Chapter Thirteen
Heating Up
Part One
It had been a grueling three months, but Grant's cast had finally been replaced with a removable bubble-plastic cast that he refused to wear. Ellie shook her head, but knew that ensuing an argument would be futile. When Dr. Grant spoke she kept her mouth shut and went with the flow. His decisions were carved in stone.
She brushed back a strand of gold that had escaped her bun and wiped the back of her hand over her glistening brow. At the moment, the excavation was at a standstill. They were waiting for the University to kick over some fresh recruits for the Spring Semester that was a few months away. Until then, Ellie still had plenty to do. At the time being, she was embarking on the most crucial part of late-autumn-early-winter: rearranging the furniture in the trailer. It had become a ritual of hers the year she moved in, the boredom over riding everything else.
Grant silently entered the room, walking slowly to hide his limp. He leaned against the doorframe and watched as Ellie struggled to push the couch to the other side of the small living room. Despite the cool weather outside, she was clad in denim shorts and a forest green tank top. He smiled his quiet, sly grin and pushed him self away from his post to reach over and tap her shoulder. "Need a hand?"
"Nope," she grunted, as the couch slowly allowed her to move it. "I think…I got…it."
"You know, next year you'll just be putting it right back where it was." The living room being the size and shape that it was prevented the couch from being positioned no more than in two areas of the room.
"I know." She finally got the heavy sofa in place and beamed up at him. "Isn't November a splendid time of the year?"
"When are you leaving?" Every year Ellie went home for the holidays, leaving a week before Thanksgiving and not returning until a week after the New Year.
"I'm not. Sorry, Dr. Grant, but your stuck with me for the holidays." She glanced his way pointedly. "Unless you've got plans."
He snorted. "Yeah. Tons." He went to retrieve the broom and dustpan from the closet. "Why aren't you going home this year?"
"I wanted to spend my holidays with someone special." Red crept up her neck as she glanced bashfully away. She usually wasn't so forward. "I wanted to spend them with you."
Alan cleared his throat and started to sweep. "That's very…flattering, Ellie, but I'm sure your family will miss your company." A tense pause. "Then again, I'll miss your company if you go." He glanced up somewhat shyly and gave her a gentle smile. "But I couldn't have you stay on my account."
"Then I'll stay on mine."
Time slipped unnoticeably by as they gazed at each other, wrapped in their own comfortable, but heated silence. Alan's mind flashed back to their almost kiss that left him yearning for the missed opportunity. Ellie had the urge to fling herself into his arms and cover his lustful mouth with hers. Yet, neither one dared to move.
Finally, Grant glanced away. "I'll…uh…finish sweeping. You can get washed up. I called in an order at Hart's Diner. Told them to hold for twenty minutes until starting our meal; give you time to clean up."
"Thanks. I'll be quick."
Part Two
Entering Hart's Diner, Ellie felt a stab of guilt and regret. Sliding into a booth, she couldn't help but imagine Alan sitting here alone for an hour waiting for her. Of course, she never showed up, instead she was back at the site with Mike. How could she have stood him up so thoughtlessly?
Grant waved to Steve Hart as they settled in and Hart nodded, going into the back to fetch their dinner. Returning, tray in hand, he smiled a toothy smile. "So, how's your dig going, Alan? Hello, Ellie."
"Could be better. Could be much worse. As long as I have the funding from InGen and John Hammond, I shouldn't complain." Grant unwrapped his utensils. "How are Karen and the children?"
Hart sighed blissfully. "We'll be having a baby at the end of May."
"Third times a charm," Grant commented. "Will this be your last?"
Hart chuckled. "I hope so, but one more wouldn't hurt. You two enjoy your meal. Holler if you need anything."
After Hart slipped away, Grant shook his head, but said nothing.
Ellie snuck her fork over and stabbed a piece of his steak, plopping it into her mouth. He watched her eat his meat with a raised eyebrow, but ignored the crime. "Ellie, would you mind if we swung by the car dealership on the way back? My insurance has finally given the green light."
"Do you have something in mind?"
"No."
She chuckled. "First a truck, next you'll be asking me to help you pick out china patterns."
"China wouldn't last in our trailer. We'll have to pick out paper patterns."
"Do you think they come in dinosaur print?"
He shrugged. "We may have to have them custom made."
Ellie erupted in laughter. "Custom made paper plates?"
"And cups and bowels. You need those, too."
Ellie continued laughing, shaking her head. Alan watched her slowly return to normal and smiled when she made eye contact. Ellie suddenly felt all silliness fly away as their eyes locked and he grinned his soft, rugged grin. God, I want to kiss him. If the table wasn't between them she may have done just that.
As if sensing her thoughts, Grant looked quickly away. "Food's getting cold," he muttered.
End Chapter Thirteen
Yes, I began to use Alan Grant's first name at the end of Chapter Twelve and have continued to pop it in every now and then. Now that Ellie and he are progressing towards romance, it sets a more casual and intimate atmosphere.
Yvonne: Thank you so much for your kind review! And I want you to know that I wasn't consciously trying to make our stories alike, but I did want to get certain scenes in there that were discussed in the book (i.e. Grant's accident in the ravine; Ellie's engagement to a "nice doctor in Chicago; etc.). So, if other than those, there are parallels then it was accidental. Yet, I truly am thrilled that you like this so far. I have admired your work since I first stumbled across it in search of Alan and Ellie fanfic. There just aren't enough stories about those two!