Breaking Him(21)

“Shit, whatever.” He was silent for a couple seconds. “You’re not the only hot piece in this town, Abi. But I’m gonna give you some time to cool down, then we’ll try this again.”

I opened my mouth to tell him to get lost, but he hung up.

I was still fuming after my conversation with Kyle, stomping around the kitchen, when there was a knock at the door. My anger drained away almost instantly, replaced by a good amount of trepidation—I didn’t know how Eli was feeling today, if he wanted to continue with what we were doing. But there was also a delicious hum of excitement riding me. It had only been a day, but I missed him.

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I rushed to the door.

I pulled it open, and Eli was standing there. He was fresh from the shower. I could smell the subtle scent of his soap. His jeans and shirt were clean, and his hair still looked damp. I bit my lip at the look in his eyes, the deep flush that crept over his cheeks when he took me in from head to toe in return.

“Got your note,” he said softly.

I smiled a wobbly smile. “I didn’t know if you’d come…after everything that happened.”

He dipped his head and looked at me from under his lashes. “Wasn’t you saying those things, Abi. The way I heard it, you were defendin’ me.” He shook his head. “You don’t need to do that, darlin’.”

I wanted to argue with him, but I didn’t want to drag all that up again, not when it had caused him pain. So instead I gave him a little nod and pushed the door wider, plastering a bright smile on my face. “I hope you’re hungry.”

His eyes locked with mine, and his voice turned smoky. “Yes, ma’am.”

My belly quivered. “Well, you better come on in then.”

I sat him at the kitchen table, gave him a beer, and got on with dishing up. I’d put my favorite tablecloth down. It was a floral print—I loved anything with flowers on it. Seeing Eli sitting there, I was surprised how he looked even more rugged, more masculine against the feminine print.

The steak was done to perfection, juicy and thick. Eli always got the steak when it was on the menu. His favorite, he’d once told me. Well, he hadn’t exactly offered that information, but when I’d asked him on our way home from a trip to town, he’d nodded. I grinned to myself as I dished up the potatoes and salad, then put a loaf of freshly baked bread on the table. His gaze followed me as I grabbed our plates, making me tingle all over.

He murmured his thank-you when I put it in front of him, then I sat as well, and we started to eat. Eli did what he always did, tucking into his meal like a man starved…

My potato turned to ash in my mouth. I took a sip of beer. “Is it true?” The words were out of my mouth before I could choke them down with my dinner.

He paused, looking up at me.

“A-about your father…starving you, abusing you.”

“Yes.”

His voice sounded raw, and it skittered down my spine, my blood starting to boil all over again. “That son of a bitch.” Fury vibrated in my voice.

His Adam’s apple slid up and down his throat. “Don’t think about it, Abigail.”

What the hell was wrong with me? He didn’t want to talk about this. I’d made him dinner, then dragged up some of the worst memories of his life before he’d even finished. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, feeling like an insensitive fool.

He lowered his knife and fork. “Don’t pity me, darlin’. I can’t take that, not from you.” Then he looked back at his dinner and carried on eating.

I didn’t know what to say. I ached for him. I didn’t pity him. But I’d already jammed my foot far enough down my throat for one night, so I kept my mouth shut.

“Where did you go today?” he asked a few minutes later.

I’d hoped to avoid this conversation, but Eli worked here, so he deserved to know what was going on. “The bank. Things are…they’re not great at the moment. I asked Connor Jacobson for a loan extension.”

His brow scrunched. “That bad?”

“Yes.” Humiliation heated my face. I hated that I was failing. Maybe Connor was right…

“Will the horses cover it?”

The two that were nearly ready for sale would definitely free things up. “Yes, but they’re not there yet.”

“They’re close. I’ll have them ready in a week.”

“You’re putting in enough hours as it is…”

“One week, Abigail. Start looking for buyers.”

I was as independent as the next woman. I liked it that way. But the way he’d said that, the way he made it impossible to doubt him, impossible not to trust that he’d come through for me… God, it made me want to crawl across the table and climb into his lap. He’d taken my troubles on himself instantly and offered up a solution, was willing to put in the extra time, take on the extra work to help me. I think he took a little piece of my heart in that moment.