His lips kick up in a sexy little grin. “Shrek really?”
I shrug.
“I've always thought of myself as more of a Donkey kind of guy?”
“Why? Because you're an ass?”
“Oh, you're on a roll, aren't you?” He whistles low. “No, because he's fucking hilarious, loyal as hell, and pulled a literal fire breathing baddie for a wife.”
“Who knew you had such bigShrekopinions?”
He tsks. “Of course I do. I have big opinions on most shows and movies. Stick around long enough, and maybe I’ll share ‘em with you.”
His words zing through me, the thought ofsticking aroundall too tempting. “So, about that guest room?”
He gives me a look like he knows exactly what I’m thinking before nodding toward the hall. “Last door on the left. C’mon.”
My heart does a funny little pitter patter in my chest as I follow him down the hall.
“Here we go.” He nudges open the door, and I gasp.
“It’s beautiful.” The walls are painted a soft purple-y gray, which perfectly complements the dark wood furniture. The bed’s situated against the far wall, between two windows, and piled high with a fluffy white duvet and a whole pile of soft looking pillows. “This room clearly has a woman’s touch.”
The tips of my ears burn as I wish I could hit rewind and swallow down those words. Way to sound desperate, Scarlet.
“Yeah, my mom.” Ellis nudges me with his elbow. “She was determined to have the perfect home away from home when she comes to visit.”
“Where does she live again?” I ask, desperate for a subject change, as I place Fefe’s carrier on the floor by the bed.
“She bought an RV when she retired, and she goes wherever the wind takes her.”
“Oh, that sounds nice,” I say, imagining the freedom that must come with it. “How cool to be able to explore at the drop of a hat.”
“Cool for her, stressful for me.”
“Why is that?” I ask, fighting to hide my amusement at his grumpy disposition.
“She doesn't have the best sense of personal safety. She’s parked in some really sketchy camps, sometimes not even in a camp, and don’t get me started on thefriendsshe’s made along the way.” He puts air quotes around friends. “But she really likes it, so I try to be happy and supportive.” He huffs out a laugh. “I'm pretty sure she's got a boyfriend in every city she's visited.”
The cackle that escapes me is pitched high enough to shatter glass, but I’m too delighted to care. “Oh, she and my mom would get along great.”
“No. No way.” Ellis levels me with a serious stare. “They can never meet.”
“What?” I scrunch my nose. “Why not?”
“The two of them together would be nothing but trouble, Scarlet, and you know I'm right.”
I grin up at him mischievously. “Trouble's not always a bad thing.”
He snorts. “Their brand of trouble absolutely would be.”
“Maybe.” A small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I imagine all of the trouble they’d get into together.Maybe Ellis is right—they should probably never meet.
“There's no maybe about it, Princess.” He gives me a look that saysyou know I’m right, but my lips are sealed. “Anyway, she had me decorate this room to her exact specifications so that she had somewhere, and I quote, ‘suitableto lay her head when she comes to visit.’”
“Your mom sounds like a firecracker,” I say, taking in the room with fresh eyes. “She has great taste though.”
Ellis offers me a wry smile. “I'll let her know you think so.”
