Page 31 of Holding Ground

This is the perfect opportunity to ask about Baylor’s mom, but I don’t take it. The two of us have finally called a somewhat truce, even if it’s only temporary, and I get the distinct impression that bringing up Baylor’s mom will sour the mood.

“Well, you’re doing something right, Elliott. Baylor is a wonderful little girl.”

He gives me a small smile, appearing a little embarrassed by my words. He scrubs his palm against the stubble on his jaw.

Baylor rushes out of the sliding glass door, hairbrush and some hair elastics in hand.

She’s beaming, the exact opposite of her mood a few minutes ago. Something warm spreads through my chest.

When I look back at Elliott and see the way he’s looking at me, the sensation deepens.

I thought I had him all figured out, but maybe he’s not an asshole. Maybe he’s just a man who values the things he loves and will do whatever it takes to protect them—the town of Echo Lake included.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

Elliott

The rain lashes against the windows with a ferocity I haven’t experienced in years. The forecast said to expect thunderstorms all night, but this sounds like so much worse. Lightning flashes outside the windows every second, or so it seems. I wait for Baylor to wake up from the thunder that’s rattling the walls.

When your livelihood is set in the woods, lightning like this feels like the lottery. Will you be the winner or will you be the loser and have it hit your camp and start a forest fire?

I’m thankful that Baylor was already asleep when it started. She’s usually scared when they roll through and ends up in my bed all night, which isn’t that big of a deal, but her little toes always end up wedged into my back, which means a restless sleep for me.

I’d planned to sand down and restain a bunch of the furniture at the camp tomorrow, so I need my sleep. Though with all this, they won’t be dry enough for me to get to it.

I’m watching the sports channel on the TV in the living room when a loud crack of thunder sounds, followed by a flash of lightning that feels way, way too close to the house. In fact, the hair on my arms stands on end.

Then a crack and a thud I know too well—a felled tree.

I lunge off the couch and race to Baylor’s room, heart hammering. I push open the door, and thankfully, the room is dark. She’s nestled under her covers, safe and sound. No tree lying on top of her.

I breathe a sigh of relief until Emelia comes to mind.

Shit.

I don’t bother putting any shoes on before I open the sliding glass door and race outside. Fuck. The tree beside the bunkie has been hit by lightning and now lies on the far corner of the bunkie.

I’m racing across the lawn, squinting from the rain pelting my face. “Emelia! Emelia!” I leap over the four steps that lead to the deck and burst inside. “Emelia, are you okay?”

“Elliott!” She races over to me, wrapping her arms around me, panicked. “I was in bed, and then I heard the cracking sound. The next thing I knew, there was a huge crash.”

Her face is plastered to my wet T-shirt, and I wrap my arms around her. She’s shaking, obviously in shock over what just happened.

“Lightning hit a tree near the bunkie, and it came down. You’re okay? You’re not hurt?”

She shakes her head, pressing her face into my chest.

I shouldn’t focus on the feel of her in my arms at a moment like this, but it’s impossible. All I can feel is her warm skin pressed against mine. All I can smell is the scent of her perfume or her shampoo—something woodsy with a hint of vanilla. All I can see is a replay of the way she ran directly for me when I burst in here, as though she saw safety in my arms.

Just then, the lights go out.

“C’mon, let’s get out of here. I won’t be able to see what the damage is until the morning.” I gently push her away from my body, but keep hold of her hand, pulling her out the door.

I lead her across the lawn as fast as possible, but we’re both soaked by the time we reach the sliding door. I motion for her to go in first. There’s still electricity in my house. The tree probably hit the line into the bunkie since it’s on the back side of the building.

But all my thankfulness stops when I see what Emelia wears to bed. Now that her white tank top and boxer shorts are wet and clinging to her skin, I don’t have to imagine what she looks like naked. The outline of her nipples sends my dick into overdrive.