The moon poured down like lipid silver,
When Eliana irhimed to Russell Manor, Theodore was pr
spropped against the gate, his chiseled features shadowed by the porch light.
She thought. Even with Matthew’s polished looks, my man has that effortless magnetism–lik model who forgot se was born for the runway!
“Theodore,” she called out, heels clicking on the gravel
His gaze dropped to her. “Nolan drove you back?”
Eliana nodded, sohening the truth. “Mr. Hall tagged along for the event.” Okay, “lagged along to rough up a chent” was more precise, but why split hairs?
“Have a drink?” he asked.
She sniffed her blouse. “Not a drop. Just caught some secondhand whiskey on the way.”
Without warning, he tilted her chin and kissed her.
“Hey.” She pulled back, cheeks warming “What’s that for?”
the truth myself.”
His eyes crinkled. “Had to verify th
Eliana was at
was at a loss for words.
“Next time, no late nights.” He turned, a cape of shadows falling over his shoulders.
Watching his stern profile, Eliana checked her phone–11 PM, Yikes. She’d have been home hours ago if not for bailing Hannah out.
Guilt
It gnawed at her seeing his bandaged shoulder peeking from his shirt. “Theodore, I swear I be earlier.”
He grunted, then tossed over his shoulder, and asked offhandedly. “The client was male or female?”
She batted her lashes. “Well, clients tend to be one or the other.”
His brow arched. “Cute evasion means male.”
Eliana stuck out her tongue. “Nothing gets past you, does it?”
“Nolan’s getting a call tonight–only female clients from now on, Theodore thought.
Passing the second floor kitchen, Eliana stopped short. “Theodore, smell that?” A faint charring lingered in the air.
His expression flickered, but he kept walking, feigning composure. “I smell nothing. It’s late. Go get some rest”
“Hold on.” Eliana spun on her heel and ducked into the kitchen. “Definite burn smell in here.”
Theodore couldn’t cut her off in time, so he trailed after her, lips pressed into a thin line.
When Eliana spotted the frying pan on the counter–its bottom charred through to a smoking hole–she did a double–take, then asked Theodore, “Theodore please tell me that’s not your hand/work.”
He coughed awkwardly, avoiding her gaze. “Cheap gon–stick coating”
Watching his ears turn pink, Eliana fought a grin. So the almighty Theodore could look sheepish, she thought. “Let me hazard a guess. You started cooking, got pulled away, and came back, to… this.” She gestured at the ruined pan.
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Chapter 159
Bingo. He’d stepped into his room for a quick call, and by the time he returned, the pan was a poner and whatever was inside had burned onto the stove.
“Silver lining–you didn’t incinerate the kitchen. Elianaj
mia gave him two slow claps. “Brave”
Theodore’s jaw ticked “You’re mocking the
Now Elsana was the car examining the celling. “I’m not ”
“No? Then why’s her smile threatening to split her face?‘ he thought.
Theodore felt an unfamiliar sting. Since the blindness, he’d never felt so incompetent.
Thankfully, Eliana let it drop, moving to the fridge instead. “Hey, did you skip dinner?”
She put down the ruined pan. “Name something, I whip it up.”
He caught her wrist mid–reach, voice dropping. “Wasn’t hungry.”
“Then why play Iron Chef?” she asked, confused
Theodore leveled her with a look. “You really think I’d torch a pan just for myself?”
Eliana tapped her chin. “Don’t tell me you’re suddenly on a mission to master cooking?”
Theodore gave a half–amused, half–exasperated huff, flicking her forehead before turning on his heel toward the room.
Rubbing her forehead, Eliana stood perplexed–then a thought struck. Was he trying to make me a late–night meal? No way…she thought.
She sneaked a peek into the trash can. The charred bits looked unmistakably like her go–to food.
Thirty minutes later, she pushed open the room door. “Theodore, I whipped up some midnight munchies. Keep me company?”
Her voice turned saccharine–sweet, the kind that melted all annoyance.
As he rose to follow, her smile turned blinding “Tiramisu–perfect for a quick energy boost. I always crave this when I’m She trailed off, flushing, and scratched her scalp.
Theodore barely stifled a chuckle. A hopeless romantic would’ve mentioned, “Tiramisu means “take me away ‘Only she would state the nutritional facts, he thought.
After Eliana headed to the shower, Theodore crossed to the floor–to–ceiling window and dialed Nolan.
At his home, Nolan was drowning his blues in whiskey.
Spotting Theodore’s caller ID, he jolted upright, answering with a sheepish cough. “M–Mr. Russell, you are still up?”
“Mr. Hall, do you have any idea what you messed up today?” Theodore said.
“Oh shit.” Nolan swallowed hard. ‘If trouble’s coming, there’s no running”
He immediately apologized, “I’m sorry, Mr. Ryssell I never should’ve sent Ellie to schprooze with those guys. She almost got harassed!”
Theodore had called intending to order Nolan to only schedule female clients from now on, but this was a curveball. His expression turned glacial, “Start from the top. Explain everything
Chapter 159
“Wait, Ellie didn’t fill you in? Nolan knew Theodore’s influence in Comunhill made secrets obsolete. “Anight, her
“Matthew from the foreign firm, eh? Theodote Thought
He said with a cold smile, “Not a weld to be about nut call tonight.
Nolan bobbed his head urgently. “Understood. Total radio silence!
When the call ended, Nolan found his shirt stuck to his back with sweat. But a sinking feeling told him that Matthew’s days were numbered
The next evening. Eliana had just stepped out of the office when a familiar silhouette cut off her path.
She did a double take, stunned. “Mom!”
The only reply was a stinging slap across her check,
Completely unprepared, Eliana took the blow full on
Her ear buzzed like a hive, and when she reached up, her fingers came away damp.
G
