“Understandable.”
Elijah stands, and I follow suit.
“Thank you. For everything, Pen.”
“The testers shouldn’t pick up on anything.”
“There’s a code freeze in place. Whoever is responsible shouldn’t be able to make any more changes now.”
“Don’t be so sure. It’s why they’re using your login. You and Todd are the only two people who can grant permission. However, if anyone makes changes or tries to log in using your or Todd’s login, we will catch them.” He raises an eyebrow, and I grin. “I made a few minor changes while you made that last coffee. I altered their automatic delete. It now deletes to a specific folder on your computer, one that only you have access to. If they login or try to make any more changes, we won’t have to hunt. It will show up there.”
“You’re sure?”
He looks sceptical, and I harrumph.
“Really?” I say, eventually. “After everything?”
“Okay, I trust you,” he says with a smirk. “But I want to thank you.”
“No need. You can owe me one.” When he frowns, I roll my eyes. “Not really,” I say, pushing his shoulder. “It’s what friends are for.”
Elijah drops his head, a strange look appearing on his face. When he lifts his eyes to mine, his expression is drawn. “But then, I haven’t been a very good friend over the past few years.”
Our gazes lock, and I let my lips tilt.
“Maybe we’ve both let our friendship slide. Life getting in the way and all that.”
He nods his head slowly. A furrow appears between his brow.
We both know it’s too late now. I’m marrying another man and moving across the world. That ship has sailed, quite literally.
He steps forward and takes my shoulders in his hands before planting a kiss on my cheek. I freeze, the warmth of his lips against my skin sending jolts of electricity to my core, my body waking up. Before I can think or do anything, he moves back.
“You truly are a remarkable woman, Penelope Dawson,” he says.
I incline my head, wrapping my arms around my waist,
“Don’t you forget it, Elijah Frazer. Now get out of here. I need to get some sleep.”
We go upstairs and to the garage, where his car is parked.
Elijah grabs my hand and squeezes. “I mean it, Pen. If there is anything you need, ever, just let me know.”
I look up into his eyes, shades of the young Elijah shining through.
“I will,” I say, although know I never will.
He squeezes my fingers once more, and I miss the sensation when he withdraws his hand and gets into the car. I open the garage door using the keypad on the wall and lean against it as he reverses out.
My mum appears at his window and knocks, smiling in at him.
Elijah stops the car getting out, sweeping my mother into a bear hug, swinging her around.
“Now, Elijah Frazer, what are you doing sneaking out of my engaged daughter’s house at this early hour?”
I move to the entrance of the garage and laugh as Elijah’s cheeks turn red at my mother’s scrutiny.
“We were working,” he splutters, shooting me a panicked look, which has me doubling over even further. His eyes dart to mine as my mother’s twinkle with mischief.
