I’d prefer to talk to myself. What’s the polite minimum number of drinks these days? He bought the first round so it would be rude not to buy him one back…two should be enough, right?
Chris’s eyes flicker with interest at something behind me. “Bossman is here,” he murmurs.
“What?” I turn and am hit by smouldering blue-grey eyes, unapologetically hungry with lust and maybe something close to anger, blazing at mine.
Tristan
Her eyes nearly pop out of her head. I stare back at her then my gaze drops to roam up and down her body.
Who is this idiot with her?
The idiot waves in our direction.
“Is this guy trying to antagonise me?” I bark at Jack and Danny. “Why the fuck is he waving at me?
Is this Elly’s idea of a wind-up?”
Danny chuckles. “He’s not waving at you. He’s a developer at Nexus. He’s waving at me.” Danny gives a salute back, and the guy beams.
Elly looks distraught, like a deer in headlights.
Serves you right for dating someone else, I think bitterly.
“She’s stunning,” Danny murmurs. “He’s a lucky guy.”
I glare at him as my temperature rises. “He’s not fucking lucky.” “I don’t think she’s wearing a bra,” Jack observes.
My hands tighten around the glass. “I can see that, Jack,” I snap. “Keep your lecherous eyes off her.”
“My hotels have the best linen closets, you know,” he says. “Maybe Elly and her date could try them out.”
My jaw tightens. I’m not in the mood for their banter.
“Do you know his name?” I ask Danny in a steely voice.
Danny thinks for a second. “Nope. And by the look on your face, I’m not sure I’d tell you if I did. I don’t want to be an accessory to murder.”
I jerk to my feet, lifting my coat and Scotch. “Get up. It’s time for you to become acquainted with your employee.”
“What?” Danny looks at me dubiously. “You want me to crash their date?”
I stand over them impatiently. “That’s exactly what I want you to do.”
Jack laughs loudly. “Oh, man, I’m definitely coming along to see this.”
Danny cocks a brow but makes no attempt to get up. “And what exactly is your plan here? Do I tell him it’s against company policy to date Elly?”
“He’s waving over here like a simpleton. He’s gagging for your attention. The friendly CEO of Nexus is going to take an interest in the welfare of his employees. Get up,” I bark.
Jack jumps to his feet. “I’m game!”
Danny sighs heavily but hoists himself to his feet. “You owe me big time for this, Kane.”
Her date watches us approach like all his Christmases have come at once. “Mr. Walker?” he calls out disbelievingly as if Danny might be an apparition.
“Hi,” Danny says in his smooth baritone. “Tim, isn’t it?”
“Chris!” he says. Chris looks apologetically at Danny for not being Tim.
My eyes lock with a shocked Elly. Chris’s and Elly’s cheeks glow a similar shade of red. “Chris, of course, it is. How stupid of me.” Danny clears his throat.
Chris puffs his chest out.
“Mind if we join you?” Danny asks.
“We’d love that!” Chris leaps a foot in his chair. “Please, Mr. Walker, sit.” He makes exaggerated hand gestures to the empty seat beside him. “Elly, you don’t mind, do you? Just for a drink?” he asks as an afterthought.
Her mouth falls open. “Actually, I,” her soft voice trails off as I lift a chair from the nearby table and plant it down right beside her.
We take a seat. Danny beside Chris, to Chris’s delight, and me beside Elly, to her dismay. Jack is sandwiched between us.
“Isn’t this cosy?” Danny comments dryly as five people squeeze into a table for two. “We’re on a date,” Elly chokes out in a hoarse voice, giving Chris a dark look. “Sorry, Elly,” Chris says excitedly. “I’ll make it up to you on the second date.” Second date? Elly and I both narrow our eyes on him.
“Hello, Elly,” I say softly, my leg brushing against hers under the table. She jolts like a current of electricity has flown from me to her. “Meet Danny and Jack.” “Hi, Danny and Jack,” she says in a strangled voice.
Jack’s eyes dance. “Lovely to meet you, Elly.”
Chris looks between Elly and me and frowns. “Do you two know each other?”
“He’s the owner of Madison Legal,” Elly rasps as my leg touches her bare leg again. This time she doesn’t move it away and her warm skin stays firmly pressed against mine.
“Oh my God.” It’s my turn for Chris to fawn over me. “You own Madison Legal? Oh my, what a privilege to meet you, Mr. Kane.”
“That’s right.” I grunt. Now fuck off, Chris.
“Well, isn’t this fun!” Jack roars. “Both of you on a date, and your bosses join. It’s a small world, isn’t it?”
“Tiny,” Elly says. “London is starting to feel like a Welsh village.”
“Can I just say, you two make a lovely couple.” Jack has a permanent grin plastered over his face.
I glare at him. “They don’t know each other.”
“They’ll get to know each other,” Jack counters, trying to contain himself. “Elly, you look beautiful. Doesn’t she, Chris? You’re the luckiest guy in the room.” A sound erupts from my throat.
Beside me, I feel Elly shift in her seat. She jabs the champagne button repeatedly. “This thing isn’t working,” she mutters. “I need express delivery.”
“Every time you press it, you’re ordering another glass.” I chuckle, leaning closer to her. “That’s the tenth you’ve ordered.”
Her eyes widen in panic. “Are you serious?” “No.” I give her a private grin. “I’m kidding.” She exhales hard.
Danny throws me a lifeline and launches into a conversation with Chris about his current project. Jack leans in, pretending to be interested in Chris’s project when really, I know he’s eavesdropping on mine.
“Your date is an idiot,” I say in a low voice, although I don’t care if the idiot hears. “If I was on a date with you, you would have my undivided attention.” She lets out a little snort.
The champagne arrives, and Elly takes a large gulp.
My arm rests on the top of her chair. If she leans back my arm will be around her shoulders. At this angle, the others can’t see it. Her idiot date is too invested in lapping up every word Danny says.
“You look breathtaking, Elly,” I murmur. My fingers lightly stroke her shoulder. She tenses but doesn’t move away. “Are you happy to see me?”