are dry. She’s smiling.

I think she’s beginning to understand that she really is all mine.

14

ELENA

* One Week Later *

Pacing through the living room, I absentmindedly move Clark’s little globe ornament up one shelf so it’s closer to my eye level. I love thatheloves it when I do anything to make myself more at home here.

So much for mountain life being slow-paced and peaceful. Okay, it’s mellow in some ways, but in others, everything has been a whirlwind.

At Clark’s suggestion I asked for set hours at Jim’s Pizza, and now I’m working Thursday and Friday nights till close, but only until six on Saturday. That way I can avoid the rowdier Saturday night crowd. Plus, he drives me to and from work.

He swears that it’s just for a few months until we’re sure Dad is really gone, but I also think he wants to be seen with me as much as possible so that everyone knows I’m his girl.

It’s totally territorial, and it might not be for everyone, but Iadoreit.

He’s also rearranged his work schedule so that he can use the home office Thursdays and Fridays, but I’ll have it Mondaythrough Wednesday. I’ve contacted my previous clients to let them know that I’m expanding my client roster, if they would like to refer my services to their friends.

I don’t want a packed work schedule for the next little bit. Clark and I have been completely immersed in the project of getting to know each other through and through. It’s a fascinating process. Every meal, we delve into another corner of our lives and share everything.

It all makes me fall more and more for my sexy carpenter.

---