Finding Our Forever (Silver Springs #1)(32)

She let him go, but once she was inside, she twirled around the living room, reliving the evening before falling onto her bed. “What a night,” she said aloud. She thought Eli might come back after he took Dallas to Aiyana’s. She wanted him to. But if he tried to knock, she didn’t hear it. She fell asleep before she could even take off her clothes, and when she woke up, it was late morning.

Reluctant to roll out of bed, she checked her phone—and found she’d missed several calls since she’d paid any attention to that sort of thing last, which was before she’d gone to the bar. Her brother. Her mother. Jill. She’d even missed a call from Aiyana.

Expecting a nasty headache to hit as soon as she sat up, she moved gingerly at first, but she wasn’t as hungover as she’d thought she might be. She deserved worse.

With a yawn, she shoved her hair out of her face and put her phone on speaker so she could listen to her messages with minimum effort while sitting on the bed.

Her mom: “Call me when you get a chance, honey. I found the cutest dress for your birthday, but it’s expensive so I’d like you to try it on before I buy it. When will you be coming home?”

Cora smiled in affection. Her birthday wasn’t for six months, but her mother bought her stuff all year long.

Her brother: “Just calling to see how my baby sister’s doing. I’ll be in New York for a few weeks trying to line up the financing for my next film, so don’t panic if you don’t hear from me. I’ll check in when I get back.”

She hated that she’d missed his call. Ashton was always so busy these days.

Jill: “So how’s Silver Springs? I was hoping to come visit you next weekend, like we talked about, but Todd’s grandmother will be celebrating her ninetieth birthday in Palm Springs, and he wants me to go with him. Give me a call so we can set another date.”

She’d never told Jill that she’d slept with Eli. She’d decided it didn’t make sense to tell anyone since she wasn’t going to be with him again.

So much for that...

Aiyana: “Hi, Cora. Sorry for the late notice, but I was wondering if you’d be able to join the boys and me for dinner tomorrow. I’d love the opportunity to get to know you better.”

Cora hungered for the opportunity to get to know her better, too. But by boys, did Aiyana mean Eli and possibly Gavin and Dallas? Or was she talking strictly about the two youngest Turners—the ones living at home?

Cora sighed as she stared at her phone. She hesitated to put Eli in an awkward situation by showing up at his family dinner, but... Aiyana was the whole reason she’d come to Silver Springs. She wanted to accept the invitation.

After mulling it over, she texted him. Your mother has invited me to dinner today. Will you be there?

His response came almost right away. Yes.

Is it okay if I accept?

Why wouldn’t it be?

Because she wouldn’t be attending in the capacity they thought—as merely a new teacher at the ranch. She was excited to see how Aiyana lived, felt Aiyana’s house and the items in it might reveal more about who her biological mother was and what her life had been like. At a minimum, she’d probably be treated to pictures of her grandparents and uncles, maybe even some of the places Aiyana had lived in the past.

But Eli didn’t know that her interest extended beyond what she’d stated in her interview.

I don’t want to intrude on your time with your family.

You won’t be intruding.

She thought he’d leave it at that, but he texted her again a few minutes later.

When do you want to get your car?

In an hour or so? I was about to take a shower.

No problem. I can wait.

She put her phone on the nightstand only to hear it signal another text.

This was from Eli, too: Better yet, why don’t I join you?

Aiyana must’ve said something to Doug Maggleby, even though she’d said she wouldn’t, because he’d been less intrusive the past week. Or maybe he was getting the hint. Regardless, Cora was relieved that Doug wasn’t there hoping to talk to her every time she walked out her front door, but she still didn’t want him to see Eli’s truck sitting outside. You can’t park in front. We’ll have to be more careful or people are going to get the wrong idea.

You mean they might get the right idea.

She couldn’t help laughing. Basically.

Well, we can’t have that. I’ll walk over and slip in. No one will see me.

Oh boy. She was about to sink even further into her “torrid affair.” But there wasn’t a darn thing she could do about it. Even if she said no now, she knew she’d say yes later.

I’ll leave the back door unlocked.

*

“Damn, I’m glad I hired you,” Eli joked as they dropped onto her bed after thirty minutes of the best shower sex she’d ever had. “But since we seem to make love in a vertical position more often than not, I’d better spend more time at the gym. My arms feel like they’re about to fall off.”

She leaned on one elbow so she could smile down at him. “You didn’t seem to be struggling.”

“Are you kidding? You weigh a ton.”

The twinkle in his eye confirmed that he was teasing her. “You said you like my body! You said it was the hottest body you’ve ever seen.”