Beauty and the Wolf / Their Miracle Twins (16 page)

She wished she hadn’t picked tonight to work late. Or that her car hadn’t chosen tonight to stop running. If she’d left her office at the usual time, she could have caught a ride home with a friend and called the repair garage from the warmth of her condo.

Sighing, she pulled her purse nearer and searched through it for a granola bar. Then she remembered she’d eaten it at lunch. Her stomach growled, and she pressed her palm against her abdomen.

Working late after eating only a granola bar and a container of yogurt for lunch hadn’t been a wise choice, she thought wryly.

The only sound was the rain, hammering on the metal roof of her car. Frankie had a swift, mental image of being curled up with Eli on her sofa while the rain pounded down outside the windows.

Stop thinking about Eli,
she ordered herself.

She still didn’t know what to do about him. Tommi’s observation that Eli had reacted the same way her Max would have had made Frankie wonder if there was any possibility Eli felt more than lust for her.

While she was vacillating, unable to make up her mind, she’d arrived home Monday to find a bouquet of bright spring flowers in front of her door. The card had only the initial
E,
the black script decisive and dark. She knew instantly it was from Eli.

She loved the flowers, and something about the gesture eased the faint ache in her heart. But he hadn’t called, and three days had passed. She’d started to wonder if the flowers were his way of saying goodbye.

A vehicle turned into the parking lot and drew nearer, the headlights arcing over her car as the truck pulled up and parked next to her. Frankie had expected Justin’s Porsche, but it took only a second of confusion before she recognized the driver.

What on earth is Eli doing here?
she thought as her heart beat faster.

He stepped out of the truck, hunching his shoulders against the rain as he jogged to her car and tapped on the window. Frankie rolled the glass down, just far enough to talk to him. Even that small opening let wind-blown rain inside.

“Hi.” She was so glad to see him she could have hugged him. “Where’s Justin?”

“He’s home having dinner. Let’s get you in my truck. You might as well stay warm while I check out your car.”

She nodded and pushed open the door. Eli pulled open the passenger door of his truck, and before she could climb in, he caught her around the waist and lifted her onto the high seat. Frankie caught her breath. Even through the layers of raincoat and the cashmere sweater she wore beneath, his touch made her breathing falter.

“Thanks,” she murmured as he tucked her coat hem inside.

“No problem. Turn up the heater if you’re cold. I’ll only be a minute.”

The interior of the truck cab was wonderfully warm. Frankie stretched out her legs to let the air from the heater vent warm her cold toes. Through the rain-streaked truck window, she could see Eli as he raised the hood of her car and fiddled with something on the engine.

Then he slid behind the wheel. She thought he turned the key but couldn’t see clearly before he exited, slammed the hood down, and jogged around the truck. When he opened the door and slid behind the wheel, he brought the scent of rain and fresh air with him.

“Did you fix it?” she asked.

“No. I think the battery’s dead.” He shifted the truck into gear, and they left the parking lot. “I’ll take you home and come back in the morning with jumper cables. I usually carry a set in the truck, but Matt borrowed them last week and didn’t return them.” His deep voice was reserved, carefully polite.

She hesitated a moment. “I can’t thank you enough for doing this, Eli. I hope you know how much I appreciate it.”

“No problem.” He flicked a hooded glance over to her before looking out the windshield again. “Have you had dinner?”

“No. But I’m sure there’s something at home in the fridge I can warm up.” She eyed him with curiosity. “How did you happen to get stuck rescuing me in the rain?”

“Justin and I were playing pool at his house when he talked to you. I volunteered to come get you.”

“I see.” Frankie wanted to ask him why he’d offered to come out in the downpour to help her, especially since the last time she’d seen him, she’d told him she didn’t want to talk to him.

They stopped at a red light. Eli picked up his cell phone from the seat divider, dialing from memory. While they waited for the light to turn green, he placed an order for take-out Thai food.

“You missed dinner with Justin and Lily in order to come get me, didn’t you?” she asked as the traffic light changed from amber to green and Eli accelerated down the street.

He shrugged. “I’ll see them next week—Justin’s barbecuing steaks for Granddad on Saturday.”

“Nevertheless, I’m sorry you had to miss dinner tonight because of me.”

“Trust me, it’s not a problem.” He glanced sideways, a brief smile curving his mouth. “I can have dinner at Justin’s anytime. Rescuing a pretty woman is more important—especially if she’ll agree to share Thai takeout with me.”

His smile eased the uncomfortable, faintly unsettled tension in Frankie, and she smiled back at him. “I have a bottle of wine that would be perfect with Thai food.”

“Sounds good.”

Eli braked, slotting the truck into an empty space in front of a Thai restaurant at the foot of Queen Anne.

“I’ll be right back.” He left the truck’s engine running,
the heater continuing to blow warm air on Frankie’s damp feet. The windshield wipers swished rhythmically as he jogged through the rain and disappeared inside the restaurant. Moments later, he returned. The two brown bags he tucked behind the seat filled the cab’s interior with mouthwatering smells.

“What kept you at work so late?” he asked as he pulled out of the parking slot and headed for her condo building.

“A department staff meeting,” she told him. “Even though I’m subbing in English Lit, I’m still technically a part of the research department. In order to stay involved with decisions on future projects, I have to attend staff meetings.”

“Isn’t it unusual to have someone in research lecturing in the classroom?” Eli asked, curious.

“I suppose it is,” she replied. “But the circumstances were unique. The English department needed someone immediately, and not only was I temporarily unassigned, since I’d just completed a project, but I have a doctorate in English Lit and I’m qualified to teach.” She shrugged. “It was an easy fix.”

“Do you enjoy the change?” He glanced sideways at her. “Or are you counting the days until you’re back on your regular schedule?”

“I’m enjoying it,” she told him with a smile. “But then, I love my job in research, too.”

“When will you go back to it—next quarter?”

“I’m not sure. The return date for the professor on emergency leave is open-ended.”

A few moments of silence passed until they reached Frankie’s building. Eli parked and got out, jogging around the truck to open her door; together, they ran through the rain to the lobby.

Inside Frankie’s condo, she slipped out of her raincoat and tugged off her boots.

“You can leave your wet things here,” she told Eli as she picked up her purse and briefcase. She dropped them on the seat cushion of an armchair as she passed it on her way into the kitchen.

He shrugged out of his jacket and pulled off his boots before following her. “Where’s the bottle of wine?”

“In the cabinet below the coffeemaker.” She lifted plates down from an upper cupboard while Eli set the bags of Thai takeout on the table and located the wine.

Frankie went up on tiptoe to reach stemmed wine glasses on a higher shelf, but they were just barely beyond her fingertips.

“Here, let me.” Eli stretched above her, his chest pressing against her back as he easily lifted two glasses and set them on the countertop.

His body radiated heat; she felt it from her shoulders to her knees, his chest lightly touching her back, his thighs barely brushing hers. Her eyes closed, and she drew in a deep breath.

Eli stilled. Then his palms settled on the countertop on each side of her, his big body bracketing hers. His head bent, and she felt him brush his face against her hair.

“Frankie,” his deep voice murmured in her ear. “I’m sorry I upset you the other day at the barn. I didn’t mean to insult your intelligence. I saw you with a horse as big as a mountain and instinct took over. I only wanted to protect you.”

Frankie turned, looking up into his face as she searched his eyes. She found only sincerity.

“I’d like to swear I’d never do that again, but I can’t lie to you.” His face hardened. “If I thought you were in danger, I’d probably act on instinct and try to protect you.”

Any remaining anger leached away, receding behind a warm swell of emotion and leaving Frankie amused at his expression. Eli was braced, clearly expecting her to be angry at him.

“As far as apologies go, that’s just about the worst one I’ve ever heard,” she told him, sliding her hands up the fine wool sleeves covering his forearms, over the swell of biceps under his black V-neck sweater, until her fingers curled over the slope of his shoulders. “You’re sorry but you’d do it again?” She laughed at the chagrined look on his face. “Couldn’t you have stopped at ‘I’m sorry’?”

“I should have,” he agreed, the taut line of his mouth easing into a slow, sexy grin. “But I didn’t think lying was a good plan.”

“Will you at least promise to ask me if I know what I’m doing the next time, and if I want or need help before you barge in and save me?” she asked, enjoying
the sense of leashed power beneath her fingers and palms.

“I promise I’ll try.” He bent his head, resting his forehead against hers. “You scared the hell out of me, Frankie. Compared to the size of that horse, you’re tiny.”

“I suppose I am,” she conceded. “And since you hadn’t seen Daisy before, you had no way of knowing she’s as harmless as a friendly puppy. But still …” She eyed him, wanting to make her point. “You need to ask me next time.”

A frown drew his dark brows down, and he leaned back to search her features. “Just for the record—are you doing anything else dangerous on a regular basis?”

“Oh, no.” Frankie smiled up at him, laughing aloud when relief erased the worry lines. She lifted on her toes, pressing an impulsive, affectionate kiss on his mouth.

Eli immediately caught her close, taking over as he ravaged her mouth with a possessive, claiming kiss. When he lowered her back on her heels, she was breathless.

“Maybe we should eat,” he suggested, deep voice rasping.

“Yes,” she said, her own voice husky with arousal. “That’s a great idea.”

“In here at the table—or in the living room?” he asked.

“Living room, I think. We can turn on the news or a movie.”

“Sounds good.” Eli poured wine into the glasses and carried them into the living room, returning to carry off the plates, utensils and napkins as Frankie set them on the counter.

Frankie joined him with the two take-out bags, which she immediately unloaded onto the low coffee table. Eli opened the first few white boxes, and the aroma of spicy food reminded them both that they were ravenous.

“That was delicious,” Frankie said after emptying her plate. She curled her feet under her and settled back on the sofa, a glass of wine cradled in her hands.

Eli set his glass on the coffee table and, in one easy move, tugged her feet across the sofa cushion and propped them on his thigh. Startled, Frankie was about to protest when he ran his thumb down the arch of her right foot and pressed.

“Ohh,” she groaned, half closing her eyes. “That feels so wonderful.”

“Good.”

She lifted her lashes to find him watching her, a slow smile curving his mouth, his eyes that smoky, darker blue she loved.

He shrugged, his hands continuing to massage her foot. “Just part of my attempt to seduce you, ma’am,” he drawled.

She laughed. “Where did you get the cowboy accent?” she asked.

“It’s part of the seduction,” he told her. “Women love cowboys, don’t they?”

“Let me think. Except for Justin, the only cowboys
I’ve seen are ones in the movies. Definitely a lot to love there, so, yes, I suppose women do love cowboys.”

“See? The cowboy vibe works. That’s where the ‘ma’am’ came from.” He winked at her. “Throw in foot massage, Thai food and flowers and a guy has a chance with a lady.”

Frankie rolled her eyes in disbelief. “Does this line actually work with the women you date?”

“Sometimes.” He shrugged. “Sometimes they just say thank you for the foot rub and tell me to go home.” He picked up her other foot and rubbed her arch.

She nearly groaned aloud again. “I won’t tell you to go home,” she murmured.

He shot her a look from beneath his lashes, his eyes flashing blue. “Does that mean I can stay the night?”

Frankie knew the seemingly casual question was anything but—Eli had made no secret that he wanted her. She loved his bluntness because it freed her from the usual games men played. Was she ready to sleep with him? She wanted him, but the wariness that demanded she protect her heart still told her to wait. She wasn’t sure what she was waiting for, exactly. She’d long since moved past believing she was seeing Eli only as part of a scheme to distract Harry. And she knew her love of independence was fast taking second place to the sheer pleasure of sharing time with Eli. But Frankie believed in listening to her instincts and those instincts were whispering wait. Reluctantly, she heeded the warning.

“I don’t think so,” she said. “Not yet.”

“At least you didn’t say never,” he told her with a wry
grin. “I’ll just have to keep trying.” He lifted her bare feet from his thigh and set them on the cushion. “We need music,” he declared, pushing to his feet.

“Why?” Taken by surprise, she looked up at him.

“Because dancing is the next item on the seduction list,” he told her, his gaze flicking over the room, stopping on the radio and CD player on the shelf below the television set. He knelt on one knee to switch off the audio on the TV and turn on the radio. Instantly, the room was filled with a slow, bluesy tune from Seattle’s jazz station.