They hesitate for a moment before nodding in unison, thenthey both disappear. Nate appears, walking the two of them away, though not before he gives me a raised eyebrow.
“What did she say to you?” I ask Eli, shrugging his arm off my shoulder. My eyes flit around, checking that no one saw his casual affection.
He laughs. “That she would skin me alive, chop off my dick, then feed it to me.”
Okay then.
“That’s not an idle threat, you know?” I check.
“Really? It’s not just what girls say?”
“I mean… it might be. But Carina is… well she has certain extracurricular activities.”
His eyes hold a certain amount of surprise. “Good to know. I can handle myself.”
“Seriously. Don’t get on her bad side.”
He rolls his eyes as he pushes me inside, then disappears as I start the rest of my afternoon.
30
A Huge Mistake
Eli's Search History: classic Greek wine and food pairings
Emily
Elitextstosayhe’s finishing up with a client and wants me to wait at the practice until he can pick me up. But I don’t feel like sitting alone in the darkened office after hours.
“No secret boyfriend tonight?” Kayla teases as she swings her jacket over her shoulders.
My heart thrums unevenly. “No, he’s got to stay late at work.”
She studies me. “When are you going to tell me who it is? I’mdyingfor the big reveal.”
That would be a big, fat never. Not only because Eli is firmlynotmy boyfriend. But also because she canneverknow thatheis the one whose bike I’m riding.
The two of us walk outside together. “I just like to keep my private life, well, private.”
She shrugs. “I get that. He looks dreamy though, from the little I saw of him. If he looks that hot in a helmet, I can onlyimagine how sexy his face is.”Don’t need to imagine it. You already know.
We say goodbye, Kayla walking in one direction while I head toward the underground station. The whole walk, I swear I can feel eyes on my back.
On the tube, someone in a hood keeps glancing my way. Or maybe I’m imagining it. Maybe I’m just tired. Maybe thereissomething off.
When I step onto the platform, Eli is already there—scowling.
“Why didn’t you wait for me?” he growls, grabbing my hand and tugging me behind him.
“I didn’t see the need to wait.”
He stops dead. I smack into his back, and someone bumps into me from behind. Eli bares his teeth at them, and they scuttle off.
“Your ex is potentially in London,” he says, voice low and sharp. “An ex who has threatened to hurt you before. And you didn’t see the need to wait for me?”
Well, when he puts it like that.
He sighs. “Angel, I can’t keep you safe if you don’t help me.”