Because You're Mine (The Gallaghers #3) - Layla Hagen Page 0,12

her up.

“Are you on good terms with your parents? I know from Henry they both remarried.”

“Yes, I am. And after so many years, they are almost on good terms with each other too, but it’s not always easy to keep everyone happy. I also like my stepparents a lot.”

Making her family happy was important to her. It was something we had in common. The Gallaghers were always a tight group; it was how my parents raised us. No matter how mad my sisters would get at us or vice versa, we supported one another through thick or thin. The way I saw it, the unconditional support I got from family was one of the best things in my life.

“We’re not—”

She yelped as I pushed her sideways in the nick of time.

“Watch where the fuck you’re going,” I yelled after the maniac biker who had nearly run her over.

Focusing on Ellie, I looked her up and down just to make sure she was okay. Her eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed.

“Are you hurt? Did he brush into you or something?”

“I’m good. Just shocked; it happened so fast. I didn’t hear him.”

She was leaning with her back against a wall full of neon yellow graffiti, drawing in heavy breaths. I cupped her cheek, looking at her intently.

“It’s okay. It was just a scare,” I said, trying to reassure her. My protective side kicked in like a reflex.

She nodded, but her body was still stiff.

“I’ll shake it off. I just need a minute.”

I absentmindedly stroked her cheek, touching the corner of her mouth involuntarily. Ellie exhaled sharply. Her pupils dilated. Fuck, what was I doing?

On the other hand... it seemed to distract her from the incident.

I took a step back, pointing for her to lead the way.

I kept my hands to myself for the rest of the walk. Ellie chirped on about her neighborhood. She ended up being the tour guide. I didn’t know anything about Columbus Circle, and I liked watching her so animated about everything. I’d never met anyone so expressive. She gesticulated with her hands, even twirling a couple of times when she pointed to several buildings she’d read about.

She got lost in her surroundings—no wonder she hadn’t heard the bike coming up on us before. I kept a close eye out again, just in case we happened upon any other out of control objects.

When we entered her apartment, Harper greeted us from the living room. "Hey, guys. I'm going to just stay here in the living room to work on a craft project. I hope that's okay. I feel like I don't get enough air in my bedroom."

"Sure," Ellie said. "Ian's fixing the rod and the wall in my bedroom, so we might bother you just a little drilling two holes."

"That's fine. I have noise-canceling headphones on," Harper said, pointing to her ears.

“Great," Ellie commented with a wave as we walked the short hallway to her room.

When Ellie opened the door, the space felt even smaller than before—maybe because it looked as if she'd crammed the entire inventory of a department store inside it.

I glanced up at the wall and barely held back a laugh.

"What's that?" she teased, pointing at my mouth. "You look like you want to laugh.”

"I made a bet with myself that you'd demolished half the wall."

"Hey, I didn't demolish it. A piece of it just fell, but that's fine. I figured we could just drill the new holes higher up, and then the curtain will cover it, and I won't even see it. And I’ll fix it another time."

"I have everything I need to fill that up."

"Wow. Really?"

"Yes." God, she was too cute.

"You're thorough."

I looked straight at her. "Always."

She blushed, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear and licking her lip. I wanted to capture her mouth and explore it until her legs shook.

"Um, okay, so do you need my help?" she asked. "Otherwise, I can just go buy us some dinner."

"I don't need any help. I'll probably need about twenty minutes though."

"Great. I'll buy something from downstairs." It was cute, the way she tried so hard to keep her eyes on my face when I could tell she was dying to check me out.

I went to the window, setting the toolbox on the windowsill. I smiled, feeling her watch me, and glanced over my shoulder. "Ellie?"

"Hmm?"

“Do you need anything, or are you just looking your fill?"

She blushed. "I'm not going to answer that."

I grinned. "That's an answer all in itself." She laughed