Elisa shook her head. “No.” She turned and walked away, heading back to her table.
Screw Nora and her skepticism.
“Yep, it’s official,” Kara laughed, following. “I really do like you. You can marry the boss any day.”
Elisa laughed.
“No, seriously.” Kara nudged her gently with her shoulder. “Think about it.”
And with that, Kara smiled, winked, and hurried toward the double doors Angus had disappeared through earlier.
Elisa swallowed.Think about it.
She was.
Which was mental.
6
So Chelsea was furious she’d learnt hewasengaged fromTV Weeklyjournalist who’d called her out of the blue to ask for her thoughts about his sudden betrothal to an American. She’d then been ridiculously excitedabouthim getting engaged, even though he hadn’t been the one to tell her. Hurt, but excited. She was thenverybummed when he told her hewasn’tengaged but trying to keep Nora off his back. Andthenshe’d been really enthusiastic about the prospect of being a part of the ruse.
All in a whirlwind five minutes or so of telephone conversation.
His half sister was, in a word, awesome.
He’d promised her he’d call her if he needed anything. He also promised he’d introduce her to Elisa ASAP.
He tried not to admit to himself how much he likedthatidea. It meant, if for no other reason, he had a—kind of—justifiable reason to keep Elisa in his life after Nora left the restaurant today.
That’s what you’re going with? How ‘bout instead of more subterfuge maybe offer to really take her to the zoo to see a koala. Or ask if she’d like to go to the art gallery or…or…climbing the Harbor Bridge or…
What was he thinking? He didn’t do relationships. He refused to do relationships. But what about a fling? While Elisa was here in Australia? He did flings. Occasionally. When he had the time.
Is that what you want though? A fling?
“Boss, you better get your ass out there.” Kara suddenly strode up to where he hovered at the sauté station. “Your fiancée is battling Nora alone.”
A hot finger of anger drilled into his chest. He bit back a growl. “Seriously, if I ever hear the name Nora again…”
He stomped out of the kitchen.
Thankfully, Nora was back at her table, her meal being placed in front of her by Cassie, his head server. The producer looked over at him and waved.
He didn’t wave back. Instead, he headed for Elisa’s table, snagging a chair from an empty table on the way.
“I still see no food in your hands, Daniels,” Owen protested with a laugh as Angus arrived.
Angus snorted. “You’re a pain in the arse, Blackthorne.”
Owen grinned.
“Can I join in?” Angus cast the table a smile before looking at Elisa. She smiled up at him and the anger in his chest evaporated. He really really liked her smile.
“Sure,” she answered, shuffling her chair a little to the left to make room. Her sister, Zeta, did the same to the right, her grin full of mischief.
He positioned his chair between them, slightly angled toward Elisa, and sat. His knee brushed the side of her thigh and what felt like a soft electric jolt shot through him.
Her eyes met his, a question in them he truly wanted to answer.