Page 65 of Elijah’s Whim

Chapter Fourteen

Hannah

The next few days went by relatively quietly. Elijah had to go out of town to do the bidding of his boss, Sebastian Shark, and no matter what question I asked regarding the trip, I netted a similar result: “It’s better if we don’t talk about this stuff here at the house.” Or my absolute favorite, as well as insulting answer: “Contractually, I’m really not at liberty to discuss the nature of the business I do for Bas.”

Well, okay, then.

I wasn’t really sure what that meant, but when I brought it up to Rio, she made a very unladylike sound that could only be described as a snort and said something along the lines of, “Get used to it, sister.”

I wasn’t sure what to make of that comment, but I knew I didn’t care for it.

While he was gone, he called or texted when he could, and each night, he would video chat with me, either on my laptop or on my cell phone. It always got me spun up sexually, no matter how we spoke.

This man was quickly digging a tunnel straight through to that place in my chest I’d protected from every other suitor my entire life. I wasn’t sure how he’d managed to find a direct route there in such a short time, but I felt like a mooning teenager.

I still hadn’t told him about the phone calls I’d been getting or how they were now coming daily. The person on the other end of the line was getting more brazen and starting to speak—although trying to disguise their voice. I considered bringing that up to Rio, too, but figured she had enough to juggle in her own life. Between running Abstract Catering and dealing with her own family drama with the Sharks, it was best to just handle my own dirty laundry. I was missing my family something fierce, though.

After work on Thursday, I considered a visit to my parents’ house. Seeing my sisters would’ve been perfect to pick up my mood, but after the nonsense I endured with Shep last time I was there, I thought I’d ask Elijah if I could have Agatha come over to his place instead.

As if he could hear me thinking about him, my cell phone rang with my favorite landlord’s number on the display. I picked up the call over my car’s Bluetooth while I made my way toward Malibu.

“I was just thinking about you,” I said, smiling. Thankfully, I’d opted to keep the convertible top up today so I could hear him without pulling over first.

“Were you thinking how happy you were going to be to see me when you got home?” he asked, and I swore I could hear the smile in his voice. Fine, maybe I imagined that part, but it was my phone call, and I’d fantasize how I’d like.

Bouncing in the bucket seat while I drove, I squealed, “Are you back? Really and truly?”

“Really and truly.”

“Oh, that’s awesome news. God, I can’t wait to see you…and smell you. I love the way you smell. Have I told you that?”

“No, I don’t think you have, but you can say it again when you get here. But Christ, Han, slow the fuck down. You’re not at Pomona, girl.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Elijah had taken to calling me Han when he wasn’t calling me some iteration of beautiful, and it made my grin get impossibly wider.

“You forget you have one of my guys on your tail in a giant SUV, and they can’t whip through traffic the way you do in that little car of yours. You give Lorenzo a heart attack every time you get on the freeway.”

“I’ll try to be more mindful. Please tell Lorenzo I’m sorry,” I offered with sincerity.

“Well, I think he thinks you’re pretty, so he’ll probably forgive you in short order.”

“I’ll flash him a little boob next time I have something low-cut on. How’s that?”

“Don’t you dare, or your ass will be so red you wouldn’t be able to sit for a week.”

Taunting him had become more fun since he’d been away. “Oh really?”

“Don’t test me, beauty.”

“All right, settle down, Mr. Growly Pants. Jeez. I’ll see you in like ten minutes.”

“Can’t wait.”

And then he was gone, but my stupid smile stayed in place until I pulled onto his street. Strangely, there was a car I didn’t recognize blocking my way into the garage. I pulled over to the curb, and Lorenzo was out of his SUV and at my door before I could even formulate a plan as to where else to park.

“Ms. Farsey, please stay in your car. Marc is coming to accompany you to street parking until we find out what she’s doing here.”