“Why not?”
“Don’t you think we spend enough time together as it is?”
“I haven’t seen you all morning. This is our first conversation today.”
Elinor shifted from one foot to the other. “So, was there something you needed from Rosa?”
“Oh. That.” He picked up his phone and quickly dialed Rosa’s cell number, hoping she’d pick up. She didn’t. She probably had her hands full with food they now didn’t need. Knowing Lucy, she’d bring enough to feed an army—well, an army on a low calorie diet.
He looked up at Elinor and debated what to do. Part of him wanted to pick her up, toss her over his shoulder, and hide her somewhere far away where Lucy couldn’t even sense her presence in town. He could create an errand for Elinor to run. The UPS store was around the corner and he could have her mail something in his office to himself, but that idea sounded more ridiculous the longer he thought about it. Hiding Elinor would lead to either a lot of lying or an uncomfortable conversation about why he didn’t want her meeting his fiancée.
His cell phone rang and he answered the call from Rosa. Time to face the inevitable, as Thanos would say. “Hi, Rosa. Did you already order the food?”
“Yes, what’s the problem?”
“Lucy’s coming with lunch.”
“For you maybe. Don’t worry. I’ll put your order in the fridge and take it home to Jorge. He’ll be thrilled. He loves empanadas.”
“You got me empanadas from Abuela’s?”
“I did.” She ended the call and Edward put his phone down, along with his hopes for the day. “You picked Abuela’s?” he asked Elinor.
“I heard they have the best Mexican food.”
“They do.”
“You said Lucy, as in, your fiancée?” Elinor asked.
He sat up straighter and tried to look unconcerned about it. “Yes. My fiancée is coming in.”
Elinor stared back at him, with all the questions flitting across her face that he couldn’t answer and she didn’t dare ask. After a moment, she said, “If you need me, I’ll be at my desk.”
***
“Oh, here we go,” Rosa muttered when Lucy finally showed up.
Elinor was tempted to stare, but she focused on her computer and only listened to the rustling of takeout bags and breathed in the scent of expensive perfume.
“Rosa, you’re looking absolutely radiant today. Did you do something with your hair?”
“Yes.” Rosa took a crunchy bite of her taco before going back to typing.
Elinor glanced up, catching the look of irritation that flitted across Lucy’s face. The woman was gorgeous, a blonde bombshell with anything but forgettable features. It made perfect sense that Edward would choose her, and also no sense at all. That kind of beauty often came with an awareness of what it could do.
“Edward didn’t tell you I was bringing lunch?” Lucy asked.
Rosa shrugged. “He tried. I had already ordered. He’s in there.” She pointed at his office door as if Lucy might need directions.
Lucy ignored her and instead turned to study Elinor. “Edward hired another secretary? Or are you a temp?”
Elinor smiled. “I’m an assistant to Rosa.”
Lucy pressed her palms together. “I’m surprised Edward thought you needed help, Rosa. He’s always described you as so efficient.”
“Your food’s getting cold, dear.” Rosa took another bite of her taco. “I’m so glad you picked Abuela’s today, Elinor. This is perfect. I wouldn’t want to eat anything else.”
Elinor kept her mouth shut. The polite animosity between these two was as fascinating as it was dangerous. If Elinor had any say in the matter, she would stand clear of all of them. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t dying to know every bit of history that could tell her what Edward meant, about not being free, but how no one would care if he fell in love with someone else. What was that supposed to mean? It was all so morbid.
