Page 40 of Wrecked for Love
“You too.” I gave him a quick hug. After that Koda-interrupted kiss, I had hoped we might pick up where we left off, but something had shifted in him.
With his head lowered, he slowly made his way back to his truck, clearly lost in thought. Then, scanning the dimming horizon, he turned and said, “You know what? I’ll drive with you.”
“Oh, a special escort?” I tried to sound casual, but the joy in my tone gave me away.
“It’s late. And I just want to make sure you get home safe.”
“Okay.”
We drove in tandem, and soon enough, we arrived at The Willow.
I turned to Elia as he pulled up in front of the cottage. “Hey, you wanna come in for a bit? I make a pretty mean coffee,” I offered with a smile.
He smiled back, but there was something else there, something hesitant. “Maybe next time,” he said, his voice polite but carrying an undertone I couldn’t quite place.
I stepped out of the truck, and he met me there, though he didn’t follow when I headed to the front door. “You’re scared of the ghosts, aren’t you?” I leaned against the jamb, side-smiling at him.
His grin widened just a bit. “Yeah, maybe a little.”
I strode back toward him, thinking I might change his mind. But then he added, more sincerely, “Good to see you again, Claire.” He leaned in and gave me a soft peck on the cheek so quickly I barely had time to process it.
“Good to see you too, Elia.” My arms wanted to reach for him, to hold on to him a bit longer, but I let him go. “And thanks again for taking care of my necklace.”
He nodded, hopping back into his truck and restarting the engine. But before driving off, he rolled down the window. “Hey, Claire!” he called out.
“Yeah?” I replied.
“So, your urge to kill me has passed, I take it?”
I tilted my head, acknowledging his clever remark. “I don’t kill the good ones. You’re safe. For now.”
“In that case, how about a date?”
I crossed my arms, giving him a mock-serious look. “What, with the ghosts of The Willow as chaperones?”
He laughed. “I’ll bring the holy water.”
“Better bring garlic too,” I said. “Just in case.”
He shook his head, still grinning. “So, how about it?”
I pretended to consider it for a moment, drawing out the suspense. “Fine.”
“Super!” he called out, then drove off, honking the horn as he went.
As I watched him disappear down the road, I reminded myself why I was here in the first place. Not that I needed reminding. I knew my nightmare was far from over. At the first sign of Gideon Purcell and The Revenants making their move, I’d be gone.
But damn. Elia and I had something. It was more than just the usual boy-meets-girl spark. Maybe it wasn’t the most conventional start, but it felt like things were falling into place.
16
ELIA
I’d checked the weather and made sure everything was set for our date. Now, I was heading out to pick Claire up. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been on a proper date. Not that I’d missed the dating part, but the company of a good woman? That I definitely missed. Hell, any rancher would. The last time I’d been in a serious relationship was back in my early twenties. Then came Log’s string of matchmaking disasters, and since then, I’d made it a point to steer clear of dates altogether.
Even though tonight was more about enjoying Claire’s company than actual courting, it didn’t stop the barnyard flutters from stirring up in my stomach. It wasn’t the date that made me edgy—it was Claire. And her choosing The Willow as her home? That just added another layer.
I hadn’t set foot inside that cottage in over ten years. Even when I dropped her off the other day, just standing outside had taken effort. But I could see the changes she’d made. The yellow curtains, the cushions on the porch chairs, the vase of sunflowers—it was brighter than I’d ever seen it. A bit too much yellow for my taste, but the place was now filled with happiness—only her happiness.
