stare, blood rushing to her cheeks. “Shit,” she hissed. “He can’t know I’m here.”
“Then you’d better hide, hadn’t you?” I stated.
She dashed into the bedroom and closed the door with a quiet snick.
I dabbed a napkin to my mouth and rose from my chair, crossing the room to answer the door. Sure enough, Elliot lounged outside, his shoulder propped against the wall.
“What took you so long?” he asked with a grin, sauntering inside. His sharp gaze immediately fell on the two plates, two cups scenario, and Athena’s half-finished croissant discarded in her rush to hide.
He spun around, a broad smile almost cracking his face. “Jesus, you’re a fast worker. We only got back to the hotel a few hours ago.”
Ignoring him, I retook my seat. “Coffee’s still warm if you want one.”
“As warm as the pussy you’ve spent the night buried inside?” He glanced around. “Where is she? Do I get to meet her?”
A small part of me reveled in his questions, knowing Athena would have her ear pressed right up to the door, squirming in case Elliot discovered her hiding out in my suite. I wanted to light a fire underneath her, and if worrying she might be discovered at any second achieved that, I’d take it.
“What time are you flying home?”
He grinned. “Your diversionary tactics won’t work with me. You’ve set my mind at rest, actually. I was worried your dick would shrivel up to the size of your pinky if you didn’t get some action soon.”
I gave him a blank stare. “Finished?”
“I haven’t even started.”
Rolling my eyes, I picked up the paper. “Dow took a hit yesterday.”
“Boring,” Elliot singsonged. “No wonder you struggle to get a date. I hope last night’s fuck buddy doesn’t speak English—for her sake.”
“Is this what a lack of sleep does to you? If so, I’m going to slip a tranquilizer into your evening cocoa.”
Elliot laughed, adding cream and sugar to his coffee. “I’m leaving shortly. Michael has logged a departure time of ten this morning.”
Michael was the pilot of the company’s private plane. “You can’t have the jet. You’ll need to book commercial.”
I needed the privacy it offered. Athena might appear to have accepted her return to America, but I didn’t trust her not to kick up a fuss just for the sake of it if we flew commercial. I could imagine her screaming bloody murder as we entered the security area, yelling she’d been kidnapped if only for the sheer entertainment value of watching me being led away in handcuffs.
“Why can’t you fly commercial?”
I shook my head. “Because. I need the jet.”
“What for? You’re sticking around here for a few days. I can send it back for you if you’re that snobbish about flying commercial.”
“It’s got nothing to do with snobbery, as you well know. I’m not sticking around as long as I originally thought. I’m going to review the plans for the club with the project manager, ensure he knows the standards I expect, and then I’m heading to Paris.”
I wasn’t heading to Paris, but I had to find a way for Elliot to relinquish the jet and agree to fly commercial. Once I’d taken Athena back to America, I’d hole up in my apartment for a couple of days. He’d never know the difference.
“Paris?” His forehead wrinkled. “You never said.”
I arched an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware I had to report all my movements to you, Elliot.”
“You’re a tight-lipped bastard, Ryker. Always have been.”
“I’ll have Patricia book you a first-class seat,” I said, sending a text instructing my Executive Assistant to do just that.
“Fine,” Elliot said in his usual amiable manner. “If it means that much to you, jackass, you can have the goddamned plane.”
Elliot’s happy-go-lucky nature—unless riled—was one the many things I loved about my best friend. That wasn’t to say he was easy to push around—he wasn’t—but he chose his battles.
One fight he’d never back away from? The one that involved his baby sister.
My phone dinged with a text. I swiped the screen. “Email with booking details is on its way. You’d better get a move on. Your flight leaves in two hours.”
“Jesus, Ryker.” Elliot swigged the rest of his coffee, spilling a little. He dragged the back of his hand across his mouth. “A little leeway would have been appreciated. I haven’t even packed yet.”
“Then you won’t want to hang around here chatting with me, will you?”
He rolled his eyes. “Call me.”
“Yes, honey,” I replied.
He flipped me off, then left. I refilled my coffee cup, waiting for