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A Pack Forms Chapter 12
Eli
What a cool old classic car! Eli admired the restored old Mustang as Luke drove back to the school parking lot, and they rode in calm silence.
She didn’t want to discuss the film because she’d been so focused on him watching her; she feared he’d know she hadn’t been watching the movie.
When the film ended, she didn’t miss his surprise. Eli didn’t smile at that because she didn’t want him to know she’d seen through him. He’d been such a gentleman.
He studied her as the film played. She knew he reached for the popcorn at the same time she did on purpose after they touched by mistake the first time.
She liked the spark between them when they touched. The electricity at every touch had her dreaming about how it would be to kiss him again and to rub against him without their clothes.
Eli could feel his desire to be close to her. It radiated from him in waves, and it melted the ice around her heart.
She almost wanted to give in to that desire and let him hold her. Her fear held her back. She didn’t want to get trapped again.
She’d waited seven years for her freedom. Seven years during which she kept her promises and accepted the consequences.
That time of her life was over, and Eli would never accept the loss of her freedom again. No more cages, no more collars.
As much as Luke intrigued her, she wasn’t sure it wasn’t all some game for him. He said he’d never hurt her, but she’d been told many things, many times. Words were wind.
Eli would wait and see if his actions continued to back his words. She would wait to see if she could trust him not to destroy her heart before she gave it away.
***
Eli
As they arrived at the empty school parking lot, she broke the silence.
“I had a good time. I enjoyed the movie and the company,” she whispered to him with open sincerity in her eyes as he looked at her. She wanted him to see she meant what she was saying to him.
He smiled. “Does that mean we’re still on for dinner tomorrow?”
“Yes, what time?” She smiled back.
“Is seven okay?”
“Perfect, I’ll see you then,” she told him as she got out of his car.
Luke reached for her hand, and she paused with one foot out of the door as she looked back at him. He was looking at her small hand in his as his thumb brushed across her knuckles. A shiver chased over her as he held her hand.
“Be careful, my lady.”
“Always, Colonel.” She smiled back at Luke. Then he was watching her as she got into her truck. When it started, he drove away.
Elated, Eli followed him out of the parking lot and headed toward home. She hadn’t messed it up after all. She had a dinner date for Friday night with an interested, and handsome man.
When was the last time she had a date on a Friday night? She couldn’t recall.
She was floating on cloud nine all the way home, but she should have known it couldn’t be that good.
***
Javier
When she saw the truck in her driveway, her stomach dropped to her feet. Parked in front of her house was the Midnight, Javier’s black 2006 Ford F150, and Javier was standing on her front porch. He didn’t look happy, and Eli was glad she changed the locks.
She pulled into the driveway, parked the Moonlight, and opened the door to get down. She prayed both of her children were safe. Even though she doubted Javier was there to discuss their children.
She’d never been a procrastinator, and she never backed away from a fight. Eli wasn’t starting now. If his visit wasn’t about the kids, then she felt she knew what he wanted, and it wasn’t happening. Her jaw clenched in determination.
She’d ignored all of his calls and texts since returning from El Paso, hoping against hope he’d go away.
As she stepped onto the porch, he tried to hug her. She sidestepped him. After seeing the other woman in the house in El Paso, she had no desire to touch him.
Her heart said she wanted Luke, but she squashed that idea. He had nothing to do with Javier, and she would just as soon not taint Luke with Javier.
“So, you’re avoiding me,” Javier snarled at her.
“What do you want, Javier?”
She almost barked the question at him. There was no trace of kindness or civility in her voice.
She knew if she looked in the mirror, she’d see that hard glint in her eyes, and she was grinding her teeth. Why could he not have left her alone?
“I want my cut. I know you sold your house in El Paso, Eli.”
The steel in his words made her angrier. Javier said it as if it had been a secret she was selling it, as if she tried to hide the sale of the house from him.
He lived two blocks away, and the sign was in the yard. It had been her house, not his.
Javier acted as if she owed him something. He’d always been so entitled.
It was her fault. Because she’d always been territorial and protective of what she considered hers, Eli never let him ...
