Page 73 of Quietly Falling
BODHI: I admit nothing
ELLISON: Send me the link
BODHI: Already on it
ELLISON: This is going to be perfect…
34
ELLA
Maybe I should be more nervous to meet these people as Bodhi’s girlfriend but I’m not, the excitement forcing away all other thoughts as he parks the truck in front of the light blue farmhouse with the wraparound porch. It’s beautiful with rocking chairs and a black and white cat walking along the railing.
We’d left early, traveling about thirty minutes north to pick up a rescue donkey named Blu with a pretty white spot on her face. She’d spent most of her life traveling with a pop-up carnival, her steps slow from having been ridden for so long. She nuzzled against my hand as we loaded her into the trailer, something Bodhi had done with ease, his competence so incredibly sexy I’d almost thrown myself at him.
Later.
“Ready?” Bodhi asks softly, my hands gripping the pie dish as my gaze darts around.
“What? Yes, of course.”
Chuckling, he steps out and rounds the front of the truck to the passenger side, his smile knowing as he opens my door and holds out a hand. I take it but I’m more than a little distracted by the way his plain long-sleeved shirt is molded to his chest and shoulders, his jeans hugging his narrow waist and muscular thighs.
Dammit, I should have made him pull over before we got here.
“It’s gonna be fine,” he murmurs, pulling me against him, his lips curving up on one side.
“I know; I’m just takin’ it all in.” I grin back, popping up on my toes, careful not to squish the pie as I plant a quick kiss on his mouth.
“Y’all coming or what?” a feminine voice calls from behind me and Bodhi sighs, taking my hand as we turn toward the house.
“Montana unable to hold you back any longer?” Bodhi asks the grinning brunette. She’s gorgeous with a kick-ass energy that radiates from her. I haven’t seen her in years but Ellison Mills—Greene, I guess now—isn’t someone you’d soon forget.
“Oh, please,” she laughs, “like that man could stop me from doing anything.” She snorts as she greets me with an outstretched hand. “Ellison Greene.”
“Ella. Thanks so much for having us,” I tell her, juggling the pie with one hand and returning her shake. “I always thought your name was so much fancier than mine.”
She laughs but her eyes are sparkling. “Fancy—I like it. But I think fancy is a state of mind, don’t you?”
“Uncle Bodhi!” a young girl yells, bursting through the door and launching herself at Bodhi.
“Oof,” he grunts, staggering back a couple of steps as he absorbs the impact. “Missed you too, kid.”
Burying her face in his neck, I watch as he just holds her, like it’s the easiest thing in the world. “Will you braid my hair tomorrow?” she asks, lifting her head and making the biggest sad-eyed face I’ve ever seen. “Mama said you were busy this weekend but it’s myfirstgame.”
I grin and nod when Bodhi’s gaze strays over to mine. “It’s no problem,” he says, pressing a kiss to her forehead and turning toward me. “Holland, this is Ella.”
“Mama said she was pretty,” Holland stage-whispers as she looks at me and I grin, loving her immediately.
“It’s really nice to meet you,” I tell her as Ellison takes the pie from my hand.
“Holland, will you take this inside, please? And then tell everyone to come out here? I have a surprise.”
After Bodhi reluctantly sets her down, we watch as Holland races toward the house, only slowing as she hops up the porch steps.
“Do you want me to take the trailer in the back?” Bodhi asks but Ellison shakes her head. “Later. Can you bring her out?” she asks before pulling out a collar with an oversized tag on the front from the pocket of her dress.
What else does she have in there?
