Mine - HelenKay Dimon Page 0,92

but messy, though Andy had a feeling Wade specialized in that type of situation.

“He doesn’t scare easily.”

“Except when it comes to you.” The words slipped out as if Andy’s subconscious wanted to pick a fight.

Eli stared for a beat or two longer than necessary before answering. “He’s fine.”

For some reason the clipped answer brought all the old feelings rushing back. Andy remembered spilling his guts once only to have Eli sneer and run as fast as he could for the door.

Andy knew he should back away now. Wade had made it clear Eli was not available. Not that Andy needed the warning. He saw it in every line of Eli’s body and heard it in every word that came out of Wade’s mouth. They were absolutely together. Bonded, right for each other . . . the whole fucking thing.

Still, Andy felt the need to push. “Your man has a jealousy issue.”

“He knows I won’t cheat on him.” Eli didn’t hesitate that time. The words rang out clear and firm.

“Then what’s with the constant supervision?”

“He trusts me.” Eli’s eyebrow lifted. “He doesn’t trust you, and since I told him he can’t kill you, he’s decided to remove temptation.”

“He thinks I’ll make a pass?” That had been the plan the first day Eli walked into Tosh’s offices about Natalie. He’d been with his boss and all business, and Andy’s brain cells had started firing. The possibility of a reconciliation floated through as soon as he realized how much Eli had changed. He’d settled down. No longer seemed half feral in the way he moved through life.

“I told him you’re not that stupid.” Eli’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That you know the score.”

Andy appreciated the faith in him. Too bad it was so fucking misplaced. If he thought it might work, that it had a fraction of a fraction of chance, Andy would have made a play. Rather than point that out, he went with the question that refused to leave his head. “Why him?”

Eli shifted in his chair. Crossed one leg over the other then dropped it to the floor again. “Don’t do this, Andy. I came for business.”

“Don’t you think we have awesome unsettled business of our own to deal with?” Andy tried to stop the flow of words, but they kept rolling out. It was as if he’d stored the questions along with the feelings and both rushed forward at the same time. Once the subject was on the table, Andy wanted it dealt with. Finally. Once and for all. “Well?”

“I fucked up.”

The words sliced into Andy with a painful nostalgia. He would have done anything to hear them before his life had spun out of control back then. He’d wandered down a destructive path after Eli left. Wasn’t careful. Gabe had saved his life more than once. Andy finally made the needed corrections, but only after getting some distance and some help.

Still, Eli’s admission fed Andy’s need to know more. “I’m not arguing, but any chance you could be more specific?”

“I wasn’t in a place to have a real relationship when we were together. I told you that, tried to be clear, but still . . .”

And there was the reality slap. Eli never lied. He hadn’t made any promises or looked for more. The whole history Andy planned for them originated in his head, from his needs.

The sudden clarity that Eli never really cared for more than sex became the one step too far. Somewhere inside Andy had always known, but hearing the words in Eli’s voice would give them power. Andy couldn’t handle that. He shut it all down as he flipped open some unrelated file on his desk. “Never mind. Ancient history.”

“Is it?”

“No offense, but I’ve had sex since we were together.” Right after Eli bugged out, Andy started having sex with a lot of men. Some he didn’t know. They formed a faceless, nameless line in his head. Not his finest or safest hour, but he’d been lucky enough not to damage his health.

Eli laughed. “I sure as hell hope so.”

“I got over you.” He hadn’t, but Andy felt his mind and body inching closer. Eli had changed. But with time passing and Wade in the picture too many doors closed for Andy to hope for anything more.

“Look.” Eli sat forward in his chair. “What I’m saying is that I’m sorry you had to waste one second getting over me. I was a shit back then and the way I handled what you told me—”

“That I