All I Want Is You Read online

  Chapter Two

  ELI followed his cousin up the stone walkway to the cabin hefting a cooler. The cabin was a beautiful A-frame, already lit up and welcoming. It sat in a clearing, halfway up the side of a mountain, with a few pine trees on each side for shade. And the wide porch that wrapped around the length invited quiet contemplation. This was his kind of place.

  “Nice cabin,” Ash said following them with their duffle bags. “Are you sure we’re not causing you any trouble taking this place?“

  “Not at all. The place had already been fixed up when we got the cancellation. I just added a few extra for you.” Gareth shifted Jabbers’ dog bed to under his arm and unlocked the front door. “Welcome to your love nest.”

  Oh boy. Eli lifted a brow and peeked in. Gareth had warning they were coming and wanted their own place. He could’ve done anything to the cabin. To his relief there weren’t rose petals strewn all over the floor and candles lining every surface. There was a fireplace all set with logs ready to go and a bottle of wine in a bucket, but no other romantic gesture past that.

  He set the cooler on the counter as Gareth placed Jabbers bed near the fireplace and knelt down to a fire started. “You’ve got that?” Eli asked Ash as he came in with the bags. “Anything left in the truck?”

  “Just Jabbers’ bowls and food, though he’s still destroying that bone your aunt gave him. He’s sprawled out on the porch chomping down.”

  When Eli returned from grabbing the last of Jabbers’ belongings from the truck, the fire was starting to burn on the hearth and Ash stood in the living room with Gareth. Eli’s cousin was showing off some of his tattoos, no doubt trying to sell Ash on the idea of getting a full sleeve instead of just the one he’d lost the bet on. Jabbers slipped in behind Eli and began sniffing around the room as if he smelled something interesting. “I brought you something, Gareth,” Eli said as he returned to the cooler. “A gift from Lu.”

  Gareth came over, hands already stretched out. “Is it what I think it is? Please tell me it is and I’ll love you forever.”

  Eli pulled out a box, taped down on all sides, and handed it to Gareth. “Not one, but two of her tourtiéres.”

  “Yes! I love her meat pies. Everybody down here thinks I’m crazy, but they haven’t tried them.” He gave Eli a hopeful look. “She wouldn’t have happened to have given you some of her relish for me?”

  Eli pulled out a good sized jar decorated with a ribbon around the mouth. The yellow green contents looked a mess, but the sweet tartness of the relish complimented the meaty spice of the pie. “One for you and one for my parents. That should last you till next year unless you pig out on it.”

  “The pies will be gone by New Year’s, but I’ll drag out the relish.” Gareth lifted the jar with a grin. “Wow, I think she doubled the amount this year. Tell her I said she’s awesome and thanks.”

  “I told her that you ran out mid summer last year and she was horrified that you were going without. You know how Lu is, a shortage of food is grounds for a crisis.” Eli put the pies meant for his parents in the fridge with the relish and set the cooler out of the way.

  “I can’t help it. I put it on everything, brats, junk sandwiches. I goes with almost anything.”

  “What’s a junk sandwich?” Ash asked coming into the kitchen. He snagged a beer from the pack that they’d bought after dinner and popped the top.

  “Don’t ask, you don’t want to know,” Eli said, handing Gareth a beer of his own before searching for a bottle opener for the wine.

  “It’s whatever I have left in the fridge, slapped between two pieces of bread, some butter pickles, the relish, cheese if I’ve got it all heated up on my little counter grill.”

  “Heated up?” Ash made a face. “That’s slightly horrifying.”

  Jabbers began barking and Eli’s head jerked around. He recognized that bark. That was the same bark that Jabbers reserved for fisher cats and porcupines and anything else that he found curious that had nailed him before. Jabbers’ whole body was tense with excitement, his hindquarters up and front legs braced as he continued to warn everybody that danger was imminent.

  “Uh oh,” Gareth said.

  Eli shot his cousin an exasperated look as he went to grab Jabbers’ collar. “Tell me you didn’t bring her.” His statement was answered with an angry hiss as the ugliest cat in existence peeked out from behind the curtain. Her ears bent at the tips, her face was squished and the almost non-existent down that covered her body did nothing to hide the folds of her skin.

  “Bring who?” Ash asked coming into the living room. He stopped and his brows jumped up at another angry hiss as the hairless cat fixed her gaze on him. “What the hell is that?”

  Gareth gave Ash an injured look and went to scoop up his spoiled rotten diva. “This is Lady Godiva. She came with me earlier when I set up the place. I didn’t want her to get lonely if I was gone all day. I didn’t think it would be a problem since her and Jabbers already know each other.” The cat submitted to being petted all while staring at Jabbers with regal disdain from the safety of Gareth’s arms.

  “She’s an evil mutant who got Jabbers on the nose pretty good when he was a puppy.” Eli crouched down and rubbed Jabbers’ side. “Sit, Jabbers. If you behave, she’ll leave you alone.”

  “In her defense, he did chase her.” Gareth rubbed his cheek against the top of Lady Godiva’s head. “I thought they got along rather well once they established that she’s the boss.”

  Eli shook his head at the memory. “He refused to come back through the door until she gave her permission.” He sat there and whined as she stood in the doorway and didn’t move inside until she walked away.

  Gareth grinned. “Like I said. She’s the boss.”

  Ash went over and let the cat sniff his hand. She rubbed her cheek against his fingers, her eyes half closing. “She’s not that bad. I can see how she’d grow on you. Kind of like daddies with babies. Have you ever seen a newborn? They’re scary ugly, but you can’t help loving them anyway.”

  “She’s got a face that only Gareth would love,” Eli retorted and patted Jabbers’ head as he let out a soft, mournful cry of betrayal. “Oh stop that, Jabbers.You’re being silly.”

  Gareth set Lady Godiva on the floor as Eli continued to pet the beagle. His tail began to thump and his body tensed a bit, but he laid his head on Eli’s knee as he watched his nemesis’ progress toward him. Eli was sure they’d be okay once they got acclimated to each other again. “I’m sorry; I could run her back down the road if you want.”

  “Don’t worry about it. They were bound to run into each other at Christmas dinner. We can get the drama out of the way now.” Eli continued to pet Jabbers as Lady Godiva stopped in front of him and gave him her most intimidating, yellow eyed stare. From a regular cat it was bad enough, from Gareth’s cat it was demonic. Jabbers whined and broke eye contact to look up a Eli.

  “Ya big baby,” Ash laughed. “She’s got your number.”

  “Keep it up and he’ll sulk,” Eli warned. Ash couldn’t talk; Jabbers knew just how to get to his partner. First he’d sulk and mope around in dejection while Ash tried to apologize and give him some loving that Jabbers would refuse. Sometimes, if Jabbers was feeling particularly abused and Eli wasn’t around to nip it in the bud, there would be baying until the beagle decided he was a lap dog and insisted on draping himself over Ash until he’d been coddled back into his usual sunny mood. Ash fell for it every time.

  “I’m sorry, buddy,” Ash said and bent down to scratch the top of Jabber’s head.

  The three of them watched as Lady Godiva proceeded to rub herself along Jabbers’ body before starting to purr with a loud rumble. Jabbers let out a sigh of surrender and relaxed when he came to the conclusion that she wasn’t going to pounce anytime soon.

  “See, they’re friends,” Gareth said and claimed one of the recliners to sprawl in.

  “Yeah, until your cat is feeling playful and decides to stalk Jabbers or she trie
s to steal his bed again. She’s a terrorist.” Eli rose, watching to see what Jabbers and Lady Godiva would do. Jabbers lifted his head with a ‘don’t leave me look’ as the cat curled up in a ball right up next to him.

  Gareth shrugged and took a sip of his beer. “She’s a cat, what do you want. The two act like mortal enemies at first and best friends when they part. You’d think they’d remember their history and skip the opening drama.”

  “Skip it?” Ash laughed and took a seat at the couch, then slipped his arm around Eli when he joined him. “Jabbers lives for being on the center stage, taking out the drama would destroy his fun.”

  “So how are thing going for you, Gareth?” Eli asked, stretching his legs in front of him. It felt good to know he wouldn’t have to get back into that cramped truck tomorrow. They could hike to his parents place in morning and get some fresh air and exercise. “Are you still songwriting?”

  An expression of wariness crossed Gareth’s face. “Please, Eli, not you too.”

  “You write music? That’s cool,” Ash said. “What kind of music?”

  “Still getting pressure from the family?” Eli asked and Garth shrugged. Eli gave him smile of sympathy. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell you to grab your guitar and head for Nashville.” Gareth loved music and he’d been fiddling with a guitar all of their lives, though for a long time he only sang for Eli and his mom. As outgoing as Gareth was, he had terrible stage fright. He wasn’t interested at all in making records and going on tours, he just wanted to play and write in his own time.

  “Oh, all kinds of music,” Gareth said, answering Ash. “A little country, a little bluegrass, mostly rock and metal. Whatever the mood strikes me at the time.”

  “Have you ever thought about trying to sell some of your songs? They’re good. I think if you market them right you might surprise yourself.” Eli got up to examine the wine that he’d abandoned and then poured himself a glass. “You’d get the pleasure of having them out and people hearing them, all without having to get in front of a crowd.”

  The fire was crackling and snapping, sending out a steady warmth and Jabbers decided to investigate his bed, sniffing around to make sure nothing had changed since the night before. Lady Godiva watched him through slitted eyes though she opted not to move from the comfortable spot she’d found.

  “I hadn’t ever considered it, but it’s a thought,” Gareth said, turning the beer bottle in his hands. “I certainly have enough of them stacked about.”

  “Or maybe you can find some up and coming band who’s looking for material,” Ash offered. “Like a cross promotion of some kind."

  “That’s a possibility too.” Gareth drained the rest of his beer then got up. “Well, I’ll leave you two for the night. What do you say I come rescue you from your parents’ after dinner tomorrow? We can head down into Gatlinburg and raise a ruckus.”

  Eli was a little ashamed of how relieved that offer made him. And from the look Ash cast him he knew that relief was apparent. He needed to just drop this whole wary mindset or he’d be going to his parents’ house tomorrow and end up sabotaging the holiday before he started. He knew he was half to blame for the tension between him and his dad.

  “We also have to set up some time for you to tattoo Ash here before his nerves get the best of him,” Eli said, anticipating Ash’s response. “It’s his first and he’s trying to wiggle his way out of it.”

  A sudden grin crossed Gareth face. “A virgin, huh? I can’t wait.”

  Ash winced and finished his own beer. “I don’t suppose I could talk you into changing the design, or maybe you could also get the Braves tattooed on your arm, Eli. We could go in it together. Get both of our cherries popped.”

  Eli chuckled and shook his head. He hadn’t gotten this much enjoyment out of making Ash squirm since they’d sat across from each other in the classroom. Ash wasn’t normally a squirming kind of guy.

  “Good luck, I’ve been trying to get ink on Eli since I first started tattooing. I understood him saying no when I was an apprentice, but he continued to say no when I was done.” Gareth tossed his empty beer into the trash, then scooped up Lady Godiva. “I don’t think he’s been tempted once.”

  “You’re right about that.” Eli grimaced. The tattoos and piercings looked good on Gareth, they would look outlandish on him. “There’s no such thing as permanency, so I can’t think of any one design I’d want on my body for the rest of my life.”

  Chapter Three

  ASH knelt in front of the fire, stoked it and then added another log. It wasn’t that cold, but he wanted to keep the cozy feel and tending to the fire reminded him of home. Eli was still outside talking with Gareth and Jabbers had gone limp and drowsy once the cat had left the vicinity.

  This was the moment he’d been waiting for. Ash rubbed the hard lump in his jeans’ pocket. He’d removed the ring from his coat earlier in preparation for tonight. Gareth had even left a romantic basket of goodies next to the heart shaped Jacuzzi tub. Ash had waited to investigate the contents so he could be with Eli when they did.

  He sat back on his heels and frowned, replaying the earlier conversation in his head. Eli didn’t believe in anything being permanent. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Ash kept trying to tell himself that he was reading too much into that one statement, but it wasn’t really working. He knew that deep down Eli felt abandoned by his parents and that had never really been addressed as far as he could tell, so maybe that’s where the comment came from.

  It wasn’t like Eli wasn’t surrounded by happy couples making a go at it. His parents were still married. Neil and Lu had been acting like a married couple since Eli was a teenager, even if they’d only started living together in the last year. They were as solid as granite. And they also had zero intentions of getting married and had said so often. And they, not Eli’s parents, were Eli’s barometer.

  “What’s going through your mind, Georgia?”

  Ash looked over his shoulder at Eli as he shut the cabin door. He was so lean and tall, especially compared to his cousin who was shorter than Ash. The firelight caught the highlights in his hair and Ash was struck by how long it had grown in the last year. Mostly because Ash had raised a protest whenever Eli tried to do more than trim it. He loved the wild, bohemian look about him. He loved that Eli lived his own life, did his own thing and ignored society’s opinion on what he should be doing. Sometimes Ash wished he could ignore it as much. Those were just a few of the qualities that he loved about Eli even if they could be damned frustrating at times.

  A little voice inside him nagged him that he should just talk to Eli. They’d never much had a problem talking or butting heads for that matter. He was having a hard time bringing up marriage though. What if Eli said no? He didn’t think that proposing would make Eli run in the other direction. He didn’t think a no would end their relationship.

  Ash set the fireplace poker back in its rack and shut the fireplace screen. “I was thinking about Neil and Lu and their outright refusal to consider marriage.”

  Eli shrugged and poured himself another glass of wine. “It’s not for everybody. They’re happy, that’s all that matters. Though, I know Dad isn’t too happy about them shacking up at their age like their teenagers.”

  “Your dad could stand to lighten up some. That’s Lu and Neil’s business.” Ash stood up, shoved his hand in his pocket and curled his fingers around the box. “I guess some people grow up hoping that they will get married some day and some others don’t care.”

  “I’d never given it much thought.” Eli seemed distracted, with a tiny furrow between his brows as he sipped his wine. “I just wanted to find somebody that I loved and who loved me back. I was beginning to think it would never happen.” His face softened as he glanced at Ash. “You proved me wrong.”

  Ash wasn’t sure if he should take that as a good sign or just further proof that Eli was more than content with the status quo. He started to pull out the ring when Eli spoke up again. “Right n
ow, I don’t want to think past tomorrow. I just want to get this visit over with, get back home and enjoy the rest of the semester break. I need to catch up on my reading.”

  Dammit, it just wasn’t the time. Ash pushed the ring further back into his pocket. The last thing Eli needed right was more pressure from him and he didn’t need to get all worked up either. Tomorrow was a huge day for Eli and Ash hoped that this was just Eli’s nerves talking and that the day with his parents wouldn’t be as bad as Eli feared.

  “Stop thinking about it.” Ash walked over to him and slipped his arm around Eli’s waist. “What happens tomorrow isn’t going to change a thing between us. Even if it’s the worst case scenario and your dad tries to make an issue of us and your mom allows it with her silence. You’ve still got Gareth and your Aunt Barbara here and they both are happy for us.We don’t need much else.”

  “That’s true.” Eli turned his face into Ash’s neck, then brushed his lips over the skin, stirring anticipation. “I know I’ve been a pain the entire drive down.”

  “I bet I could get your mind off of them.” Ash took Eli’s glass and set it on the counter. “What do you say we wager on it?”

  “That’s a sucker’s bet, Georgia. I’m not falling for it,” Eli said, and slipped his fingers through Ash’s belt loops to pull him closer. “But keeping talking like that, you’ve got my full attention.”

  Ash steered Eli down the hallway toward the bedroom and Eli’s scent woke up all of his senses. He always smelled of fresh air and books. It was an elemental and exciting combination.

  “I bet I could make you come without touching you,” Ash said next to his ear and smiled when Eli shivered. “How’s that for a more challenging bet?”

  “You get more wicked every day. I’m still not biting. I have first hand experience just what you can do to me without touching.” Eli hesitated outside the doorway to the bedroom and stopped Ash from opening it. “Warn me first, Gareth didn’t do anything outrageous did he?”