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.

said, opening the door for her, a reluctant truce in the making.

a moment before climbing into the car.

her a towel “Dry off,” he

time for his games. Ellie clutched the towel, heroice edged with desperation. I’ve kept my end of the bargain. Can you let my

snort escaping him that Ellie took as pure sarcasm. He held her gaze, and she fidgeted

said, his hands resting easily on the steering wheel, his

felt powerless. Jaslands was Alex’s world; he could find out anything about anyone. Yet, he was making

you could

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Love and Deepspace

Jan

Chapter 6

for effect. “The more you resist, the more

frowned at his taunting words.

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

head, taking a deep breath to stear herself. Her feelings for Alex were a one–sided struggle she couldn’t control,

couldn’t imagine how Haley would feel if she knew Ellie was helping Alex pursue her, or how her brother would react he found out. But Ellie was out of

the road, Alex said, tucking

looked at him, puzzled. “Where exactly are

his voice leaving

came to him as a last resort to

arguing, Alex just stepped on the gas, and the car leaped forward. Ellie’s breath hitched, but she managed to

even with the wipers on full blast, it was hard to see the road ahead.

they raced towards the Warren Manor, Ellie kept to herself. Maybe it wasn’t all

parents

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

out of the house, and now my bank cards are frozen Can you come pick me up? I’m really in

when Alex was already out in the