Bleeding Edge: Elliot Security (Elliot Security Series Book 2) by Evie Mitchell (short story to read .txt) 📗

“She’s an architect, right?”

“Uh-huh. Mostly commercial, but she can’t help herself. I haven’t actually asked her to help, but I mentioned the reno at our last dinner, and I can guarantee some will appear in my inbox in the next month.”

I chuckled. He slid bread into his four-piece toaster, then removed the skillet from the flame, turning off the stove and sliding the bacon and eggs onto a folded paper towel. He busied himself hustling around, buttering the toast, and dividing the food before sliding it before me.

“Bon appétit,” he said with perfect pronunciation, settling onto the stool beside me.

“I met your sisters at your housewarming. I know they speak French. Do you?”

He scooped up a piece of toast, pushing egg onto it with his fork. “I speak what can be loosely termed Fren-lish. I’m fluent-ish. Mum is French so she taught us. I have long since learnt that my sisters are better than me in all things.”

I grinned at his self-deprecation. “How did your parents meet?”

“She and dad met while he was over working in the embassy. He’s a career diplomat. They met, fell in love, got married, he came back to Australia when his posting ended, she followed. They settled− I use that term lightly −in Canberra. Really, they had us, then moved around the globe for a few years taking different posting opportunities. I speak about eight languages, none of them well.” He grinned, the edges of his eyes crinkling as he bit into the toast.

I propped my chin in my hand as I watched him eat. “That must have been fascinating, and hard.”

He shrugged. “Probably why I went into the military. I was used to moving.”

“But you didn’t stay in the military. And now you’re here.” I waved my free hand to encompass the room.

“Elliot Securities offered me a job and stability. My sisters were having kids. My parents are semi-retired. It was time to come home.”

“You don’t advertise your ownership stake.”

He paused, hand halfway to his mouth. “How did you…?” He laughed. “You found the files.”

I shrugged. “It’s my job.”

“You’re a threat.” He dropped his fork, running a hand through his hair. “When Pax took over, Elliot Securities had a great rep, but the model was outdated. His dad didn’t have the know-how to take it from physical security to protecting against all threats. When we introduced the cyber side, he decided it was time to retire. Cyber required capital the business didn’t have. We needed to find clients, do advertising, recruit. Not to mention building the infrastructure. The banks were okay to a point, but I had the money and the time so….” He shrugged.

“So, you invested and came on as a silent partner.”

“I get the benefits without the hassles,” he admitted. “Eat your breakfast.”

I scooped up some egg, munching as I let my mind wander. He pushed his plate back, reaching for his coffee mug. He considered me over the rim.

“You going to tell me what this morning was about? I’d been gearing up for sexy shower time, and you shut down.”

I ducked my head, the blush immediate. “Sorry.”

He nudged me. “Don’t be. Everything we do is at your pace. Just wanna make sure you’re okay.”

I shoved bacon in my mouth, buying myself some time. “It’s been a while since I had any positive interactions with a family.”

He turned on the stool, leaning his elbows back against the bench. “Explain.”

I blew out a breath, pushing a strip of bacon with my fork. Sighing, I tried to explain my apprehension. “I’ve met some of your sisters. But it’s different now. We’re together. I want to make a good impression. But I don’t know how families work. Mine took a neither seen nor heard approach. When I was allowed to be seen, it was unhealthy. I interacted with my siblings, but we were like prisoners. We danced around issues, fearful of doing the wrong thing. We were surviving despite our family, not thriving in it.”

I glanced over.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I can just tell them you aren’t close to your family. Mine will smother you with love instead, I promise.”

I frowned. “But it’s so much bigger than that. And I want them to see me as a good catch.”

“You’re not a good catch, Em. You’re the only one. It’s obvious you love me and I love you. That’s all they care about.” He picked up his plate, reaching for mine. “You done?”

He acted as if he hadn’t dropped a bomb, completely detonating my world. He took the plate, scraping both before putting them in the ancient dishwasher.

“Let me clean this up and we can go,” he said over his shoulder, hitting the tap to fill the sink with hot water.

I sat on a bar stool. I sat on a bar stool in Luc’s kitchen staring at his back. I sat on a bar stool in Luc’s kitchen staring at his back after he told me he loved me.

Luc.

Loved.

Me.

As he reached for the skillet I whispered, “I love you too.”

He froze, head turning. “Keys.”

“And I know you love me,” I told him as he started back around the island, coming to me. “You’ve proved it since–”

His mouth crashed down on mine. I clung to him as he pulled me up, hands burying in my hair.

He drew back, his eyes beautiful, staring at me. “I love you. So. Fucking. Much.”

Our lips met again, my arms wrapping around him as he pulled me into his chest. Slowly, we withdrew.

“Groceries?” I asked softly.

“Later.”

Chapter Forty-One

Emmie

Dinner was a revelation. After a session that involved a barstool, a tea towel, and chocolate sauce, we made it to the shops for supplies.

We’d made potato and leek soup with fresh bread, roast chicken and vegetables, and chocolate lava cake for dessert. We also had wine and cheese for the adults, and a bunch of fun dinner options, like feet shaped chicken nuggets, for the kids.

The only word for it was chaos.