Love's Tangled Web by Donna Taylor

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Fri, Jan

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The clock ticked past one in the morning, and the rain came down like a waterfall. Alex pushed through the hotel’s spinning doors and spotted Ellie, huddled in the corner of the portico, trying to dodge the rain’s bullets.

Even there, she was getting soaked, clutching a tattered umbrella, looking like a drowned rat with those big, damp eyes tracking him

The doorman rushed over, shielding Alex with an umbrella as lie beclined for his fancy car.

“Alex,” Ellie’s voice called out, but he pretentled not to hear, his strides lengthening.

Not to be deterred, Ellie dashed to the car as Alex slid in, her umbrella fighting a losing battle against the wind, her hand tugging at his arm.

“I messed up, and I’m sorry,” she muttered, her voice barely a whisper, head bowed like she always did when she was little, even if she didn’t do anything wrong.

Alex glanced at the sad umbrella and then at Ellie. “What exactly did you mess up?” he snapped, even though he was the one who should be on the apology train,,,

The wind snatched the umbrella from Ellie’s hand, and she let go of Alex’s arm to wrestle it back. After a few deep breaths, she found her voice, soft but steady. I’ll help you… with her,” she said, her words a quiet offer.

Alex, already behind the wheel, paused with the seatbelt in hand, his eyes locked on Ellie.

She stood there, eyes downcast, the weight of a lifetime of his shadow on her shoulders. She’d tried to escape it all, running off to college far away, but here she was, right back in the thick of it.

His face was still a thundercloud, but his voice had an edge of curiosity. “You gonna talk back to me now?” he asked, a challenge in his tone,

Ellie shook her head, her compliance as automatic as it was unnecessary. “No,” she whispered.

just a bit. “Get in,” he said, opening the door for her, a reluctant

moment before climbing into

to toss her a towel “Dry off,” he said,

didn’t have time for his games. Ellie clutched the towel, heroice edged with desperation. I’ve kept my end

held her gaze, and she fidgeted with the towel, the silence

said, his hands resting easily on the steering wheel, his mood lighter.

brother’s situation, and she felt powerless. Jaslands was Alex’s world; he could find

give you her contact info when you could get it a

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Love and Deepspace

Fri, Jan

Chapter 6

than it has to be, Alex replied, pausing for effect. “The more you resist, the

at his taunting

glance. “And since I’m serious about Haley. I’m planning on marrying her, so I need to be

her head, taking a deep breath to stear herself. Her feelings for Alex were

how her brother would react he found out. But Ellie was out of options. With a heavy heart, she handed over Haley’s contact information

tucking his phone away with a pleased grin.

him, puzzled. “Where exactly are we

Alex answered, his voice leaving

as a last resort to help h brother. And

car leaped forward. Ellie’s breath hitched, but

was pouring down, and even with the wipers on full blast, it was hard to see the road ahead. Ellie knew Alex’s temper, she wasn’t about to test his limits

they raced towards the Warren Manor, Ellie kept to herself. Maybe it wasn’t all bad–she’d get to

parents

snapped back to reality by he phone buzzing in her pocket. Seeing Haley’s name flash on the screen, she snatched up the

house, and now my

was already out in the downpour, pulling