Page 66 of Elijah’s Whim

“She? You know who that car belongs to?” I asked the security guard.

Before he could answer, Marc was getting in my passenger door and telling me to drive up the street and turn left at the next block.

I knew damn well that turn would take me back out onto the major road we exit the freeway onto. It was not a neighborhood street, and it wasn’t the quickest way to turn around to head back toward the house in search of street parking.

“Okay, but whose car is that?” I tried the question with this guy instead.

“Please, Hannah, Ms. Farsey, pardon, if you’ll just pull up to the next street and hang a left, you can turn around more easily.” He pointed his meaty index finger straight out my windshield, which was unnecessary, and we both knew it.

The entire security brigade knew I was familiar with the neighborhood at this point and that I didn’t need blow-by-blow instructions or a fucking personal escort in my car with me. Something was going on, and they didn’t want me going inside the house.

I slammed on the brakes of my little 1 series and lit up the tires the length of half the block. The skin on Marc’s face was as white as Rio’s, the poor guy. But cheers to BMW and their zeal for safety equipment.

That seat belt held Marc’s big body like a mother’s womb. The dude looked like he had morning sickness, too.

“Stop fucking with me right now and tell me who is in that house with my man and why you all are acting like this is my first day in this neighborhood.”

“Listen, I appreciate your concern for Mr. Banks. I do. But I need this job. My wife is about to have our first child, and I can’t afford to go home and tell her I got fired today. Since he’s the one I work for, and he’s the one who told me to get you as far away from that house until he calls and tells me to bring you back, that’s what I’m going to do, even if I have to subdue you and drive this little clown car out of this neighborhood myself.”

With the best glare I could muster, I narrowed my focus on Marc and seethed.

“No offense intended, ma’am,” he continued.

“Cut the shit, Marc. And congratulations on the baby. What are you expecting? Where should I drive to?”

“I think anywhere that isn’t that house or that street should be fine. We’re having a boy. First grandson on both sides, so our parents have been relentless, you know?”

The big guy laughed and was instantly relaxed and amicable. We chatted about kids and families and just drove with no destination until his cell phone rang and we both jumped from the interruption.

“Sorry,” I said and patted over my heart a few times.

The security guard whipped out his phone and spoke quickly and quietly and did a lot more listening and nodding than anything else before ending the call.

“We can head back. The problem has been secured. Mr. Banks said he will explain everything when we get back to the house.”

“Well, Marc, I’m sorry, but we’re at least thirty minutes away from home now, and it’s also quitting time, so I think you’re going to be late for dinner tonight.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine, Ms. Farsey. I just came on shift about an hour before all that excitement started. My workday isn’t over until you and Mr. Banks are fast asleep.”

As expected, it took a while to get home. Once we pulled onto Elijah’s street, we passed two Malibu police cruisers heading in the opposite direction. Marc gave the officers a friendly wave, and they returned the gesture.

I didn’t have time to think about it further as I pulled through the heavy gate at the end of the driveway and saw my gorgeous landlord waiting in the open garage. He stepped aside so I could pull into my usual spot, and I barely had the engine turned off before he had my door open and pulled me into his embrace.

“Are you okay?” I rushed out.

“I missed you,” he said, nuzzling his face in my hair until he found the skin of my neck.

“I missed you more.” I pulled back and held his handsome face between my flat palms. “But you have some explaining to do, mister.”

Elijah covered my mouth with his, and I was dragged under by the magic of his lips and tongue and the sinful way he used them.

“Oh no, you don’t, man. Please tell me what just happened. I want to kiss and be naked with you as soon as possible—trust me—sooner, even. But that scared me, and I don’t like being kept in the dark. I’m supposed to be staying here with you so I’m safe. It doesn’t feel safe to me when no one will tell me what’s going on.”

After I finished my little rant, he pulled me into his embrace and held me close to his hard body until we shared the same breathing pattern. The man had figured out it was an effective way of getting me to settle down when I was agitated, and I never complained because it was a win-win situation for me.

When he loosened his circle of containment, I tilted my face up to make eye contact again.

“Did you know Marc’s wife is about to have their first baby? It’s a boy, and you should see that big man go all squishy teddy bear when he talks about it. It’s freaking adorable. I know that’s random, but I ramble when I’m nervous, but you know that about me, and…”