Yours Completely(6)

“Here.” Ella glanced around the barn, remembering countless days spent grooming, mucking, riding, and mending tack. “My family owns the inn, and I basically grew up with Captain and Commander.”

“Ah, so you're part of the infamous Phillips Family.” It wasn't a question. It was a judgment.

Ella's hand hovered over Captain's smooth coat. While it was technically true that she was part of the Phillips Family, it wasn't something she wanted to be associated with. Delores Phillips was her stepmother, not her family. Ella chewed on her lip, hating the way it sounded. Delores was the known gold-digger that had accidentally married a nearly bankrupt man with only an inn to his name. She was a joke, even if Ella didn't find it funny.

“I guess you could say that...” The words were thick on Ella's tongue. How do you explain to a complete stranger that your family is not your family? No one ever remembered that Johnathon McDaniels had a daughter, or that she got nothing but a promise when her father died due to the way Delores restructured the will.

“I apologize,” Jace said, stopping his brushing and looking at her. “That was rude of me and I apologize.”

“Oh, it's nothing,” Ella quickly countered, doing her best to smile and wave it away. “It comes with the territory. Happens all the time.”

“It shouldn't. You obviously aren't Delores Phillips, and her sins shouldn't pass to you.” Jace waited until she nodded before resuming the quiet pattern of his brush. “I, more than anyone, should know that.”

Her chest went heavy with emotion. No one ever apologized to her about lumping her with Delores, and it honestly was refreshing to have someone say it out loud. “Thank you,” Ella whispered.

“So, you obviously work here,” Jace said, trying to change the topic to something easier. He moved around Commander, working the brush. Bits of hay stuck to his expensive shirt, but he didn't seem to mind. If anything, he seemed to be relaxing and possibly even enjoying himself. “It must be wonderful to work in a place so beautiful.”

“It's my dream to make it even better,” she blurted out quickly. The words escaped her mouth before she knew what she was saying. She never told anyone that. Ever. Yet, here with Jace in the barn, a man she'd known for about ten minutes, she had spilled her guts. Shame and regret flooded her stomach. Why in the world had she even let him in the barn? She should have just kicked him out when she had the chance. She waited for the snide laughter that she assumed was coming.

But it never came.

“Even better?” Jace sounded impressed, rather than derisive. “You managed to convince a billionaire family to hold their wedding here. I think you've got a pretty good place.”

Ella stared at him for a moment, watching his hands move across Commander's white coat as she searched for the words. No one ever told her that she had a good place. Especially not Delores.

“It can be better,” she mumbled.

“Better? How?”

“It's nothing big.” He had to be leading her on. She'd tell him and he'd laugh at her and tell her how silly it was. A foolish little girl's dream. Impossible. Gripping the brush tight, she focused on Captain's grooming, wishing she had just kept her mouth shut. “It's not important.”

“Ella.” The way he said her name made her look up. He was smiling at her, and not in a way that made her feel little or stupid. The way he was looking at her made her feel special. Important. Like maybe her dreams were important. “Tell me. I'm actually interested.”

It felt like she could cook eggs on her cheeks they were so hot. Something like hope or pride filled her chest. The words tumbled out, desperate to be heard by someone who might think they were worthwhile.

“I want to make this place the number one hotel in the state. Then, make it best in the region, and then, maybe even in the country. I want to upgrade the restaurant to a five-star rating, and get boats back out on the lake. I want every billionaire wedding to come here, not just one.” Flustered and hot, she stopped. There was a reason she stopped telling people this. He was going to think she was silly. He was going to laugh at her.

But he didn't.

“Ambitious,” he replied. She looked up to see him thoughtful as he paused in Commander's brushing to consider her words. “I like it.”

“Seriously?” she asked, honestly surprised. “You aren't going to make fun of me for it? Tell me it's impossible? That it will cost too much or never be worth it?”

“Why would I make fun of you?” he asked. “You have a dream. From what I've seen of this place, it's doable. You have the space and the amenities. It'll be a lot of work, but it's not impossible.”