Page 60 of Double Fault

As he passes several feet away, Maddie calls out, “Hey, Elias.”

He stops, and a smile splits his face. I swear it’s impossible not to love this little girl.

“Hey, Maddie. How are you?”

“I’d be better if my dad won.”

He barks out a laugh, and even Whimsy giggles.

“I respect that. And how’s your nanny?” He looks me over from head to toe, wearing an expression of pure male appreciation. I sit up straighter, unable to deny how good it feels to be looked at like that.

“I don’t know. Ask her. She’s right there.” Maddie pokes my shoulder.

Elias presses his lips together, his shoulders shaking with silent laugher.

Eyes dancing from my charge to me, he says, “So… Nanny, how are you?”

“Sabrina,” I remind him. “And I’m good. How areyou?”

He seems like a nice enough guy, despite the rivalry between him and Noah. He comes across as a tad cocky, always standing tall, commanding attention, but the constant sparkle in his eye is boyish and soft.

“Feeling like a winner, beautiful. I’d feel even better if you’d join me for dinner tonight.”

My heart lodges itself in my throat, but I play it cool, looking him up and down. “Dinner?”

“Yeah, the third meal of the day,” he teases, his lips kicking up on one side. “Usually includes a main and at least two side dishes. Sometimes accompanied by wine and a gorgeous date.”

Whimsy looks from him to me and back again. “Should I make reservations?”

“I…”

I’m taken aback, frankly, and caught off guard.

“She has a job to do, and it doesn’t involve kissing your ass.”

I’ve been so focused on the young guy in front of me that I didn’t even notice Noah’s approach.

Elias grins, amused by my boss’s attitude. “I don’t need my ass kissed. But dinner with a beautiful woman? No man would turn that down. Right?” He playfully elbows Noah like they’re old friends.

Bristling, Noah steps away, which puts him closer to me.

“Sure, but find another beautiful woman. Not mine.”

I… what did he say?

My brain takes a moment to reboot, and my heart has taken off at a sprint.

Noah’s eyes go wide, and he shakes his head, his damp waves swishing with the gesture.

As if I imagined the whole scenario, he squats in front of Maddie and smiles. “Hop on.”

With a grin, she does, and then the two of them head away from me.

Maybe I really was hallucinating. Is this heat stroke?

No, this is Noah being Noah. Rather than acknowledge that comment, he’s going to pretend it never happened.

Figures.

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