Chapter 5
Eleanor
Ispot Beck before Audrey does, and my stomach does a funny little somersault while my mind blanks. He’s actually coming to me. I need to find something smart or witty to say, and quickly, but all my brain wants to supply is noticing how long his strides are and how handsome he looks.Why do you have to be like this, Eleanor?
“Becky boy! Fancy seeing you again. Looking fine as always,” Audrey drawls, and I can’t help the pang of jealousy that stabs at my heart. It’s not like I’ll stand in their way if they’re attracted to each other, but if I had a say, I’d rather have Audrey interested in literally anyone else on thisentire planet.
Beck inclines his head toward my tipsy friend, but his eyes stay on me, scanning me from top to bottom. There’s nothing lecherous about his gaze, but a small part of me kind of wishes there was.
“Audrey. Welcome back to Starry Hill. Bodin just left here to tend to your cousin.” Beck’s tone is completely neutral and I quickly look down to hide my tiny smirk at Audrey’s inability to rile him.
Swiveling her hips, Audrey elbows me lightly. “Oh yeah. I’m sure he’ll be tending her real good all night long.”
A small huff of a laugh escapes me because I know she’s right. I’m not sure how long the honeymoon phase is supposed to last, but from the way Tilly talked about Bodin tonight, they’re very much still in it.
“So, I’m going to give you two a moment to chat while I entertain the moon with a rendition of my favorite song,” Audrey says before skipping toward the dock, leaving me alone with Beck before I’ve had a chance to come up with something charming to say to him.
“Eleanor.”
“Beck.”
“Hello.”
“Hi.”
I’ve never felt more awkward in my life as silence stretches between us, my heart hammering wildly while my mouth refuses to function. How can I be a strong, intelligent woman but when it comes to this beautiful creature in front of me I can’t string together a proper sentence? I need Beck to know I actually have a personality underneath this shy layer. It just takesa little bit for me to come out of my shell. Would he have the patience to get to know how I am now?
Wanting to push us out of the awkward zone we’ve found ourselves in once again, I blurt out, “Have you seen Viggo? I don’t have his number and I think I need to get Audrey home before she tries to swim back herself.”
“I’ll take you.” The offer is out of Beck’s mouth without a second’s hesitation. This late at night, I’d have thought it would be hard to read his expression, but his light eyes shine with sincerity.
“I don’t want to put you out like that.” I try not to let my relief be too apparent but it’s hard when I know a dragon’s senses must be much keener than a human’s. According to the few articles I’ve read they can even detect different emotional notes in your scent, as well as having superior eyesight—as was demonstrated when he pointed out Maisie and Ren to me when they were no more than vague dots in the distance.
Beck’s already shaking his head. “You’re not.”
“You sure?” I ask, needing to confirm again. If he suddenly says no, I don’t know what I’d do or even how I’d be able to find Viggo. Or would we have to spend the night on the island? I definitely don’t want to bother Tilly or Maisie to put us up in their cottages after hearing their very adventurous plans for their partners when they get home.
“Come,” Beck says as he pivots and strides toward the wooden dock where Audrey is doing some kind of interpretive dance under the moonlight.
I stare after him for a second, marveling at his glistening white hair and how the moonlight seems to favor him as I futilelysmooth my own hair down from the disastrous state it most likely is in right now.
Finally unfreezing my feet from my spot, I hurry my short legs to catch up with Beck. “Thank you for doing this. I really appreciate it.”
Beck doesn’t owe me anything, but having him willing to take us back to the city in the middle of the night means a lot to me. He might be a little gruffer than he used to be, but it seems he hasn’t lost his kind spirit.
Beck looks back at me and slows his pace until we’re walking side by side. “It’s really okay. It’s part of my job.”
Oh.Oh.I don’t want it to hurt, but it does sting. I guess it’s good to knowwhyhe’s helping us. If I thought it would be easy to rekindle our dormant friendship or reconnect as quickly as we once did, then at least this dose of reality will help set more realistic expectations.
Reaching for an easy topic instead of letting silence reign again, I ask, “Did you have a good evening with the other guys? Maisie mentioned you hosted a game night?”
A small smile graces Beck’s lips and I internally high-five myself. “Yes, thank you. It was my first time having visitors in my home, but I think everyone found it enjoyable. They want to meet weekly to continue the campaign. How was your evening?”
Something squeezes around my heart at the pride in Beck’s voice. I’m curious about why it’s his first time hosting, but asking any further personal questions might be a bit too presumptuous right now. Instead, I try to keep the conversationlight. “Tonight was great. Really special. There are some really wonderful creatures living in Starry Hill.”
There’s a question in Beck’s eyes as he looks at me, but before he has the chance to voice it, Audrey waves a finger between us and asks a little suggestively, “You coming back to Cape Easton with us, stud?”
An almost indiscernible blush stains Beck’s cheeks. “I will take you back to the harbor and return home after I’ve seen to your safety. I imagine Viggo is… preoccupied and might have forgotten.”
