Page 6 of Enticing the Elf
I smile. “Welcome to the DEA. How can I help you?”
He pulls his attention away from Niamh, who’s hovering pitifully a few feet away, and steps forward. “Hi. I have anappointment with Caolan. I’m Erik, from the Warhammers Hockey Club.”
The what now? Why does someone from a hockey club have an appointment with Caolan? “I didn’t know there were any elves involved with the team,” I comment as I bring up the visitor list. Yep, there he is: Erik, Warhammers HC. The notes link to the meeting room booking under Caolan’s name. I click on that while Erik explains earnestly that he works in the marketing department and he’s hoping the sport can be another way for elves to integrate with the other community species. It would be very sweet if I had any interest in sports beyond the athletes.
The meeting invitation shows that the king and Eoin are attending too, which is interesting. I guess the king is planning to get involved in the sport? After what happened when he took Jared to a game last season, that’s a little surprising.
“Have a seat, and Caolan will be right out,” I tell Erik, sending Caolan a message that his visitor is here.
Erik wanders over to the waiting area, and I grab my phone and send a text to Eoin.
Is the king going to sponsor a hockey team?
There’s got to besomebenefit—aside from the phenomenal sex—to risking my emotional stability with Eoin. If I can’t get the occasional bit of non-classified insider information from him, what’s the point?
I’m not stupid. I know a lot of people are wondering what’s going on with us. We’ve been “seeing” each other for about eighteen months now, and while that’s not a long time for a species as long-lived as ours, it’s a long time to just be casually dating. Especially since neither of us is seeing anyone else, and we spend more time together than most people who are keepingit casual. Casual daters probably don’t keep clothes at each other’s homes.
But that’s all it can be. I’m already too invested as it is, and I can’t afford to put more of myself into this. Eoin called me his boyfriend once, and even though it hurt me to do it, I shut that down as fast as I could. The only reason I let myself get into this with Eoin, of all people, was because I knew he’d never want more than friendship and sex. That’s all I want. I like Eoin—of course I do. I’m very fond of him, to quote everyone onDownton Abbeywho seems incapable of expressing emotions in public. And what we do together in bed is exceptional. But I don’t need the heartbreak of a relationship that’s doomed to fail, and he’s notorious for not wanting relationships at all. That’s why I let my thing with Eoin grow beyond the couple of nights I originally thought it would be—because I knew he’d never want me to risk my heart on him.
Only, lately it’s seemed like maybe he wants to try something different from his usual commitment-phobic ways. If I have to say goodbye to what we have, I will.
I have to muffle a grunt as my stomach crampshard. For no reason. Absolutely none.
My phone makes a whooshing sound as Eoin replies.
Does that mean the rep from the team is here? Not sponsor. Maybe get involved somehow. Jared likes hockey.
Caolan comes out through the security gate, shooting me a little wave before he goes to collect Erik and usher him toward the meeting rooms. I wave back. Caolan and I have worked together for a long time, and I’ve always liked him, but more so since we’ve come to Earth. His boyfriend and new friends have brought out a side of him that’s a lot of fun.
“Dáithí,” Niamh murmurs tentatively, distracting me from my thoughts. I narrow my eyes at her.
“I already said no.”
She makes pitiful eyes at me, but I’m resolute. If I give in now, everyone will think they can walk all over me.
The security gate opens again, and this time it’s Eoin and the king who walk through, obviously on their way to the hockey meeting. I acknowledge them with a smile and nod, and the king calls a greeting. He’s very respectful of everyone who works here.
Eoin winks at me, then catches sight of Niamh and frowns. He murmurs something to the king, who nods and continues into the hallway. Eoin changes direction to join me and my latest nemesis at the reception desk.
“Good morning, Dáithí,” he says, his voice warm with that special note he only directs at me… these days, anyway.
“Good morning,” I reply cheerfully, as if he didn’t wake up in my bed and drive me to work today.
“Are you having a good day so far?”
I consider it carefully. “Pretty good, yes. Not quite as good as it would have been if you’d told me about this hockey… thing.” He knows how much I love gossip. That’s why I’m still working reception after all these years, even though I’ve been offered a place on Caolan’s team multiple times. People talk to me more in this job than they would if they thought I had seniority.
“I apologize for that oversight. Caolan only told me about it yesterday, and since then I’ve been… distracted.” He flashes a wicked grin to remind me I’m the reason for said distraction.
“I guess I can forgive you, this one time. You’ll take me to lunch to make up for it, won’t you?” And fill me in on how the meeting went and what’s been decided.
He nods. “Of course. One o’clock?”
That’s when one of the assistants from the administration team usually comes to cover the desk so I can have my break. Nobody mentioned a change of plans today, so I agree.
“One’s perfect.”
“Wonderful. Now… is there a reason Niamh’s standing here with a look on her face like her beloved pet went missing?”
