with my
friend’s affections like this?
Mia returns, and we move on to safer territory.
The fire hisses and spits sparks on to the hearth as I feed it the last log.
We’re almost out of wood. Even though it’s summer, the fire is very welcome
on this wet day.
“Mia, do you know where the wood for the fire is kept?” I ask as she sips her
daiquiri.
“I think it’s in the garage.”
“I’ll go find some. It’ll give me an opportunity to explore.”
The rain has eased off when I venture outside and head to the threecar
garage adjoining the house. The side door is unlocked and I enter, switching
on the light to fight the gloom. The fluorescent strips ping noisily to life.
There’s a car in the garage, and I realize it’s the Audi I saw Elliot in this
afternoon. There are also two snowmobiles. But what really grabs my
attention are the two trail bikes, both 125cc. Memories of Ethan bra一vely
endea一voring to teach me how to ride last summer flash through 266 | P a g e
E L JAMES
my mind. Unconsciously, I rub my arm where I badly bruised it in a fall.
“You ride?” Elliot asks from behind me.
I whirl around. “You’re back.”
“It would appear so.” He grins, and I realize that Christian might say the same
thing to me—but without the huge, heart-melting grin.
“Well?” he asks.
Manwhore!
“Sort of.”
“Do you want a go?”
I snort. “Um, no . . . I don’t think Christian would be very happy if I did.”
“Christian’s not here.” Elliot smirks— oh, it’s a family trait—and wa一ves his
arm to indicate we’re alone. He strolls toward the nearest bike and swings a
long denimed leg over the saddle, sitting astride and grabbing the
handlebars.
“Christian has, um . . . issues about my safety. I shouldn’t.”
“You always do what he says?” Elliot has a wicked sparkle in his baby-blue
eyes and I see a glimmer of the bad boy . . . the bad boy Kate has fallen in
love with. The bad boy from Detroit.
“No.” I arch an admonishing brow at him. “But I’m trying to put that right. He
has enough to worry about without adding me to the
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