Page 2 of His Little Pumpkin (Alphas Fall Hard Collection #2)

LAURA

M aybe I should know better than to jump into a truck with a stranger, but I love the way this hot man stares at me.

There’s a depth in Eldon’s gorgeous, dark blue eyes. Like a small lake that goes unfathomably deep. And I kinda want to dive right in.

I watch as he moves around the kitchen, methodical and efficient.

It’s pretty obvious that he was in the military.

A lot of men well over six feet tall don’t stand at full attention.

It’s as if they’re always waiting to duck their heads to get through a doorway.

Eldon stands ramrod straight, his shoulders back, looking ready to take on the world.

He also seems completely oblivious to the fact that he’s unbelievably handsome – while still being rough – with a short scruff of beard and that stare that I can feel in my soul.

I’m suddenly painfully aware that I look absolutely terrible . Not that he’d ever be interested, but still… A girl wants to look her best around a gorgeous man, right?

“Is there a bathroom I could use?” I ask.

“Sure.” Eldon steps out into the hallway, then rummages in a closet before handing me a t-shirt. “Here. You need something warm and dry against your skin. And take these, too.” He hands me a pair of thick black socks, then points to the bathroom door.

I get changed, grateful for the clean, dry clothing even though the t-shirt hangs on me like a tent.

I pull an elastic from my pocket, relieved to see that my jeans are only slightly damp.

With a quick finger comb, I pull the top half of my hair into a loose braid so it’s out of my eyes, letting the rest hang down my back.

Not glamorous, but a bit tidier. I also pinch my cheeks to give me some color.

In the hallway, I sneak a peek into the dining hall. Like the rest of the building, it’s simple and rustic, with plenty of polished wood, but it looks brand new. Expensive, too – as if this whole ranch had been recently built with quite a lavish budget.

When I return to the kitchen, Eldon is just removing the lid from a slow cooker, giving me a burst of fragrant herbs and roasted meat. He looks me up and down, and a hint of a smile plays over his lips.

He’s taken his jacket off, leaving me trying not to gape at his thick biceps and the sheer size of his massive chest, clearly outlined under his thin gray t-shirt.

“Warm and dry?” he asks.

“Getting there. Thank you.”

Eldon walks toward me slowly, picking up a paring knife on the way. “Listen, I’m coming over to you with a knife, not coming at you with a knife, okay? That spare shirt is from one of our grain suppliers, and they just don’t come in women’s sizes.”

I start to laugh, then my breath halts as he comes right up to me, carefully pulling out the shirt before slashing the side along the seam.

With a few quick twists, he knots it on my hip.

He’s so close, with his hands nearly on my waist. I can’t help breathing him in.

Spice and cedar and pure masculine warmth.

He’s so wildly male. Is that partly why I’m so attracted to him? His confidence and power are flipping some primitive switch in my mind that reminds me I crave comfort?

When his eyes meet mine, my heart lurches. There’s a split second where I swear I can see the spark in his eyes as he realizes how near to each other we are. Can he tell I’m longing to lean closer? That I love having his hands on me, anywhere?

Then I notice a small scar over his left eye. It changes his perfect face from utterly gorgeous to something rougher. Sexier. More real.

Eldon steps back and looks down at his handiwork. “Not exactly glamorous. But – better.”

“And much more comfortable. Thank you.”

He sits me down at the kitchen table, where a layered green and purple smoothie is waiting.

Suddenly, he looks embarrassed. “Okay, this is none of my business. But I can tell from looking at you that you haven’t been eating well for a few weeks.

It would make me very happy if you drank that spinach and blueberry smoothie to get some nutrients into you.

Then I’ll fix you up with coffee and a sandwich, all right? ”

“I really appreciate it, but I don’t want to be in any trouble.”

His hand waves toward the rest of the kitchen. “Food. Nutrition. Feeding people. It’s what I do. Just let me, okay? Please?”

“Okay.”

I take a tentative sip. Holy crap, it’s the most delicious smoothie I’ve ever had. Is that…vanilla? And maybe chia seeds or something?

By the time my glass is empty, he’s ready to replace it with a bowl of stew and a toasted turkey and avocado on rye. My hands fly up. “Really… I don’t deserve all of this.”

Eldon freezes, looking down at me with an expression in his incredible eyes I can’t comprehend. It’s not the pity I’m used to seeing from strangers. It runs deeper.

His finger gently glides against my chin, tipping my eyes up to his and halting my breath.

“This is a rescue ranch.” His deep voice is barely a breath.

“We rescue horses that have nowhere else to go in the world.” He quickly snatches his hand away.

“Laura, I can’t stand the idea that you have nowhere to go.

And I have a house just a short walk away, with a spare bedroom I never use.

If you trust me by the end of the day, I would love it if you would agree to stay there, so I know you’re safe and warm. ”

It’s funny. I’ve never been very good at reading people when they have bad intentions. Yet I can see in Eldon’s eyes that he really does just want to help.

“Thank you,” I whisper, clearing my throat. “Um… Is there anything I can do to earn my keep? Peel potatoes or something?”

His face relaxes into a bit of a smile. “I’ll be honest: I work long hours. I’m excellent at keeping the kitchen spotless, but sometimes I forget to dust and mop my own house. If you wanted to spend an hour doing that tomorrow morning, I wouldn’t say no.”

“Deal.”

He reaches out to shake my hand, and the moment my small palm is in his warm, strong grasp, electricity sizzles down my spine. Eldon is sexy . It’s not just his movie star face and bodybuilder frame. It’s the way he looks at me. The way he wants to care for me.

And even though I know it’s pure fantasy, I want to believe that this sizzling connection could possibly go further.

Because I would love nothing more than to care for this obvious loner…so that he’s not lonely anymore.