Broken Beginnings

Chapter 11

Galen

We set the grocery bags on the counter, pulling the contents from the white plastic. “I totally forgot about laundry.”

I watched as Chloe moved through the kitchen to the laundry room. “Do you have a line to hang blankets on outside?”

I nodded, pointing to the back door. “Yeah, it’s just out back.”

She smiled again. It was another real smile. I would have to thank my mother for assembling the line I had never used. I had a dryer and saw no reason to go through the extra work of putting my sheets on a string to hang in the wind.

Chloe pulled the blanket from the washer and padded to the back door. “I love the smell of the outdoors on my blankets. My mom had a clothes line before she,” she paused, her hand on the door handle. I waited for her to continue, my heart pounding in my chest. “I just love the smell.” With those words, she walked outside.

What had happened to her mom? I wanted to ask her – I wanted her to trust in me enough to tell me what had happened. But I didn’t want to push for answers she wasn’t ready to give. I felt as though I had known her for years and years when in reality it had been less than a full twenty-four hours. Regardless of the little time we had been a part of each other’s life, I was determined to be worthy of her trust.

Chloe came back in through the back door and I couldn’t help but notice the change in her. Her shoulders were slumped. The corners of her lips were tipped in a frown. She looked sad. I wanted to make her happy. I wanted to take her mind off of whatever it was that destroyed her smile. “So, what kind of job are you thinking of doing?”

She shrugged, placing her hands flat against the counter. “I don’t know. Serving probably.”

“You have experience, right?” I remembered her saying she had worked in a bar. The thought encouraged my hands to form tight fists. The reaction was subconscious.

“Yeah,” she looked down. “I have experience in a bar – but I was thinking I’d prefer to serve in a family restaurant instead.”

“We’ve got a few here.” I offered and she nodded, pulling her bottom lip into her mouth. She grated her teeth over her lip and the blood rushed to the surface, making the lush pink line of her lip appear a shocking shade of blood red. My cock jumped and I cursed internally. That was the last thing she needed – me lusting after her like some kind of animal in heat. I would have to get a hold on my desire if I had any hope of gaining her trust.

“Yeah,” she nodded and those honey colored eyes flickered up to meet mine. “I’ll apply on Monday.”

I thumbed over my shoulder. “I should go get the fire started.”

“Oh,” she looked down at the disarrayed assortment of food on the counter. “I suppose I’ll get the food ready?”

“If you don’t mind? The condiments are in the fridge and there’s a tray in the cupboard there,” I pointed and she nodded. “Snoop around. It’s your kitchen now too. You should know where everything is.”

At my words a blush stained her cheeks. I cocked a grin. I loved seeing her blush. She was so damn beautiful when she blushed. “I think I can do that.” 

“Great,” I turned to walk to the back door, but her voice stopped me.

“Do you like onions?”

I nodded, “Do you?”

“There’s nothing like fresh onions and pickles on a hot dog.”

I winked before stepping from the house. “You’re my kinda girl, babe.”