Saving Ella by Kirsty Dallas Read Free Book Online Page A

nice to meet you Eli, my name’s Ella.” His blue eyes lit up.
                  “Ella and Eli. We kind of match.”
                  “We kinda do, we’ve got pretty awesome names.” Eli suddenly disappeared in a rush of excitement, squealing to his mother how our names ‘kind of’ matched. Floating on a euphoric cloud of childish innocence, clean and warm from the shower I wandered through a long corridor, following the incredible smell that wafted through the air. Holding my clothes in front of me like a shield, I stepped into the large kitchen. Like the rest of the shelter, it was clean, all but a few dirty dishes. A significantly round woman laughed with a loud shrill, her rosy cheeks flushed. She spotted me by the door and I shrunk back suddenly wishing I could disappear into the corridor behind me. I hated being the center of attention.              
                  “Come on in before this big oaf eats all your dinner.” Jax had his back to me, but when he heard the stoutly woman’s invite he casually turned around and smiled.
                  “Feeling a bit warmer now angel?” Flip went my heart, stupid Ella . He more than likely had pet names for all the women in the shelter and no doubt saved the truly heart melting sentiments for his wife.
                  “Does angel have a name?” The woman beside him asked, wiping her hands on a large apron. She gave Jax a curious smirk.
                  “Sorry Mary, this is Ella, she just blew in with the storm.” Jax lifted two plates and put them down at a tall bench in the center of the room.
                  “It’s nice to meet you Ella. And I mean it, get your skinny backside in here and get some supper before Jax eats it all. I mean look at him, he’s the size of a damn Oak, he needs all the food he can get to fill those long legs.” My eyes automatically went to those impressive legs before my mind caught up and realized what I was doing. Jax grinned, I was totally busted. I knew I blushed and hated it. I put up my shields, my determined pout behind the long veil of hair that shrouded my face falling forward around me. 
                  “Here, let me take those for you. We have a laundry room and I’ve got a few things to throw on. You have anything else that needs washing?” I shook my head and hesitantly handed my clothes over to Mary. I didn’t like handing over my possessions to others. I had so few things of my own that I preferred to take care of them myself, that way I could be sure not to lose anything. I know they were only things, material things, but things were harder to replace these days. Money was always scarce which meant being extra careful of what little I did have. Mary winked as if recognizing my hesitance.
    “I will take good care of these Ella and make sure you have them back before you go to bed tonight.”
    Jax was already sitting down to his own plate of food. He didn’t force me to join him, no expectations, just the silent offer of a meal. My backpack slid from my shoulders and I let it fall to my feet as I climbed onto the tall chair at the counter.
                  “I hope you’re not a vegetarian. Not that Mary minds cooking vegetables, but she’s got this thing about fattening everyone up and she seems to think that it’s done with three food groups, pig, beef and lamb.” I took a deep breath and drew in the spicy aroma of what I think was beef casserole, with what looked like real beef and veges.
                  “Yep, real beef,” Jax murmured. “Not many shelters offer the real thing, so I’m told. Most the women who stay are surprised with the food. Mary’s husband is a butcher. He provides us with enough meat to feed a small army and trust me, it tastes a hell of a lot better than the food I was forced to eat in the forces.” I cast him a sideways