“It’s at the same hotel we’re staying at. About twenty minutes.”
He slowly nods. “I’ll call her in the car with you there, Sir.” Another grim smile. “Then you can cut the call short for me if I need you to.”
“She said you’ve been ducking her calls.”
“Yeah. I’m still pissed at her for that quote her group released last week going after our education initiative because it doesn’t include school prayer.”
“Is she still after that?”
“Yeah.”
“Just say the word, and I’ll call her back for you and deal with it.”
“Thank you.”
I reach over and pat his thigh, and we end up holding hands during the landing. His Vice President Woodley disguise is firmly in place as we make our way out of the aircraft and into the SUV. We’re not alone this time, because his chief of staff and head speechwriter are riding with us, in the middle seat.
I hand Elliot his personal phone and he immediately calls Stella, with the phone in speaker mode.
She answers in two rings. “Well, about time,” she drawls.
“What d’you need, Stell?”
“For my brother to quit ducking my calls, for starters.”
Elliot’s gaze is fixed on me, looking for any sign from me I’m taking over.
Then he surprises me. “FYI, if you ever repeat this morning’s performance with anyone who answers my phone, I’ll block your number. Don’t youdaretalk to any of my people like that.Ever.”
I smile and, yes, I have to reach down and adjust myself. My pet’s sexy when he’s in fighting mode.
Hey, I might be his owner, but I like it when he’s fighting forme.
It takes her aback, too. “I’m sorry,” she says. “I was frustrated.”
“What was so important you had to be a bitch to Leo?”
I wonder if Stella’s eyes are as wide as mine probably are now. He’s never like this in front of anyone but me. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see the shock on the other two staffer’s faces in the seat ahead of us when they turn to look at each other.
Elliot’s lips curve in a sneaky, playful smile meant only for me.
Goddamnit, now I’m fucking hard.
“I-I said I’m sorry, Elliot!”
“That’s not answering my question. You have about two minutes before I reach my destination. Spit it out, or obviously it wasn’t very important.”
Whoa, he’s even lying to her.
Amazing.
“Sheesh, okay. I want to set up a dinner between you and—”
“Nope.”
Fuuuuck. He grins as I reach down and adjust myself again. Damn, he’s fucking hot when he’s in executive mode.
She sounds exasperated. “Will you just hear me out?”
