Page 9 of His Little Pumpkin
LAURA
I’m not sure if I actually sleep, or simply float on a cloud of happiness most of the night.
Inside the circle of Eldon’s arms, I feel incredibly protected. Like I’ll never have to worry about anything ever again.
At some point, I do doze off, then wake with a start as a sliver of daylight flickers across my nose.
“Good morning, pumpkin. Did you know your breathing is soft and smooth as a kitten’s when you’re asleep?” Eldon murmurs in my ear, then kisses my shoulder.
“Good morning,” I murmur back sleepily.
“Hey, I forgot to tell you something. Boss asked if you needed a job. He said that if you were desperate, he could probably hire you as part-time kitchen help for a few weeks, if you wanted.”
“Wow.” My heart is in my throat. “That’s so kind of him.”
“I told him that you’re probably okay for now and that I’d take care of anything you need. If you feel like helping me now and then just for fun, that would be great too. But if you suddenly want more money, or your freelance stuff still doesn’tpay you on time, that’s another option. It’s completely up to you.”
“Please tell him thank you.” I turn around to meet Eldon’s eyes. “And I really appreciate that you’ve been taking such good care of me. I don’t…I mean… I’m not the kind to ever ask for help. So this is kind of…” I close my eyes, unable to stand the intensity in his gaze. “Awkward for me, you know? Like, I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Oh, pumpkin… I wish you wouldn’t feel like that.” Eldon holds me close, tucking me against his chest and stroking my back. “Although I get it. When I was just starting out in the world, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Ended up in the military for a few years, which taught me that I’m wired to work hard for a living. It’s part of who I am.”
His deep voice is so soothing. “When I came back, some of my family reminded me that they would pay for any schooling I wanted. You can’t say no to an offer like that, so I did a year at culinary school, then worked at a couple of ranches as…” He chuckles. “Well, in a restaurant it would be called a sous chef. On a ranch, it’s an assistant cook.”
His palm strokes all the way down my back, then circles my hip. “What I’m trying to say is, we all need help sometimes. I had it from my family, and I hate that isn’t an option for you. I also had it from everyone who took me on as an assistant so I could learn, and from Boss when he hired me for this job. Now I have just the right balance between being a total grumpy loner out in the middle of nowhere and having a circle of ranch hand friends.”
“I don’t think you’re grumpy.”
Eldon grumbles a bit before sitting up. “I used to be especially grouchy in the mornings when I didn’t have you to wake up to. Now I smile before noon. But I’m sorry – I really do have to get going now.”
“Okay.” I run my fingers through my hair, assuming it’s a tangled disaster. “Hey, could I do laundry again this morning? I can wash anything you need while I’m at it maybe?”
Eldon pauses mid-stretch, then looks back and forth between me, my backpack on the floor, and my small, tidy pile of clothing on top of his dresser. “Dammit. I didn’t even think. You probably only have…what, two changes of clothes?”
“Four. But I want to keep everything super clean if I’m going to be in your kitchen. I have a bit more, but it’s all at my family’s old storage locker.”
There’s a flash of anger in his dark eyes before he snaps them closed for a moment before speaking. “You work here this morning, pumpkin. I’ll bring you some lunch around one. Then we’ll go into town to buy you a new wardrobe. Whatever you want.”
“I can’t let you?—”
He tips my chin up with his finger and fixes me with a look. “I have savings. A great job. I own my home outright. I come from a family that sets everyone up quite well, as long as you prove you’re a hard worker and doing some good in the world. So not only am I going to pay that forward to you, I’m going to go spend some money at the ladies’ clothing stores in town.” He shrugs. “I like supporting all the local businesses, but I’ve never had an excuse to even walk into those. So we’ll have a little adventure. Okay?”
Before I can try to speak, Eldon wraps me in his arms again, rocking me gently. “I want you to tell me every time you need something, my sweet little pumpkin. No matter what it is. You’re going to have to tell me if I’m overstepping, or if anything is too weird for you. But a basic thing like a week’s worth of clothes is something I really need to take care of for you.”
He kisses the tip of my nose, then jumps out of bed and pulls on his jeans. When he turns around to grab a t-shirt fromthe closet, he pauses, looking down at the laundry basket at the bottom. “Although… If you’re nottoobusy with your freelance stuff, maybe you could run this load, and all the towels?”
“Done.”
I know that he only asked so that I can feel like I’m earning my keep, but I think that’s extremely thoughtful. I love that we’re already learning how to navigate each other’s wants and needs, and communication styles.
Honestly, if I were tracking all this for some sort of report, it feels like we have the foundation for a real relationship.
Of course, my luck would never be that good. Still, that glimmer of hope, combined with the luscious view of his back as he pulls on the t-shirt, fills me with joy.
7
ELDON
Idon’t often feel awkward, but going into the store where Laura’s going to buy underwear makes me a little itchy around the collar. I’ll…wait outside. Yeah.
