Page 33 of Take My Breath Away
“Whatever it was I was expecting, that wasn’t it.” Tilting his head to the side, Elliot studies me.
I’m not a man who’s easily intimidated, and I certainly don’t cringe, but I’m having a hard time meeting Elliot’s steady, level gaze. He’s a master of the silent stare, just as I am, but right now, in this very moment, cringe is exactly what I want to do.
“Well, I thought at least one of you would have told me, although technically it’s not my business.” He sounds put out, even a little hurt, because byone of you,he really means me. “So why is he staying with you?”
I explain as succinctly as I can the broad facts, but leave out Perry’s stint at basement living. I also tell him Perry’s considering a change of career, as part of his life reassessment post the shit of a boyfriend. I’ve no doubt overstepped the mark on that front, but it’s too late to backtrack.
“The change in career doesn’t surprise me.”
“Oh.” I’m taken aback by Elliot’s calm acceptance.
He smiles. “I’ve seen what he can do. My chief accountant got married a few months ago, and Perry made and decorated her wedding cake. It was amazing, a work of art. He’s exceptionally talented and he should put those talents to good use.”
“He showed me some photos,” I say, nodding. “Like you say, works of art. Yet you seem extremely relaxed knowing the best Executive Assistant you’ve ever had is going to be leaving you in the lurch. Aren’t you concerned about that?”
I wish I could bite back my words, which feel mean spirited, because I couldn’t imagine anybody less likely than Perry to do something like that.
“He won’t leave me in the lurch, as you put it.” Elliot’s words echo my thoughts. “Perry’s not like that. I don’t expect him to stay my assistant for ever, but I’ll miss him when he does decide to move on — which should probably be sooner rather than later so he capitalises on the impetus created by the sudden change in his circumstances. Catastrophes often create opportunities, and this sounds like it might be his. The boyfriend, or should I say ex-boyfriend, sounds like a piece of work. Perry’s well rid. I should be grateful it was you who found him and came to his rescue. So, how long has he been with you?”
“Just a few weeks, not long.”
“Weeks? Not days?” Elliot narrows his eyes, as a sly smile lifts his lips.
“Perry moving in, does it explain your complete and total disinterest in the waiter? His interest was flashing like a Belisha beacon, and you didn’t even notice. That’s not the James I know, love, and completely despair of.”
“No, of course it doesn’t.”
My interest in other men has taken a nosedive since I brought Perry home. I can tell myself that having him stay has cramped my style, but it’d be a steaming heap of bull. If I want a man, I can have a man, anytime and anywhere I want. The simple fact is, I don’t want. I’ve no interest, and it’s the first time I haven’t been interested in men pretty much since I was hanging off my mother’s tit. I think of Aiden, temptation oozing from every pore. Deliciously dirty Aiden, who’s as hot as they come, who now, and just as he did in the café a couple of days back, leaves me stone cold.
The loud, theatrical cough grabs my attention. Elliot’s looking at me still, an amused smile tugging at his lips.
“You were miles away, which is also not like you. Are you sure you’re not James’ long lost twin?” I give him my best glare but all he does is raise a brow as he sips his drink. “Perry’s very young,” he adds.
“I could remind you you’re on the point of marrying a man half your age, the same age more or less as Perry.”
“Touché,” he mutters. “I know he’s not a kid, but in many ways it’s how I’ve always thought of him, because he looks so much younger than he is. A scarily efficient kid, but a kid all the same. Just be careful with him.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Elliot sighs, but he meets my gaze and his doesn’t waver.
“He’s fantastic at his job, he doesn’t take BS from anybody and that includes me, but for all that I think he’s quite a sensitive soul and easily hurt.”
“And you think I’m going to hurt him?” I snap. “I told you, he’s just lodging with me.”
“Why are you being so defensive?”
“I’m not.” So much for not being caught on the hop, or the back foot. Any pretence that I’m running things here is unraveling like a ball of string.
Elliot doesn’t speak for a few seconds, but when he does his voice is measured, his words chosen with care.
“If he’s just been through a break up, he’ll be vulnerable even if he doesn’t think he is. No matter how good a front he puts on, something inside will be fractured. Maybe even broken. He’ll need time to mend, and the right person to help him.” Elliot leans back, closing in on himself, shoulders hunching.
Oh, Jesus…If anybody knows about break ups, it’s Elliot. I take his hands in mine, and squeeze tight, just for a moment, before I let go. He’s talking about himself as much, if not more so, than Perry. Elliot’s been damaged too, left broken by betrayal, but he’s been mended and made stronger by having Freddie in his life. For a blinding, devastating second, it’s intoxicating to think that I could be the one to heal Perry, but Elliot’s next words are ice cold sobriety.
“Don’t give him false hope.”
“What do you mean?” My words are glass shards in my throat.
