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“Looks like it.” I wrapped my fingers around her arm and placed a hand on top of her head, helping her slide out from under the counter without bumping.
“Thank you.” Her eyes flicked up to the hand on top of her head, and something indiscernible passed over her features before they flattened out. “We should go. Maybe you can go back to sleep.”
I didn’t tell her once I was up, there was no going back to sleep. I just packed up my tools and followed her downstairs.
The redhead was in the living room, sitting on the couch, her chin on her chest. Her eyes were closed, so she must’ve dozed off. I cleared my throat, startling her awake.
“Sorry.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “We’re all done. You should be good.”
“Oh, god, thank you so much.” She hopped up, pressing her hands together under her chin, flashing a happy smile directly at me. “You have no idea how much I appreciate you coming out here in the middle of the night. You saved me.”
Elena stepped forward, putting herself between me and the redhead. “That’s my job. Let me know if you have any other problems.”
Redhead’s brow furrowed. Her eyes darted around Elena’s face like she was trying to place her. Then she shook it off and smiled brightly. “Ah—okay. Thanks so much.”
One precise nod of her head, then Elena swiveled on her toes, marching for the front door. I tipped my chin and followed.
It was still dark out, maybe four in the morning at the latest. The roads were silent, houses pitch black.
I followed Elena to the passenger side of my truck, putting my toolbox on the ground before opening her door. She climbed up herself, but again, I put my hand on top of her head and the other on her lower back until she was seated. Reaching across her, I belted her in, catching her warm, summer-lemon scent.
She let her head fall back on the rest, staring up at me, unreadable as ever. “Are you going to make me talk to you?”
“I don’t want to make you do anything. I’d like you to listen, and since you’re being stubborn, I’m going to talk while I have you as a captive audience.”
“Then talk.” She tucked her hands in her pockets, turning her head to look out her window.
With a sigh, I put the truck in gear, slowly pulling onto the road. “Yesterday shouldn’t have happened. If I thought for a second Emily still worked there, I wouldn’t have given Theo the name. You’ve accused me of playing games with you, and though I don’t think I have, I admit to my signals not being as clear as they should be. That’s because nothing is clear to me when it comes to you. But one thing you can be certain of is I would never put you in a position where you have to share space with a woman I’ve been with. Not purposely.”
“Poor Emily was so sad, Lock.” No inflection. The sass had drained right out of her. It could’ve been because of the hour, but I didn’t like it, whatever the cause.
“We don’t need to talk about her. I settled things with her—things that were already settled—and that’s done. I need to settle things with you. I’m not going to assume you were jealous, but I know you weren’t comfortable. I’m sorry for that.”
“Forgiven.” It came out so rote, there was no telling if she meant it or not.
Probably not, if I was a betting man.
“Ellie…fuck.” I knocked my fist to my forehead. “I keep making missteps with you and it’s driving me crazy. I don’t know which way is up or down.”
“You should work on that.” Our houses came into view. She sucked in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Thanks for your help, Lock.”
“Lachlan,” I grunted, pulling into my driveway.
“Hmmm?”
My hand shot out, covering hers to stop her from unbuckling. “You call me Lachlan.”
“Shecalled you Lachlan. That’s her name. I relinquish it.”
I pressed the button on her buckle, releasing her. Instead of letting her go, I caught her by the nape and hauled her across the bench seat into my lap. She was wedged against the steering wheel, hissing and slapping at me.
“You’re so…so…infuriating,” she cried. “Just because you can put me wherever you want doesn’t mean you get to do itwheneveryou want.”
Catching her wrists in one hand, I lowered them to her lap and brought my free hand up to cup her warm cheek. Her lip curled in a snarl, even as her head leaned into my palm. I didn’t think she even realized she was doing it.
“Listen to me, Ellie. Every damn time that girl called me Lachlan, I corrected her. I’m Lock. That’s what everyone calls me. I didn’t give her that name.”
She twisted her arms, trying to break free, but I held her steady. “If you hate it so much, why didn’t you correct me?”
