Her Gentle Giant: No Regrets (10 page)

* * * *

Rachel wondered how many women would attach themselves and require removal before he made it back. She was proud that she could joke with herself about it. Up until tonight, she didn’t think that was possible. It was just like Grace had said earlier. It was worth it to be with him, totally worth it.

Mike sidled up to her after Eli left the front. Rogelio was standing right beside him. Mike didn’t say anything, just arched an eyebrow at her.

She grinned, her cheeks warming a little. “What? You’re not surprised, are you? I’ve been running from him for two months. I finally stopped running,” she said with a little shrug. She didn’t begrudge him this conversation at all because he was like her older brother or something. As a matter of fact, she’d expected it the moment Eli left her side.

“I have one question. Is he treating you, well, with respect?” His fists were on his hips, looking like a big brother would.

“Of course he is, but you tell me, Mike. Has he done anything to disrespect me in your sight? It’s you he needs to impress with how he treats me because he knows you’ll tell my parents, who already know, by the way.

I already have a key to the other side of the duplex, and I’m going to move in tomorrow.”

“So you staying with him isn’t a permanent thing?”

“For one more night. Tomorrow, I move in next door. You know me better than that, Mike. I’m not gonna live with him. He’s made a good impression on Daddy, and I don’t want to mess that up.”

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“You look happy, Rachel. He looks happy, too. He deserves a good woman like you,” Mike said before he sat down in his chair. “You should go ask him to dance. He’s due a break right about now,” Mike added with a chuckle.

Eli had been intercepted by three Spandex-clad beauties, one of whom immediately attached herself to his arm and pressed her breasts against his biceps. They tried to pull him to the dance floor, and the body language of the other two suggested that they all wanted to dance with him. What was it with Eli and multiple women? Part of her wanted to laugh at their tenacity, and part of her bristled at the sight of another woman’s fingers and body parts stroking his biceps.

He smiled and placed his hands on his hips and looked down at them.

He gestured to other tables, filled with men ready to dance with them. The one clinging to his arm pouted, which Rachel thought was not a very pretty look for her. Eli detached her hand and pointed toward the front of the club, indicating that he was working. The girls looked her way, one of them nodded, and they released him to continue on his way, unimpeded, back to the front.

“What did you say to them that they gave up so easily? The ladies don’t usually peel off that easily,” Mike said, grinning at his expense as Eli returned to Rachel’s side.

“I said the woman I love was waiting for me to return. I asked them how they would feel if they were in love with someone and had to watch other women putting their hands on him all night. They wanted to dance, and I told them I’m saving all my dances for Rachel. At least they were nice about it and backed off. Some of the women think I’m playing hard to get and figure that if they grope me, I might change my mind. Blech.” Eli sniffed his arm. “Do I smell like perfume?”

Smiling, she sniffed him, giggling. “Not much, but if you’ll take your break and dance with me, I’ll do my best to erase it for you,” she said as she looked over at Mike.

“Y’all go ahead. Things are slow up here, and you’ve got a break coming to you, anyway. You never take your breaks, so I think you’ve got a little extra time. Go dance with your woman.” Mike grinned as he made a shooing motion with his hands toward the dance floor.

Eli helped Rachel from her chair. “Thanks, man. I owe you.”

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“Yeah,” Mike called, “and I know how you can repay me, too.” Eli grinned and nodded but said nothing more about it.

Grace was on the dance floor with Adam, enjoying another slow dance.

Her head was tilted back as she looked up into his eyes, speaking softly with him. Rachel looked away from the intense love she saw radiating from Adam’s eyes. Rachel’s respect for the four of them grew as she realized the love and unselfish devotion that was necessary to balance their marriage.

Grace laid her cheek against Adam’s chest and wrapped her arms around his waist as he slowly danced her around the hardwood floor.

Eli turned and embraced Rachel on the crowded dance floor. He expertly guided her through the throng. She leaned against his massive body, her breasts pressed close to him. She was conscious of the warmth increasing inside her as her sensitive nipples rubbed against him. His gentle hand on her back pressing her close to him told her that he enjoyed the contact with those tight little points as well. She relaxed against him, allowing him lead her around the dance floor. She loved to be wrapped in his warmth and sighed happily at the thought of going home with him tonight.

“You sound happy,” Eli murmured in a deep, husky voice that made her shiver with desire for him.

“I am,” she replied softly, nodding against his chest. “Very happy not to be running anymore.”

He cupped the back of her head, and she tilted back to look at him. His eyes were soft with adoration as he leaned down and kissed her so tenderly, so gently, she moaned in response to his light but intoxicating touch.

“I want you, Rachel. I need you. I wish tonight was not the last night you’ll be staying with me.” His gaze was intense, searching.

“I know, Eli, but I’ll only be next door. You know I’ll be there safe, right next to you.” She knew the only thing that would satisfy him was her under his roof. He loved her, and that was a wonderful beginning. She knew she loved him, but she was used to having her own space, and she didn’t want to jump into such a monumental decision on the spur of the moment.

“I would prefer you right next to me in my bed.” He slipped his fingers through the hair at her nape. When he was with her like this, it was so tempting to say yes, but she remembered her parents and tried to keep their
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opinion of him in the forefront of her mind. This move was as much for his sake as it was for hers.

“Eli, you know I’ll be over all the time. The same would go for you. My door would always be open to you. My parents’ opinion of you is very important to me.”

Changing the subject, Eli said, “Have you ever been on a motorcycle before?”

“Yes, I went once with Mike for a short ride. He rode like a grandma, and we never got over twenty miles per hour. It was very disappointing.”

She laughed, remembering him giving in to her begging and pleading. Rosa had finally talked him into it. As slow as he went, she should have saved her breath.

“Well, I would be worried for your safety, too. But I’d like to take you for a ride out to the lake on Sunday. By then you’ll be all settled in next door. Would you like that?”

“I would, very much.”

* * * *

Eli held her in his arms as they danced across the floor and tried to steady his breathing so she wouldn’t know she affected him like he was a teenage boy. He wanted to kick himself for pushing her so hard about moving in permanently. He knew in his heart it was only a matter of time before she’d be ready to make a permanent change in status, but she needed this time, and he needed her to see he would honor her parents’ wishes.

Holding her like this and spending this time with her was so sweet. He grinned, knowing what he owed Mike for the extra-long break. He looked over her head and noticed looks from some of the women and girls who had approached him tonight. Some looked bitter or disappointed, but he also noticed a few who smiled at him as he danced with Rachel, admiring them as a couple. Not all of them had been loose women. Some might have been genuinely attracted, and he hoped there was someone else here who would feel the same way about them that he felt about Rachel.

He ran his hands down her back, coming to rest on her waist. He nodded to Brice Huvell when he glided past him with another of the girls from the large table who had visited with Eli earlier in the evening. It was good to see
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the little dude finally score a few hits. The smile on the face of the girl he danced with was genuine.

Another in a series of slow love songs played. Eli looked up in the DJ’s booth and saw Ethan watching the dance floor. It was then that Eli realized Ethan was dictating what songs were being played for Grace’s benefit so that she could enjoy a few slow dances with Jack, Adam, and Ethan. The look in Ethan’s eyes as he watched Grace move was tender and protective, giving her what she needed.

Eli felt totally outclassed by him, by the three of them, in the way they loved their woman. The way they raised the standard, though, gave him something to aspire to with Rachel. He wanted her to feel loved the way that Grace felt loved.

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Eli noticed a man watching them from a corner table by the bar. At first, he thought he was mistaken, but as they moved in a slow circle, he watched from the corner of his eye. The man’s eyes never left the two of them. Eli’s senses sharpened as he continued to watch the man. He was very tall, though not as tall as Eli, and very lean, hardened, and tough.

Feeling as territorial as the wolf his surname brought to mind, Eli lifted his head from nuzzling Rachel’s ear and kissing her cheek. He made direct, unmistakable eye contact with the tall stranger. He kept his body relaxed and never missed a step in the dance, but in the way he enveloped Rachel protectively with his own body, he sent a clear unmistakable message.

Mine
.

The tall stranger gave a slow challenging grin to Eli from across the room, and Eli wondered what the fuck this was all about. Did Rachel know him? The man continued to stare at them, for all the world looking as though he simply relaxed with a beer and watched the crowd, when in reality, he was observing them.

“Eli? What’s the matter?” He looked down into her concerned eyes. He thought he’d done a better job of hiding his reaction from her. “Is there trouble brewing?” She looked around her.

“No, everybody is fine. Someone I’ve never seen before has been staring at us for the last few minutes, watching the two of us. He’s in the corner by Ethan’s table, black T-shirt and leather jacket. Do you know him?” Eli asked as he slowly turned her so she could look over at the man.

“No, I’ve never seen him before. Which one of us do you think he’s staring at?” she asked as she snuggled in closer to him. He couldn’t stop his soft growl of gratification as she snuggled closer to him, seeking him.

“I think he’s staring at you.”

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“Well, he can stare all he wants. I’ve only got eyes for you, Eli.” She gazed up at him as she palmed his cheek. “Ignore him, and I will, too.” She reached for him, and he leaned down to kiss her tenderly as the love song ended. “How much longer do we have?”

“I should get back soon. It’s been at least thirty minutes we’ve been out here.”

“Wow, it amazes me how fast time flies when I’m with you.”

“Funny, I feel the same way about you. Do you need to go to the ladies’

room? With that guy staring like that, I’d rather walk you over and wait for you before going back to the door.”

“Yes, I do. Maybe you should mention it to Ethan. He’d want to know if something was suspicious.”

Eli walked her to the restroom and turned to the task at hand, only to be surprised and a little dismayed. Grace and Jack stood at the man’s table, talking with him as if they were friends. Grace even leaned in and gave him a friendly hug as she held Jack’s hand. It appeared that all four were acquainted with this stranger. Eli made his way over, intent on speaking with Ethan, curious now to know who this man was who had issued such an obvious challenge to him. Better to take the bull by the horns, his father would say.

“Hey, Eli, I want you to meet a friend of ours,” Ethan said, indicating the stranger. Eli walked up to him and put out his large hand to shake. “This is Ace Webster. He works in private security and investigation. He helped us out a few months ago when Grace’s ex was harassing her. He’s thinking about settling in the area and came in for a visit. Ace, this is Eli Wolf. He provides security for the club. The two of you have something in common.”

Ace quirked an eyebrow and grinned crookedly as he shook Ethan’s hand. “I’d say you’re right, Ethan.” Ace grinned as Eli caught his double meaning. “Good to meet you, Eli. It’s always good to meet people in the same line of work.”

“Good to meet you, Ace. See something you like earlier?” Eli asked straightforwardly but not with animosity.

“That’s a beautiful woman you were dancing with. Is she spoken for or here on her own?” he asked, friendly but challenging. They were keeping it light for the sake of the mutual friends and employers.

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“Rachel is my girlfriend and
definitely
spoken for,” Eli said with a smile. The message again was unmistakable. Mine. Eli felt a tightening in his chest as he made eye contact with Ace and had to suppress the urge to snarl.

“Well, in that case, you’re a lucky man, Eli. I had hoped to ask her to dance with me.”

“I don’t know, Ace,” Ethan countered, evidently sensing the undercurrent between the two men. “Eli is very territorial about Rachel. As territorial as she is about him. There are plenty of other women here who’d take you up on that offer. Rachel’s been beating them off Eli like pesky mosquitoes all night.” Grace caught Eli’s eye and smiled. She felt it, too.

“I’m going to go check my lipstick, honey. I’ll be right back, okay?”

Grace said, patting Ethan’s chest lovingly then slipped away after Jack kissed her and released her hand. The men changed the subject and continued talking at the table.