Entranced (The ROGUES Billionaire #1) - Tracie Delaney Page 0,35
or one of the other board members? I had no reason to be there, and therefore, questions would ensue.
Dragging my mind back to the IT problem I’d been asked to review, I frowned at the line of programing code, looking for reasons why the backup failed last night. It felt like a test. I couldn’t believe Aaron, nor any of the much more experienced team members, didn’t know the answer. I took it seriously regardless. Here was an opportunity to prove my worth.
“How are you fixed for lunch?”
I lifted my head to find Elliot standing by my desk. I’d been so engrossed I hadn’t heard him arrive.
“You’re stealthy,” I said, smiling despite my low mood.
He grinned and held out his hand. “Come on, sis. I’ve barely seen you this week.”
“I’ve been right here.” I stood and playfully bumped his shoulder. “It’s you that’s Mr. Elusive. Brienna keeping you busy, is she?”
At the mention of his latest conquest, my brother blushed, sending my curiosity sky-high. Elliot didn’t blush, especially when it came to women.
I widened my eyes. “You like her,” I stated. “I mean, really like her.”
“Shhh.” He glanced over his shoulder almost as if he expected to find her standing behind him. “I don’t want the entire building knowing my personal business.”
I grabbed my purse and linked my arm through his. “Lunch is on you. And I want to know everything.”
Elliot took me to a Thai restaurant two blocks from the office. After we’d ordered he grew coy, barely saying more than Brienna was “okay” and “not as annoying as some of my ex’s”. I let it slide. If Elliot didn’t feel ready to spill yet, then who was I to press him.
As he seemed to be in such a good mood, maybe now was the right time to broach the Ryker subject. Oh, and the apartment. But Ryker first. If I got Elliot on my side with the whole idea of me and Ryker, it’d remove one hell of an obstacle, leaving me to freely pursue him without his fallback excuse of losing Elliot getting in the way.
“Elliot, about Ryker—”
“Would you like something to drink?”
I glared at the server. Not that it was her fault she’d interrupted. She was only doing her job, but, darn it, her timing couldn’t have been shittier.
“Water,” I said, my tone brisk.
Elliot perused the drinks menu. “Craft beer. Thanks, darling.”
A smile for him, a frown for me. Then she retreated. I tried again.
“Elliot, I need to tell you—”
His phone rang. He gave me an apologetic grin. “Sorry, sis. One sec.”
He answered it, then got to his feet and stepped away from the table. Nerves coiled in my stomach. I unfastened the top button on my shirt and fanned the collar. Now I’d made the decision, I needed to get this over with.
“Sorry, sis, what were you saying about Ryker? Is he giving you a hard time? I know he can be an irritating asshole. It’s because he’s a perfectionist.”
“No, it’s not that.”
Elliot’s eyes narrowed. “He hasn’t made a move on you, has he?”
“No,” I said hastily, my cheeks blooming with color. “Of course not.”
Elliot laughed. “Only teasing, sis. He knows better than to lay a finger on you.”
Fuck’s sake.
“Seriously, Athena. You look tired,” he said. “We’re not overworking you, are we?”
“Not at all,” I said, swiftly abandoning the plan—for now. I’d find a better time to sit him down properly when he wasn’t so distracted, and I’d worked through exactly what I wanted to say. “I’m bound to feel a little shattered. It’s hard work learning a new job.”
“That’s true,” Elliot agreed, nodding. “You like it, though? Think it’ll work out?”
“Yes,” I replied emphatically. “I love it.”
“That’s good.” He reached across and squeezed my hand, then leaned away as our food arrived. Once the server retreated, Elliot picked up his fork, letting it hang in midair.
“What’s this about Ryker then?”
I sipped my water. “It doesn’t matter. It’s nothing, really. Just me being silly.”
“Sure?”
When I nodded, he let it drop.
“Elliot, I was thinking… about moving out. Would you loan me the money for a deposit on an apartment? I’d pay you back. You could take it out of my salary.”
His forehead creased, and his lips twisted to the side. “I’d kinda hoped you’d given up on the idea. Surely the house is big enough for you? Maybe we could convert part of it to a self-contained unit, or do something with the pool house.”
I rubbed the space between my eyebrows and sighed. “Elliot.”