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Elara proved the hardest to shake.
With Ethan out of the running, I was stuck tackling her renovation. Which meant I'd have to break the news to her. The thought of spending time with her was as exciting as it was dangerous. It was the thrill of doing something forbidden.
Deep down though, I knew that it wasn't just that. It was her.
She did things to me that no one else did.
As though reading my mind, Lexi asked, "Can we hang out with Elara this weekend? She’s so cool and funny!”
"I don't think so. She's busy. And we've got Jack's party."
"She should totally come!"
"Look, never mind Elara. I've got a surprise for you."
We got out, and I gestured toward the tree house. There were squeals of excitement, and before I had the chance to brief them on the tree house's safety features, they were already halfway up the rope ladder, yowling like pirates.
I cracked open a beer and, after a few fortifying swigs, decided there was no time like the present. As I waited for Elara to answer her door, the now-familiar scent of baking wrapped me in a sweet, buttery, jacket.
She appeared in the doorway, once again in her apron, this time smudged with chocolate and frosting. A dusting of flour clung to her hair, and she absently brushed a few stray strands out of her eyes with a caramel-coated finger.
My heart pounded. I imagined sucking on those sweet, pretty, fingers. "Bad time?"
"No! I'm just baking. Like always!"
"Never would've guessed."
"What gave it away?"
The oven timer buzzed insistently in the background. "You need to get that?"
"Nope. It's a good buzz, don't worry. What's up?"
I took a deep breath. "I wanted to let you know that I'll be handling the bar renovation after all. Sorry about that."
"Sorry?"
"I tried to get Ethan to help, but he's too busy."
"That's fine. Don't worry. I'm grateful."
There was an excited yelp from behind me. "That smells sooo good!" Lexi and Rhea bundled up next to me. "What are you making, Miss Elara?"
"A mess!"
"Girls, let's leave Elara be."
"It's all right, don't worry. Hi, Lexi! Hi, Rhea! How are you guys doing?" She actually seemed to enjoy being around the girls. Lots of adults found their energy a bit too much. But not Elara. She looked at the girls, then she beckoned me to come closer. “Wait there, girls. I just want to speak to your dad a moment.”
I walked closer. Fuck she smelled good. Instant goosebumps.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice rougher than I intended.
"A secret."
I leaned in, and she moved her lips right up to my ear. When she whispered, I could feel the heat of her breath on my cheek. All the tiny hairs on my neck stood on end. "Are the girls allowed a treat?"
Somehow, I managed to pull back. I appreciated her asking me very much. "Sure," I nodded, trying to recover as my hormones raged. "You girls want a treat, right?"
