Page 11 of Wrecked for Love
“I’m Claire.”
“I wasn’t too far off with Chili. Still starts with a C, right?” he said, almost with earnest persuasion.
I let him have his moment, thinking he had some kind of sixth sense. Honestly, he could have gotten away with anything right now. I felt a little ridiculous for threatening him earlier—just a bit. But given what I knew about people, my hypervigilance was more than justified.
In the dim, yellowish light, I could only guess that his eyes were brown. Not that it mattered. He was gorgeous. His face carried a grizzled charm, not the polished look of a model but something raw and weathered, the kind that could endure whatever nature threw at him.
If only I could explain why I was really here, maybe he’d understand. But that wasn’t an option. Not tonight.
So I silenced the voice in my head and agreed with him that Chili was as fitting a name as any.
He kept his distance respectfully, as if he sensed I needed space, but stayed close enough that I knew he was watching out for me. As his guest, I should do the same—keep things cordial and polite. But hands down, in my years of running, this host of mine was making me think about all sorts of things I shouldn’t be thinking about.
“And that handsome rascal is Koda,” Elia continued, nodding toward his dog, who was still pressed up against my side. “He’s getting on a bit, but I keep him close. The younger dogs are in the kennel.”
I crouched down, and Koda gave my face a quick lick, making me giggle. “He’s as handsome as his owner,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
Elia raised an eyebrow, amusement brushing his features, though he still seemed wary—like I was trying to lead him on. “I’ll take that as a compliment…for both of us,” he said with indifference.
We stood in silence for a while. He seemed deep in thought while I was…well, I wasn’t sure what I was doing other than trying not to collapse.
After a beat, he padded over to a cupboard.
“You’re soaked to the bone,” he said, throwing me a towel. “There’s hot water, take your time.”
I didn’t argue.
The shower was heaven, a welcome break from the cold. I let the heat work its magic, relaxing muscles I hadn’t realized were so tense.
When I stepped out, I found Elia waiting for me in the kitchen, a cup of tea already on the table. “For the road warrior,” he said, sliding the cup toward me.
“Road warrior now? What happened to Miss Chili Pepper?” I bantered, wrapping my hands around the mug and letting the warmth soak in.
He replied, “Road warriors get tea. Miss Chili Pepper? She gets salsa.”
Who knew? My host was capable of making me laugh. As if that wasn’t surprising enough, he was making me a sandwich, moving around the kitchen with the kind of casual grace that made it seem like he did this every day. He layered slices of cured beef on fresh bread, added a slice of cheese, and finished it off with a swipe of mustard.
“Figured you could use something decent to eat,” he said, tossing a glance my way. “It’s not exactly gourmet, but it’s something.”
“It’s more than enough. Seriously, thank you.” I took the sandwich from him and bit in. It was simple, but at this point, it could have been a five-course meal.
He gestured toward the dining table. Right. Of course. What was I thinking, eating while still standing?
As I ate and sipped my tea, the fog started to lift, the exhaustion easing—like I was finally starting to feel like myself again. Which version of “me”? I wasn’t exactly sure, but it felt like a good enough place.
“So,” he said, leaning back in his chair with casual curiosity. “Where’re you heading?”
I hesitated, keeping my face neutral. “Just heading west. Taking it one day at a time.”
He studied me for a second. “West is a big place. You’ve got a plan? Or are you just winging it?”
I took another sip of tea, trying to buy myself a moment. “I’ve got a direction.”
“And part of that direction involves pulling guns on strangers for gas?”
I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips. “I was desperate. Not exactly something I make a habit of.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “Must’ve been rough, though. You looked like you hadn’t eaten or slept in days.”
