Fuck.
Eli couldn’t help but level a glare at Shaw. He needed to bring that smile back. He didn’t like that she’d shut down.
“I’m so sorry,” Arabella said in that formal tone he was starting to dislike.
Ease up.
Remember that you only just met her.
How can you hate a tone of voice when you barely know her?
“Would you like me to go and tell her that I made that up?” she asked, trying to stand. “Excuse me, please.”
“No,” Eli replied.
“What?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, did you not hear me? I said, no.”
“Please move so I can go and talk to our server.”
“No.”
“Eli Jones, move.”
“Nope.” He knew it was wrong, but it was a relief to hear the flash of temper in her voice. At least it meant that cold demeanor was cracking and her real feelings were slipping through.
Why had she learned to mask her feelings, though? What or who had taught her to do that?
Kellan masked his emotions because of their asshole of a father. Was that the same for her?
Not your business.
Except he felt like he had a vested interest in her care.
Maybe that was it. Perhaps having helped her, he simply wanted to ensure she thrived. Plus, in this town, it was his duty to help any female who lived here and needed it.
He conveniently ignored the fact that he didn’t actually live here anymore. So that rule didn’t apply to him.
Unless you move back.
No. That wasn’t happening.
And even if he could stomach the idea of doing that, he knew that Kellan could never live here.
He’d never leave his brother. It was the two of them.
Always.
“Eli, get out of my way,” she said firmly.
“I think we’ve established my answer.”
“Eli,” Shaw said. “You can’t trap her.”
“Sure he can,” Kellan said.
“See?” Eli said with a grin. “I can.”
