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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

REBELS AND DECEPTION

ELLE

Now

I’ve never been so relieved to see Rhodes in all my life. It's not that I necessarily think Brock is going to storm over here and act on the scary sexual vibes he’s putting out there, but I'm also not sure he won't. The whole thing creeps me out way too much.

As soon as I let Rhodes in the door, he hugs me tight and then pulls back to look at me.

“Are you okay?”

I nod and he frowns, still not sure.

“What do we need to take? I can grab as much as you need now or come back later.” He points at the bag sitting by the door. “Or we can just take that and get out of here.”

“I like that option. Let’s get out of here,” I say.

“Okay.”

He picks up the small bag and puts his arm around my shoulder protectively, glancing at me.

“I should take my car.”

“Okay.”

He walks out with me and I nod before he opens the garage door. I don't even look to see if Brock is around.

“He's not out here,” Rhodes says softly. “I checked before I came in and I don’t see him now either.”

I feel his eyes on me, but he doesn’t say anything as he helps me into my car. Then he gets in his and I follow him to his house. When he pulls up to the gate, he motions for both guards to come to his window.

It’s too hard to hear him clearly, but I make out his last sentences.

“It's important that you don't let anyone know she’s here. No one. Do you understand?”

They both nod.

“Yes, sir,” they echo each other.

As I drive down his driveway, the stress levels out. I've always loved Rhodes’ house. I helped him pick it out. His realtor showed us four houses that day, and this is the one I immediately loved. It's way too big for Rhodes and Levi, but he’s made good use of this space. We’ve spent a lot of time here, thrown some great parties with his family and the guys from the team, and before I joined the Mustangs cheerleaders, it wasn’t uncommon for me to spend the night occasionally.

It feels different tonight.

The place is massive, but it's cozy, with oversized furniture and plush faux-fur blankets thrown on every sitting area. In the summer, he swaps out the faux furs for soft linen throws. We’ve watched a lot of home decorating shows together over the years and I’ve happily taken credit for some of the choices he's made—the furniture in the bedroom he’s always called my room, for one. While Rhodes’ bed is a massive black wooden frame with beautiful detailing and a cream comforter, the furniture in my room is cream and has cream and black linens. The color comes from a huge floral painting that I absolutely love, and the view outside the windows is spectacular. His home is striking, yet everything is comfortable.

I feel better just being here.

“Thank you,” I say, as he sets my bag down in the room.

“If you think of anything you’re missing, I can go back to get it or…we can buy it online and have it delivered.”

I smile. “I’ll be fine. I know for a fact I have a toothbrush and deodorant in this bathroom. And I will be soaking in that tub later.”

He looks so pleased, so like the Rhodes I first met, that I laugh.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what are you laughing about?”

“You. You just look so excited.”

He moves until he’s standing in front of me and puts his hands on my waist. “I hate that you were scared tonight, but having you here…I’m not gonna lie…it’s exactly what I’ve wanted.” He makes a face. “That’s not coming out right. I mean , I do want you here, that’s clearly true. But when I heard your voice on the phone tonight, it scared me so bad, Elle…”

I put my hands on his chest and then wind them around his neck. He’s so tall that when we’re this close, I have to look up, despite being tall myself.

“Thank you for coming to my rescue. I’ve always known that anytime I need you, you’re there. I was…” I pause and press my lips together, my nerves ticking up. “I’d already been thinking that staying here maybe…sounded like…a good option. I don’t know that I would’ve done it tonight or right at Christmastime, but?—”

I lean in and hug him and his arms wrap around me tight. I close my eyes, inhaling him. Rhodes smells like cedar and citrus and cinnamon. I want to dip myself in his bodywash and bury my nose in his neck, but I settle on just inhaling deeply.

“I’m glad I’m here,” I finish.

His voice is husky when he says, “Right where you belong.”

We stand there for a few beats longer than is probably healthy for either one of us, and I pull away first.

“I called my lawyer on the way back, and he said we could try filing a temporary restraining order, but they’ll want proof of what he’s done.”

I nod. “I thought it might be difficult to prove how creepy he’s been. I’d rather just stay out of his way.”

“I think you should at least tell the sheriff what’s happened. He can go have a word with Brock if you don’t want me to.”

“Okay, I’ll make a call.”

“Great. I’ll work on dinner. You hungry? ”

“I didn’t think I was, but the thought of your cooking could change my mind.”

Again with that boyish smirk, but on this sexy man, it’s almost sinful.

“If I’d thought about it, I would have lured you here with my cooking a lot sooner. Does anything in particular sound good?” He moves toward the door and turns back.

“Anything you make is always good. I have been missing your whatever’s-in-the-fridge soup. And your throw-everything-in pasta. Even though I’m trying not to eat like that anymore.”

“Elle, your body is slamming. You don't need to do anything different than whatever you're already doing.” His voice darkens. “Is Lisa giving you a hard time?”

“Uhh,” I hedge. “Not me specifically, no…but we do have to weigh in, and that is driving me crazy a little bit.”

He scowls. “I hate that. You dance better than anyone I’ve ever seen. You learn your routines perfectly. I've seen you out there. That should be the only thing that matters.”

“You're right. I know. I don't know why it’s like that in this industry, but…it is. I have to admit, I do feel better when I eat lighter and not so carb-heavy, but still. Dodging them completely will never work for me, and when I do have them, I shouldn't feel like I'm doing something wrong.”

“Agreed,” he says. “You just tell me when you want all the carbs, and I'll bring it. We can go lighter if you prefer, but you've been traumatized tonight, so you get whatever you want.”

“There’s something else I should probably tell you…in case it comes up with Carrie. We had a little run-in a few days ago when you were out of town. Not a big deal, but…you know how things can sometimes go sideways with her.” I make a face. “I stopped by Serendipity and she was there with Levi. He ran over when he saw me and she chewed me out, saying I didn’t need to encourage that.”

“What? Why? She knows how much he loves you.”

“She was all over the place. First, it was that it sends him confusing messages to see me all the time and then not…and that it’s weird for him to see us together,” I point between the two of us, “but not her with you. I said that’s what co-parenting a child with someone you don’t have a romantic relationship looks like…which she hated.” I laugh. “She told me to watch my place and said I needed to back the hell off of her child.”

My eyes well with tears and I bite down on my lip, frustrated to be weepy over this.

“Elle baby, I'll talk to her,” he says softly, rubbing my shoulder. “That's not gonna fly. I’ll set her straight. She has no right to talk to you that way. She knows how important you are to me and to Levi.”

“Yeah, that's why she said it when you weren't around.” I exhale and blink up at the ceiling. “Anyway, then it turned into...I should know better than to let him run across the restaurant away from his mom when he's out in public. Someone could grab him because you're famous. And I'm like, Carrie, you’re the one who didn’t stop him from running to me. I know how to watch out for your boy. Trust me. I've been looking out for him since the day he was born and you know it. You weren’t complaining when I took care of him when he was sick because you guys were both sick too. You weren’t complaining when you wanted to go see your sister and Rhodes had an away game, so I watched Levi.” I shake my head. “That slowed her down for a second, but when she tried to start in on me again about it confusing Levi, I got out of there.”

“I’m sorry. Sometimes I can't believe this is my life. She makes it so fucking hard. I'm just sorry you ever have to deal with her.”

“I love Levi. He's worth it. All of it. I love you, Rhodes. Thank you. I feel better already, just being here.”

“I love to hear you say that.” He leans in and tips my chin up, his lips curling in a grin. “I plan on things only getting better.”

He walks out and I stare after him for a few seconds before catching my breath. Whew. You can’t be losing your willpower here, Elle.

I call Sheriff Davis and it’s a relatively painless process. He says he’ll pay Brock a visit. I feel much better already that I let someone know what’s happened.

Next, I unpack my bag. I brought enough clothes for the next few days and hang them up in the walk-in closet. When I walk into the bathroom and open the cabinet next to the sink, I realize more of my things are here than I thought. One of my favorite perfumes, my deodorant, lipstick and a brush I’ve been missing for months, and all the bobby pins and elastic bands I could ever want.

Since it's getting late and I am hungry, I decide to just take a quick shower instead of getting sleepier in the tub. I hop in and out and get into something comfortable. I walk into the kitchen and sigh.

“It smells so good in here. How did you do that so fast?”

He's changed into his sweats and the vision of him standing by the stove, stirring soup, is almost as good as when I’ve watched him reading a book. It might only be beaten out by watching him work out. I’ve had to go take many cold showers after watching him lift weights like it’s nothing.

I take him in for a second and he holds up a spoon.

“Wanna taste it?” he asks .

I walk to the stove and blow before taking a taste of the soup.

“Oh,” I moan, “so good.”

He’s staring at my mouth when I look up at him and we stay suspended there for a few seconds.

He swallows and slowly lowers the spoon.

“I’ll grab the bowls,” he says.

“I can do that. And I’ll get the ice. Do you want anything besides water?”

“Water’s good.”

I set napkins, spoons, and glasses of iced water on the large bar where we eat more often than the table, and take the bowls to the stove. He fills our bowls and I thank him and take both to the bar.

“I made the call. Brock will be paid a visit soon.” I frown. “I guess I could’ve called Lisa about it…” I frown. “Actually, I probably will need to tell her about it, won’t I?”

“I think you should. Just leave out that you’re staying here now…obviously.”

“I’m feeling like such a liar these days. I don’t like it.”

“You haven’t ever lied about being close to me.”

“Yeah, but disobeying the rules so blatantly…it just doesn’t sit right with me. And yet, I’m not going to stop seeing you and Levi.” I look at him. “Tried that and hated it more.”

His dimples sink in and I have to look away again.

“Sometimes I feel like growing up with such strict rules that I didn’t always agree with created a liar.” I take another taste of the soup and nearly moan again.

“What do you mean?”

“I acted like I was working on the newspaper at school when I was really dancing…”

“Didn’t you also work on the newspaper? ”

“Yes, but…way less than my parents thought.”

“But you tried to get their permission to dance and be on the cheerleading team, right?”

“A little bit. I didn’t push it though, because I knew they wouldn’t change their minds. So I found ways to still do what I wanted to do.”

“Part of that is just being a teenager. My little rebel.” He nudges me, laughing.

“Except here I am, still sneaking around.” I laugh, but it’s bittersweet.

I’d love it if I could be exactly who I am and know there would not be huge repercussions.

My fist hits the granite. “Dammit. You know what I forgot? My dress for the Winter Ball.”

“When is that again, Friday?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll get it. I can ask the guys to go with me and we can clear your place out if you want.”

I think of my office and my cheeks heat. Yeah, I’m a liar all right.

“Oh, that’s okay. I can go. I can even ask the girls to go with me.”

“I don’t want you going over there without me. Please, Elle. I know you’re capable of taking care of yourself, but I don’t trust that guy.”

“Okay, we can go together…and the guys too if they’re available.”

I’ll just have to work on the office while they’re working on everything else. Oh, God. This is going to be a disaster. And how do I expect to keep this secret from Rhodes when I’m living in his house?

By the time we’ve finished eating and put the dishes in the dishwasher, the exhaustion from the day has caught up with me. When Rhodes puts his hand on my shoulder, I sag into him, my forehead on his chest. I smile when I hear his low, raspy laugh.

“Should I carry you to bed?” he asks.

“I’m almost tired enough to agree,” I tell him, propping my chin on his chest and looking up at him.

He’s wearing my favorite expression, the adoring one.

“Have I said I'm really glad you're here?” he asks.

“You have. And I'm really glad I'm here too.”

He leans in for a second, and my airwaves halt. I just know he's about to kiss me. He seems to come to his senses and pauses long enough for me to step back.

“Night. I’ll see ya when I see ya,” I finish lamely. “I’ve got to work a couple hours at the chiropractor's office early in the morning and then I'll be going to practice.”

“All right.” He nods. “You know I want to kiss you, right?”

My insides get shaky, stunned that he's just coming out with it. I try to nod nonchalantly.

“Yeah, I kind of thought so.”

He stares at me, his hazel eyes glued on me. “We already know how fucking amazing it would be.”

“It would also be confusing though. Right?”

“Right,” he says finally. “Right. ” Firmer this time.

When I get into bed, I’m wide awake and unable to stop thinking about that near kiss. I hear him walk past my room and pause, and my heartbeat nearly pounds out of my chest.

I wonder if he'll knock lightly or maybe crack open the door to see if I'm sleeping…

When he keeps walking down the hall, I'm disappointed.