Page 3 of His Little Pumpkin
He’s so wildly male. Is that partly why I’m so attracted to him? His confidence and power are flipping some primitive switch in my mind that reminds me I crave comfort?
When his eyes meet mine, my heart lurches. There’s a split second where I swear I can see the spark in his eyes as he realizes how near to each other we are. Can he tell I’m longing to lean closer? That I love having his hands on me, anywhere?
Then I notice a small scar over his left eye. It changes his perfect face from utterly gorgeous to something rougher. Sexier. More real.
Eldon steps back and looks down at his handiwork. “Not exactly glamorous. But – better.”
“And much more comfortable. Thank you.”
He sits me down at the kitchen table, where a layered green and purple smoothie is waiting. Suddenly, he looks embarrassed. “Okay, this is none of my business. But I can tell from looking at you that you haven’t been eating well for a few weeks. It would make me very happy if you drank that spinach and blueberry smoothie to get some nutrients into you. Then I’ll fix you up with coffee and a sandwich, all right?”
“I really appreciate it, but I don’t want to be in any trouble.”
His hand waves toward the rest of the kitchen. “Food. Nutrition. Feeding people. It’s what I do. Just let me, okay? Please?”
“Okay.”
I take a tentative sip. Holy crap, it’s the most delicious smoothie I’ve ever had. Is that…vanilla? And maybe chia seeds or something?
By the time my glass is empty, he’s ready to replace it with a bowl of stew and a toasted turkey and avocado on rye. My hands fly up. “Really… I don’t deserve all of this.”
Eldon freezes, looking down at me with an expression in his incredible eyes I can’t comprehend. It’s not the pity I’m used to seeing from strangers. It runs deeper.
His finger gently glides against my chin, tipping my eyes up to his and halting my breath. “This is a rescue ranch.” His deep voice is barely a breath. “We rescue horses that have nowhere else to go in the world.” He quickly snatches his hand away. “Laura, I can’t stand the idea that you have nowhere to go. And I have a house just a short walk away, with a spare bedroom I never use. If you trust me by the end of the day, I would love it if you would agree to stay there, so I know you’re safe and warm.”
It’s funny. I’ve never been very good at reading people when they have bad intentions. Yet I can see in Eldon’s eyes that he really does just want to help.
“Thank you,” I whisper, clearing my throat. “Um… Is there anything I can do to earn my keep? Peel potatoes or something?”
His face relaxes into a bit of a smile. “I’ll be honest: I work long hours. I’m excellent at keeping the kitchen spotless, but sometimes I forget to dust and mop my own house. If you wanted to spend an hour doing that tomorrow morning, I wouldn’t say no.”
“Deal.”
He reaches out to shake my hand, and the moment my small palm is in his warm, strong grasp, electricity sizzles down my spine. Eldon issexy. It’s not just his movie star face and bodybuilder frame. It’s the way he looks at me. The way he wants to care for me.
And even though I know it’s pure fantasy, I want to believe that this sizzling connection could possibly go further.
Because I would love nothing more than to care for this obvious loner…so that he’s not lonely anymore.
3
ELDON
Weird.
There’s light coming in only from my bedroom window. Usually, there’s also some coming in from the living room. What?—
Right. Laura is in the guest room, so I shut my door.
The poor girl was clearly exhausted when I brought her home last night. After dinner and a long, hot shower, she went straight to bed – well, to the foldout couch in my spare room. While she was showering, I made it up with my softest blankets and nicest pillows, trying to distract myself from the knowledge that she was just a few feet away. Naked. With water droplets dancing all over those luscious breasts and inviting hips.
Does she hum in the shower? Does she enjoy running my soap all over her body?
I roll over with a groan. This isn’t just normal morning wood. This is Laura-specific lust. I thought I’d taken care of that when I showered late last night, picturing her beautiful blue eyes while I…took care of urgent business.
The invigorating scent of coffee hits me as I’m sitting up. By the time I blunder into the kitchen, there’s a mug poured and waiting for me on the table.
Laura looks up at me with the purest, most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen, and it’s physically difficult to keep from kissing her. “Smells amazing, thank you.” I sit beside her and take a sip.
