LOVING ELLIE Read Online Free

nudged the remaining embers around.  “I’ll throw a few logs on to get the fire going again before I go take a look at the heater.”
    “There isn’t any.”
    “Excuse me?”
    She pointed to the empty firebox in the corner.  “I haven’t had a chance to bring more wood in yet.”
    “When were you planning on doing it?”
    “Soon,” she said in her own defense. 
    “There’s not much daylight left,” he reminded her with a frown.  “And once those last rays of sun disappear from the sky the temperature outside is going to drop something fierce.”
    “I know,” she sighed tiredly.  The thought of going back out into that icy chill was daunting, but he was right.  She had to go back out before night set in.
    “You’re exhausted,” he said.  “And half frozen.  Stay here.  I’ll go out and get some firewood.”  Returning the poker to its hook, he turned to leave.
    “Don’t!” she called out. 
    He stopped and turned.  “Don’t?”
    “I don’t need your help.”  It was her fault the firebox was empty.  Her responsibility.
    He glanced toward the window, which was rattling from the force of the wintry wind and then back to where she stood.  “Fine.  But I wouldn’t wait too much longer to get it if I were you.  The snowfall’s getting thicker.”
    “A little snow never hurt anyone.”  The second the words were out Ellie wished she could take them back.  She hadn’t given any thought to Jarrett’s accident.  “What I meant to say”
    “It’s all right,” he said, cutting her off.  Turning away, he walked over to stand at the window.  His broad shoulders sagged slightly as he leaned against the window frame, his gaze fixed on the whirl of white outside.  “Did he suffer?” 
    “No,” she said softly, unable to bring herself to revisit the details of the accident.
    “Thank God,” he breathed.
    For what? For taking away the only man to ever treat her with tenderness and respect?  A good man who deserved to live a long, happy life.   
    “I’m sorry you missed the memorial.  We waited a week to have it, just in case you...” she said, struggling to hold it together.  She needed to be strong.  For Jarrett.  “Anyway, it was really nice.”    
    “If only my job hadn’t run longer than expected,” he said with a heavy sigh.  “I would have been back in Brazil when you tried to reach me.  Maybe then your calls would have gotten through.” He turned from the window, regret filling his eyes.  “If only I had known.”
    Life was full of ‘if onlys’ Ellie thought bitterly.  If only her parents had stayed together.  If only her mother had loved her enough to stick around.  If only Jarrett hadn’t been out on that icy road that night. 
    The chill she’d felt since Jarrett’s death moved deeper and the strength that had carried her through the past few weeks suddenly drained away.  With a soft gasp, she grabbed for the table by the sofa to steady herself as the room around her began to tilt and sway.
    Lucas turned from the window.  “Ellie?”
    His face was the last thing she saw before her entire world faded to black.
     
    His brother’s beautiful, young fiancée sank to the floor like a rag doll.  One moment she’d been standing there talking to him.  The next, she was lying in an unconscious heap in front of him. Thankfully, she’d landed on the thick Mohair rug in front of the sofa and not on the hardwood floor.
    He moved to gather her limp form in his arms.  Then he lifted her, throw and all, and turned toward the sofa.  He didn’t need this.  Not now.
    “Ellie?” he repeated, attempting to rouse her as he lowered her onto the floral cushions.  Reaching out, he turned on the lamp, pushing the growing shadows back to the corners of the room. 
    Concern etched his face as he knelt beside the woman that had been his brother’s fiancée, studying her pale face.  The half-moon shadows beneath her eyes were evidence of the sleep she