Page 14 of Had To Be You

She slides her cell phone into her purse and I silently declare myself the winner. I don’t dare say it out loud though. I value my life too much for that.

“Okay, where to next?” she asks. “Ziplining? Skydiving? Maybe we’re going to ride bulls?” She’s challenging me again and my pulse picks up in response. This is the side of Ellie that I like most. The push and pull is such a turn-on.

“I have somewhere I need to be. I’m bringing you with me.”

“Ooh, errands. Sounds exciting!” she jokes while fiddling with a ring she wears on her right hand.

I laugh and shake my head.

A little while later we’re back in the city, pulling into my driveway. I park in front of my forty-five hundred square foot contemporary home and shut off the engine, turning to face Ellie.

“Is this where you live?” she asks, removing her seatbelt. “It’s not what I expected.”

“What did you expect? Or dare I ask?”

“I’m not sure, but not this. Maybe an old castle with a moat around it? Gargoyle statues guarding the entrance. Oh, and obviously a bridge. You know, so you can cross the moat,” she explains. “Just your run-of-the-mill fortress, that way you could bury yourself in your work without having to worry about people annoying you or getting all up in your personal space,” she continues, amused with herself. She seems to be amused with herself often.

I shrug, trying my best to keep my expression neutral, not wanting to give away that I find her little fantasy about my home life pretty entertaining. “What goes on in that brain of yours, Ellie? It’s terrifying.”

I dip my eyes to my seatbelt and un-click it and when I look back up, Ellie is reaching to the floor in front of her to grab her purse. My eyes steal a quick glance and I take the time to stare at her shamelessly. I have the sudden urge to trail my hands softly over her thigh or take her hand in mine and thread our fingers together. I swallow hard, asking myself what it is about her that gets my heart rate to skyrocket. Why do I want to take her face in my hands and kiss her breathless?

I get out of the car and walk around to Ellie’s side, opening her door. I’m happy she’s here, but this feels strange. Whatever this is. I don’t usually bring women back to my house. Elle may have been joking around, but in a sense she was right - my home is my sanctuary. I don’t like having anyone else around. For what feels like the hundredth time today, it makes me realize that Ellie isn’t just anyone. She’s different.

When I open the door, we are immediately greeted by my golden retriever Murphy. Ellie drops to her knees in an instant, giving him a big hug and burying her face in the soft fur of his neck.

“This is Murphy, but it looks like you two are already acquainted,” I laugh.

“Look at you, you handsome boy,” Ellie coos at my favorite guy. “You are such a good boy, Murphy, yes you are.” She’s rewarded with an onslaught of slobbery kisses, not that she seems to mind. She gazes up at me through her long, dark lashes and giggles. My pulse races, and I wonder again how she can infuriate me one minute, then make me want to do dirty things to her the next.

She eventually stands and follows me further inside, Murphy padding along beside her. I look at Ellie, gauging her reaction as we make our way through the foyer, past the living room on the left and the staircase leading upstairs on the right, into the kitchen at the back of the house. Her eyes are wide, taking in the marble countertops, top-of-the line stainless steel appliances and high-end cabinetry. I purchased the house two years ago and, with the help of an interior designer, remodelled it to make it feel more like me.

“This is amazing, Liam,“ she says, removing her sweater, revealing a pale green tank top she’s wearing tucked into her skinny jeans. And she looks smoking. I swallow down the moan that sits at the back of my throat as I take in her slim frame, the slight curve of her ass and her flat stomach.

“I’m happy you like it. Come here, Murph, time to go outside.” I give the dog a scratch behind his ear, then slide open the glass door to the backyard needing some air. Needing my eyes on anything but Ellie. I follow Murphy outside, busying myself with the barbecue, planning on making the two of us lunch. Ellie follows after giving herself a tour of my living room. She steps outside to admire the pool, hot tub and grounds that cost me a small fortune every two weeks to maintain. Her jaw is slack as she takes in the view.

“Do you ever use your pool?” she asks.

“Not often.”

“Right, too busy stickin’ it to the bad guys,” she teases, dipping her toe into the water. “Swimming is good for you. Exercise and stress relief.”

“I’m sure. So is work. I enjoy what I do, Ellie. I have goals.” And my goal right now is to keep my hands to myself. But she’s making it so damn hard. I’m not sure what to make of the spine-tingling sensations rolling down my back. It’s a feeling I’ve never felt before. But one thing is clear - the sexual tension between Ellie and I is stifling. I fist my hands into tight balls, doing what I can to relieve the tension wracking my muscles.

“If I remember correctly, you already made partner, Liam. You achieved the goal you set for yourself. Now you deserve to relax a little. Enjoy your accomplishments. Enjoy life. Enjoy the pool,” she says, plopping herself onto a lounger.

“Says you.” I raise my brows at her.

“Says any normal, sane person,” she counters. “We have very different ideas of what balance looks like. You’re always so serious.”

“I’m not serious. I’m realistic. There’s a difference.”

“Ugh, you’re impossible,” she says, feigning annoyance. “And you are a heart attack waiting to happen.”

I watch her as she reclines by the pool, taking in her toned, tanned arms and shoulders glowing in the sunlight. I force my eyes away from her. I need to get as far as I fucking can from this girl.

“Take your time out here,” I tell her, turning back to the house. “I’m going to make us lunch.” And maybe take a cold shower.

“You know how to cook? Don’t you have someone hidden in a bedroom upstairs at your beck and call? Let me guess… you just ring a bell and they come running?” She reaches towards Murphy, taking the ball from his mouth and throwing it across the lawn. Murphy pounces after it, clearly happy to stick with Ellie rather than follow after me like he usually does. Traitor.

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