Page 37 of A Curse On Black Lake (Black Lake Gothic Cowboys #1)

Chapter twenty-nine

Killian

Eliana wanted to get to work painting her room, so I dropped her off at the house before coming down to the barn to unload the lumber.

Our earlier conversation keeps running through my head, and I groan into the sky. I need to keep my distance purely because I don’t want to risk loving her. Even though I’m considering burning all the reasons why I shouldn’t, and replace them with how I can’t see any other option.

Glossing over the towel debacle. She stood by me without question despite the news article. We know it’s not true, but she didn’t distance herself. She didn’t try to hide our relationship, for an alibi or not. Her loyalty is attractive. I don’t deserve it, but I want to earn it.

We haven’t heard from Wyatt in a while, and I’m starting to wonder why. In the back of my mind, I know it’s because they’re building a case and don’t want to spook the suspect. But I’m not scared. I’m pissed.

Shaking my head of the thought, I unload the rest of my materials and park the truck by the house.

“Eliana!” I yell, hanging my hat on the hook and grabbing a glass of water.

“Up here!” she yells.

I smile to myself and bring a glass with me.

The smell of paint fills my nose as I get closer to her room, and the radio plays country music. “How’s it going in here?”

She smiles at me over her shoulder and rolls the paint over the wall. I don’t know how, but she already has the small one done.

“It’s good. Thank you for letting me do this,” she says.

I dip my head and set her glass of water on the side table. Our eyes are locked and I struggle to break the connection. She has this hold on me, and all she has to do is pull, and I’m there.

“No problem. Do you want some help?” I offer.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” she says.

“Why not?” I ask her.

“You’ve already done so much, and you’ll probably regret the color choice,” she mumbles.

I chuckle and reach for one of the brushes we bought so I can start cutting in around the trim. “I doubt that. I’m not exactly an interior designer. And I don’t mind. I enjoy doing things for you,” I tell her.

She blinks a couple times, and I go to the other side of the room where the wardrobe is. “Plus, you need my muscles to move some furniture away from the wall.”

I spot the smile that grows on her face, and she shakes her head, still looking at the wall, watching her roller go up and down. “I would have figured out how to do it on my own,” she says.

“I’m sure you would have,” I grunt and scoot it away.

She looks at me again, and her blue eyes go navy before she abruptly turns away.

I chuckle, and Eliana glances at me over her shoulder.

“What?” she asks.

I brush my cheek with my thumb where she has some paint on her cheek.

“Why are you doing that?” she asks.

I grin. “You’ve got some paint…” I trail off and reach for her.

“On my face?” she asks, and wipes her cheek, spreading more green paint on it.

I snort, and she pouts.

“Come here.”

She takes a step towards me, and I lick my thumb to wipe the streak of paint off of her. It comes off easily, the paint still a little wet.

She swallows, her eyes still on mine, and I swear the entire world stops.

My thumb is still on her cheek, and I slip my hand to the back of her neck, tugging her forward. With our foreheads pressed together, I lean in, desperate to kiss her.

At the last second, she turns her cheek and steps out of my hold. “I’m, uh, going to get back to work,” she whispers.

I drop my hand, burying my disappointment, and watch her brush a few strokes on the wall, but her rosy cheeks betray her. I know she feels the borderline unbearable tension between us. But she’s not ready yet. She may never be, and that’s okay.

The country music plays, and I don’t hear a word because I’m too busy sneaking peeks at her and admiring the way her ass is painted in those jeans.

Her brows furrow in concentration as she meticulously rolls the paint over the open walls. She’s captivating, chaotic, and messy, but there are some things she’s ordered and exact about.

Eliana catches me staring again, and she doesn’t turn away.

But this time I break the tension and go back to taping the wall.

Then I cut in with a paintbrush around the trim so she can roll the paint.

The room isn’t that big, so it won’t take long.

We bought two rollers and another handle for it.

So I start back by the wardrobe again to get the tight space covered.

I peek at her out of the corner of my eye, and her lips move in hushed tones as she talks to the Spirits.

At least this can make her feel more at home while all the chaos surrounds us. And I have to admit to myself I enjoy having her around. I like having someone in this house with me, riding out to the cattle with me, needing me. I just wish she wanted to kiss me as much as I want to inhale her.

But then reality slaps me in the face, and I remember why she’s really here. The heat of my fury burns at the thought of someone stalking her, giving her strange gifts. I hope her stalker doesn’t know where she went … but based on what happened the other day. I can’t be so sure.

All that aside, I plan on keeping her safe here, even if I have to admire her from afar.