Once we got everything into the guest house and Jeff set up their new flat screen TV for them it was lunch time.

“Goddamn…I know where we’re coming to watch football. This fucker is huge!”  Jeff said as he sat back on the sofa.

“So where do y’all want to go for lunch?” Ari asked as she sat on the sofa next to Jeff.

“How about burgers, Mighty Fine sound good?” Jeff asked as he looked around to each of us.

“That sounds MIGHTY FINE to me!” Ari said as she jumped up and grabbed her keys. I’m driving….the weather is too nice not to take the jeep.

As we started to walk out to Ari’s jeep Ellie held me back. Just by me holding her hand it made my stomach do all sorts of flips and dives. Jeff and Ari had walked out the door and were heading to the jeep.

“What’s up sweetheart, everything okay?”

“No…..no it’s not okay.” She said with a serious look on her face. Oh shit. I started to replay the whole morning in my head. Did I say something? What the fuck did I do?

“What is it Ells? What’s wrong?” I asked her as my heart started to beat out of control. Things were just getting back to normal. NO…better than normal. We were passed the whole friends status.

“It’s just that I really need you to kiss me, like right now.” She said with a smile that melted my heart right there on the spot.

Well shit….just when I thought it couldn’t get any better.

“Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to kiss you Ellie.” I said as I reached down and hugged her around her waist. She giggled when I lifted her up and took her lips with mine. Fuck….if my dick was not getting hard again. I just wanted to walk over to the sofa with her and make out. Touch her body and make her feel things she had never felt before.

Just as the kiss was moving from sweet and innocent to passionate and needy….Ari honked the horn. Ellie started laughing and even though I just wanted to shout out FUCK, I started to put Ellie back down. She had a huge smile on her face that only made me smile right back at her.

“Was that what you were looking for?” I asked as I gave her a wink.

She smiled and punched me in the arm. “YES! But more than anything I love the way you pick me up and hold me close to you.” Right on cue……the blush crept up her cheeks. I’ll never get tired of it.

“That is just one of the many things I would love to do to you.”

Ari honked again but this time she laid on the horn for a good five seconds. Ellie and I both laughed and started to walk out the door.

“She is probably pissed she is sitting in the jeep alone with Jefferson!” Ellie said with a laugh.

After lunch we drove and picked up a few items for Brad’s birthday party before heading back to the girls cottage. Ari had sent a text message to their friend Heather and asked if she wanted to come tonight since Amanda would also be there with Brad.

“You better warn your friend Heather that Josh had his eyes on her.” Jeff said with a wink towards Ari and Ellie.

“SHIT! All the bastard talked about every time I danced with him was Heather. Fucker had a hard on all night and it was NOT from dancing with me!” Ari said as she pulled the last bag for the party out of her jeep and walked it over to my truck.

Somehow nothing that came out of this girl’s mouth shocked me. Ari was actually a perfect match for Jeff. If only they could both see it.

“Okay well um, I guess we will see y’all later tonight right?” Jeff said has he looked between Ellie and Ari. His eyes lingered a little bit longer on Ari though……….did Ari just blush?

“YEP! We have to pick up Heather on the way there but we will be there around what 7?”  Ellie said as she just stared at me and smiled. I couldn’t even think with her looking at me like that.

“Yeah, seven is good honey.” Jeff said as he walked up and gave Ellie a kiss on the check. He turned and starting to walk towards Ari who was leaning up against her jeep. I saw her whole body tense up.

“I’ll see ya later then.” Jeff said as he reached around her and into the jeep for his tea.

SHIT….for a moment there I thought he was going to lean down and kiss her. By the way Ari’s body language was she was thinking the same thing. He grabbed his tea, took a drink and winked at her. Once he turned around I could see Ari let out the breath she was holding.

I walked over to Ellie and put my mouth up against her ear. “I can’t wait to see you later sweetheart. Thank you for such a wonderful day.” I kissed the side of her face before I turned and walked over to my truck.

I jumped into the truck and looked up to see her smiling at me. I had to fight the urge to jump back out and kiss her again. I waved goodbye as I pulled out of their small driveway onto the main drive leading off the property. I looked over at Jeff who had a shit eating grin on his face.

“You want to tell me what that was all about?” I asked as Jeff turned to look at me.

“I think we should invite Ellie and Ari to go to the ranch with us. Your grandmother and grandfather would love to meet Ellie.” Jeff said as he started to go through my iPod.

“Funny you should mention that ‘cause I was thinking about it earlier this morning when we were helping them move. You think they would both want to come?”

“I know Ellie is dying to get out into the country air. She has talked about moving to the country since she was a little girl so I know she’ll be excited to go.”

“What about Ari?”

Jeff let out a laugh and then looked over at me. “Ari, yeah she’ll go if Ellie asks her to go. I’m not sure how that princess will do out in the country but I sure as shit would love to find out!”

“Well shit…that is going to make for an interesting trip out to the ranch that’s for sure. Let’s just get you two through the party tonight shall we? By the way, back to that move you put on her reaching in to get your tea. I hope you noticed her reaction.” I said as I looked over at Jeff.

“You liked that huh? I sure as shit noticed it and believe me, I intend on using that to my advantage.”

I just shook my head.

“I have no doubt about that dude.”

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Ellie…….

Ari and I took some time after Jefferson and Gunner left to unpack a few things and straighten up. The morning had been blissful and I felt like I was on cloud nine. Gunner had kissed me twice today and each time I felt like I was going to just melt in his arms. I definitely liked our move from friends to more than friends.

I was still nervous about it all though. I never felt like this with Ryan, not even close. The more time I spent with Gunner the more I felt like I was stepping into a danger zone. The last three weeks without them where pure hell and it felt so good to have him back in my life again.

Ari was being very quiet. I’m not really sure what was going on with her this afternoon. Jefferson and she got along pretty good and even bickered a few times which was a relief. I wondered if she was worried about going to the party tonight. After all the last party at Gunner and Jefferson’s house turned out pretty shitty for Ari.

Just then Ari jumped when a text came through. She bolted up and grabbed her cell off of the breakfast bar. Her face immediately fell.

“What’s wrong? Is it bad news or something?” I asked her as I walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.

“Oh um no…..not at all it’s actually from Jason. Looks like they landed in France a little bit ago. He was just checking to see how my day has been. Sweet huh?” Ari said with a small smile.

“Yep, that is sweet. You telling him we are going to Brad’s party tonight?”

“I wasn’t going to. I mean he doesn’t own me, I don’t have to tell him my every damn move!” Ari snapped back at me and walked off.