The Mighty Quinns: Eli by Kate Hoffmann

and nervous and silly. She could indulge her every whim and no one would see her weakness. So why not?
    She drew a deep breath, turned around and opened the knot on the sheet, letting it drop to pool around her feet. What he chose to do with her naked body was up to him now. Lucy smiled. And in truth, she was curious what he would do. Would his altruistic motives overwhelm his physical desires? Would nice or naughty win out?
    He smoothed his hands over her shoulders and then down her arms. “I’m going to go get some more water.” He handed her the washcloth and soap. “You can take care of the rest.”
    He was being strong for her sake, Lucy understood that. But sooner or later she would weaken his resolve and she would finally be able to make all of her fantasies come true.
    * * *
    â€œC AN I HAVE another cup of tea?”
    Eli smiled to himself as he walked over to the bed and retrieved Lucy’s mug.
    After her bath the previous day, he’d helped her dress then changed the linens on her bed. She’d spent the afternoon curled up in the sun, reading one of his grandmother’s Agatha Christie novels. After a light dinner of soup and bread, he’d tucked her into bed. She’d fallen asleep almost immediately and slept for nearly twelve hours.
    â€œYou look much better today,” he said as he walked to the kitchen. “You have your color back.”
    â€œAre you saying I looked like a zombie before?”
    â€œYou’re always beautiful.”
    Eli filled her mug with hot water and dropped a tea bag into it, then rummaged through his pack on the table until he found the satellite phone. When he returned to the bed, he handed her the mug and set the phone on her lap.
    â€œWhat’s that for?” she asked.
    â€œI want you to have it,” he said, sitting down on the edge of her bed.
    â€œFor what? I have the radio.”
    He nodded. “Yes, but the guidelines restrict how often you can use it. This phone comes free of guidelines. You can call me. I’ve programmed my cell phone number into the memory. You just hit Star-One.”
    â€œAnd then I can talk to you? Anytime I want?”
    Eli nodded. “Anytime. Day or night. For any reason at all. If you call, I’ll answer.”
    â€œMaybe I should give it a try,” she said. Lucy set her mug down on the bedside table and picked up the phone. She pretended to push the buttons, then put the phone to her ear. “Ring, ring,” she said.
    Groaning, Eli reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone. “I don’t have coverage up here.”
    â€œI know. Ring, ring.”
    â€œHello,” Eli said.
    â€œHello,” she said in a playfully sexy voice. “It’s me.”
    â€œHello, you.”
    â€œWhat are you wearing?”
    Eli chuckled softly. “A flannel shirt and jeans. What are you wearing?”
    â€œNothing,” Lucy said. “Why don’t you take off all your clothes and come over here. We can have a little fun.”
    With a soft curse, Eli grabbed the phone from her. “I’m serious about this,” he said.
    â€œSo am I,” Lucy said. “Take your clothes off.”
    He smoothed a strand of hair from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. Though he knew she needed more rest and seduction was out of the question, that didn’t stop him from needing to touch her at every opportunity.
    He was afraid to leave her again, certain that the moment he did, something horrible would happen.
    In all the time his grandmother had lived in this cabin, he’d never really worried about her safety. Even when his mother had taken off on one of her crazy adventures, he’d known that she was able to care for herself.
    Lucy had proved that she was up to the task of living in the wilderness. So why was his brain always conjuring disastrous scenarios for her?
    But he knew why. There was a vulnerability to Lucy, one she tried so hard