Page 7 of Horoscope to Love
4
MATILDA
To say the ride back to Ellis’s house was uncomfortable is an understatement. The tension in the truck's cab could be cut with a knife.
After his little under the breath comment back at the doctor’s office, Ellis didn’t say another word until we pulled to a stop in front of the old Victorian.
“You live here?” I ask, breaking the silence that had settled over us like a wet blanket.
“Of course.”
"No." I shake my head. "The person that lives here is Madame Zodiac, unless—" I turn to look at him curiously.
“Who is this Madame so and so you keep talking about.” He throws his hands up in frustration. “You keep acting like that is me, but I don’t know who you are talking about it.”
“When did I call you Madame Zodiac?” I ask.
"Not long after, you took a header into the post in my front room."
“So you’re aren’t her?”
“Who?”
“Madame Zodiac.”
He runs his hands over his face in frustration. “I have no idea what the hell you are talking about. How hard did you hit your head?”
The pain from my stitches and the goose egg that accompanied it starts to throb, and I close my eyes. I want nothing more than to lay down and rest, but I'm here to do a job, and I don't have time to waste.
“Are you okay?” Ellis asks quietly next to me.
I rub tiny circles on my temples, but it does little to help with the pain. "I'm just tired."
“Doc said that’s to be expected.”
"Well, you don't have to worry about putting me up for the night," I say, pulling my cell phone from my jacket pocket. "I’m going to find somewhere else to stay.”
Ellis reaches over and takes my phone from my hands. “Don’t be stupid. It's late, and I told Doc I’d take care of you. And that’s what I’m going to do.”
“Give me my phone.” I hold out my hand.
We have a bit of a staring stand-off, neither one of us wanting to give in first. I have to say it’s a bit of my stubbornness mixed with the unexplainable need to take in everything about this man, from the sharp line of his stubbled jawline to the tiny scar that cuts through his left eyebrow. It’s like an invisible force is drawing me closer to him, and I have no control of it.
His gaze drifts down to my lips, and I can see his Adam's Apple bob up and down in his throat. I can’t explain it, but a thrill courses through me at the thought that I might be making him feel a fraction of what I’m feeling for him.
The moment our lips touch, all else is forgotten. The world around us seems to melt away. At least for me. I open my mouth, wanting him to deepen the kiss, to feel the soft brush of his tongue against mine.
Brrrring!
We both pull back like we are teenagers who have just been caught doing something they shouldn’t be doing. It takes us each a moment to realize what just happened and where the sound is coming from.
The light from the screen on my phone in his hand lights up the cab and grabs both of our attention. Bill’s face flashes for a second time today on the screen.
“Here.” Ellis clears his throat. “I’ll leave so you can take this.”
He thrusts my phone back into my hand and gets out of the truck. I stare after him, the feel of his warm lips still lingering on mine.
ELLIS
