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“He’ll be fine.” Rachel gave her a conspiring wink before her eyes studied the strings poking out from the missing buttons on Isa’s shirt.
“If you’ll excuse me.” Isa closed her shirt with one hand. “Enjoy your dinner.”
***
Eli hadn’t invited Isa to stay for dinner, which was for the best. Especially with Merina and Rachel chattering away about Tag and Reese like they weren’t in the room.
Notably missing was their father and Rhona, but Alex didn’t make every family dinner, so no one was surprised by this. Least of all Merina, who’d made it a point to call and ask if they wanted pasta and salad. “Alex and Rhona are in Amish country. Did you know that, Reese?”
Reese hadn’t known that, and Tag and Eli exchanged equally puzzled glances. Why was their father in Amish country? Did he need a bureau? Cheese?
Merina dispatched dinner—Italian—with minimal fuss. She’d insisted on dishes but let Eli win the argument for paper napkins. Now everyone sat at the table, plates cleared and wineglasses refilled. Beers sat in front of Eli and Tag.
“She’s working out, I guess,” Reese said.
Pretending not to know what his brother was talking about, Eli only frowned.
“Isabella. The PA position.” Reese lifted his glass of red. “When I saw you with her, you two seemed to be getting along.”
“I’ll say,” Rachel put in.
Eli glanced over and Rachel sipped from her glass.
“I’d have thought you would have fired her by now,” Reese said.
“I have,” Eli grumbled. “Several times.”
“I bet.” Tag let out a chuckle and sent Eli a knowing look. “Hard to make moves on the girl when she’s on the payroll.” He sent Rachel a warm look. “Right, Dimples?”
Rachel gave Eli a nod of approval. “She’s very pretty, Eli.”
“And feisty.” Merina smiled.
“Takes one to know one.” Rachel held up her glass and Merina clanged hers in a “cheers.”
“What’s going on?” Tag asked, his smile gone.
Reese’s brow lowered. “They do this more than they used to.”
“Oh, come on, guys,” Merina said, setting her glass on the table. “It’s obvious Isa and Eli had something going on other than work.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Eli growled, then followed Merina’s gaze as it settled on a stray button on the floor.
Dammit.
The last thing he needed was for his family to know he’d crossed a line.
“No shit?” Tag asked, his smile edging across his face. “You and the PA.”
Eli sighed and drank his beer.
“I like her,” Reese announced in that commanding, authoritative way he had. Even Merina and Rachel paused to listen. “Especially since she massaged you into RSVPing yes to the Royale London event in November.”
His brain may have become hung up on the word massaged if not for what followed.
“What?” Eli barked.
“Nothing,” Tag said quickly, amused as per his usual. “Just a Crane thing.”
