Excerpt From On Ellicott Street

Please enjoy this snippet from the upcoming eBook release:

They arrived at the shop and Eli held his hand against Cassie’s forearm to signal her to remain seated. He got out of the passenger side and smoothly arrived at the driver’s side door to open it for her. Some feminists might take offense to chivalry, but Cassie’s opinion held fast that gallantry needed reviving. She felt secure and beautiful when Eli followed through on those small courteous nuances.

They ordered chai tea and found a spot at the back of the shop. They sat next to each other on an oversized love seat and began talking once again. Eli and Cassie talked for four more hours. The topics ranged from world politics to Feng Shui to American history. Where one was deficient in knowledge about something, the other explained happily. They also moved closer together as the night blossomed into pre-dawn until they snuggled cozily in the overstuffed loveseat, dozing occasionally.

"I guess I should take you home now, it’s almost six a.m.!" Cassie giggled, astonished at the time.

Eli sheepishly grinned in return. "Yes, I suppose we have almost worn out our welcome here." Once seated safely in Cassie’s car, Eli gave her directions to his home. When they pulled into the driveway, Cassie did not know what to do next. She truly wanted to crawl in bed next to Eli and breathe in his warm, masculine scent until it lulled her to sleep. She wondered if he thought the same thing.

"Look, I don’t want you to leave yet. Is that too forward for me to say?" Eli implored.

Cassie shook her head and softly vocalized her assurance. "No."

"Good, then, it’s settled, I’ll come let you out and welcome you to my humble abode." Eli once again exited the vehicle and came around to open her door. He grabbed Cassie’s hand as they walked up to the front door, stroking the softness of her hand with his thumb. Eli took out his key and unlocked the door with almost a single motion. He opened the door wide, and extended it for Cassie’s entrance.

Eli did not flip on a light immediately. Instead, he drew Cassie near and breathed in the scent from the top of her hair. He pulled her close to him, holding her frame tightly against his. Eli smelled her skin and freshly washed hair, and he inhaled deeply as quickly and often as he could before he moved away from her.

He used his foot to push the front door closed, without moving away from her. "Oh, wow, you smell amazing and you feel even better. Do you know what you have done to me?" Eli whispered against the top of her head.

Cassie’s mind raced rapidly, desperately trying to keep up with her heartbeat. Eli’s arms felt strong and secure. Cassie had not felt this safe since she was a child. However, the heated surges she felt through her loins were nothing childlike. She squeezed Eli even tighter to her as she breathed in the smell of his chest against her face. Cassie could not articulate how she felt at that moment, so she had no idea what to interpret from Eli’s question. Funny how in the midst of the passion, she wondered if he intended her to answer his question. "Is that a rhetorical question?" Her voice was muffled against his shirt.

Stunned by the ridiculousness of Cassie’s comment, they began to laugh. What began as a gentle giggle turned into a full on belly roll, end of the night, punchy laugh-fest. "You are something else, Cassie Stewart, something else indeed."