Page 26 of Let Me Protect You

Once Elias sits on the opposite side of the table, he says, “I think maybe we can start working at Cutesy’s tomorrow.”

He says it so nonchalantly like I haven’t been waiting for this for the last two weeks while simultaneously worrying that someone will attack us again. A chill shakes me. What if this time, we get ambushed, and he dies?

“Are you sure it’s safe?”

He levels a look on me. “I can’t guarantee anything, but you haven’t received a single text since the one you showed me. Right?”

I nod.

“I’ve watched the surveillance cameras, and nothing has popped up. Sully has been scouring the internet, making sure that any pictures of you are taken down.” He scoops some rice onto his fork and takes a bite. It’s almost as if he’s not nervous at all. “My wound is healed so if anything happens, I’m at full fighting capacity.”

Elias grabs a corn tortilla and places some of the carne asada inside, slathering it in red salsa. He takes a big bite, almost eating the entire thing. The food is calling to me, but the thought of him getting hurt again or worse makes me nauseated.

Seeing how serious he is, I know he wouldn’t say something like this unless he believed we’d be okay, so I say, “Okay. What time do we have to go in?”

“You need to be up and ready to go at four.”

Great. I’ll be as cranky as a bear. I’ve never been a morning person, but I need this. Not only to get me out of this house but because Serenity still needs my help.

Chapter 14

Harmony

My alarm wails from its place on the bed beside me, and I instinctively shoot my arm out to turn it off. Rolling over, I cover my head with my plush pillow. I suppose this is my punishment for pushing Elias into helping me get a job at Cutesy’s where I have to wake up before everyone else has to get to work so they can get their morning coffees.

After tossing and turning all night, thinking—or more accurately, worrying—about if someone is out there, waiting for us to leave the safety of Elias’s house, ready to strike us down. I might’ve slept for an hour. Those thoughts haunted me even in my dreams.

A soft knock sounds at my door. “Are you awake?”

I groan and fling the pillow off my face. “Yes.”

“I have to leave in about thirty minutes. Will you be ready?”

“Yes, I should be,” I say, my voice scratchy from sleep. “Do I have time to take a shower?”

“If it’s fast. I’ll leave a new towel in the bathroom for you.” His footsteps sound as he walks away.

Forcing myself into a seated position, I rub my eyes. Last night was last night. So what if he made me a fantastic dinner and then offered to teach me how to make it. It was probably a peace offering, nothing else. No lingering feelings can resurface.

Staying here in Granite Falls any longer than necessary isn’t an option. It has already been two weeks, and I’ve been missing my mother more and more as time passes.

I groan as I grab my clothes and head into the bathroom. I’ve gotten too comfortable here. Maybe now that Elias is allowing us to go to Cutesy’s, he’ll consider letting me move back with Serenity. No, even I know that’s a horrible idea. If there’s even the slightest chance I could bring danger to them … I cut off my thoughts there. Serenity has enough trouble without me adding to it. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened.

After I finish showering and am presentable, I leave the bathroom, and the smell of bacon and eggs enters my nose. I inhale deeply, and my mouth waters.

Now that he’s shown me his culinary skills, is he going all out?

When I reach the kitchen, Elias is too busy flipping a pancake to notice me. Soft cumbia music filters through the room, and he moves to the rhythm. Watching him move his hips is intoxicating.

Vicki made sure to teach him how to dance before our junior prom. While all the other boys were anxious and stepped on their dates’ toes, Elias twirled me around like a princess until I erupted into giggles. Butterflies take flight in my chest at the memory.

So, this is what I’ve been missing. If we stayed together and I had moved back right after graduation, I could’ve woken up to this every morning.

Well, crap.

Elias picks up a platter with so much food it overflows. Scrambled eggs, chorizo and potatoes, toast, tortillas, pancakes, waffles, anything I could ever want. My stomach grumbles at the sight. He places it on the table and then glances over at me. “Can you grab a couple of plates over there?” He motions to a cabinet. “And start eating.”

When he notices I don’t move, he raises an eyebrow. “Did you not get enough of me last night?”