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Chapter 12
Isa agreed to dinner, but she insisted on going home first to change. Not because she needed to dress fancy—not in the casual atmosphere of Eli’s house—but because she was about to sit down with his family. She’d met Tag, Rachel, Merina, and of course Reese, but this would be the first time she’d spend time with them outside of work.
After making love with Eli today, she’d radiated sexual satisfaction. She’d toned her wardrobe down a bit—changing into a dress that wasn’t wrinkled and combing her hair so she didn’t look as if she’d been rolling around on Eli’s bed all afternoon.
JBF hair, indeed.
She was a little floored he’d invited her tonight, but was trying not to overthink the invitation. Plus, this was rapidly becoming the norm. He’d floored her a lot lately. They’d fit sex into their workday and were able to talk like normal human beings afterward. Call her crazy, but she hadn’t pegged him as a guy who was into snuggling after naked time.
Things had changed between them. The only problem was she wasn’t sure where to draw the line. Having not been in a relationship for three years had made her rusty. Was it a good sign that she’d been invited to dinner with his family, or was Eli regretting asking her?
“Isa, seriously,” she scolded herself as she threw her car into park in Eli’s lot. She was starting to remind herself of an unsure teenager. She pulled her purse onto her shoulder and stepped out as Tag slipped into the spot next to hers in the shiniest, sexiest black car she’d ever seen.
Rachel climbed out first.
“Oh, I’m so glad you could make it!” the blonde chirped.
Tag unfolded from the driver’s side and Isa watched as he stood. He kept going until he was towering over them both. And Isa was a few inches taller than Rachel. How did that work?
“Hey, Cap’n,” Tag said with one of his signature lazy grins.
“Are you addressing me?” Isa asked, amused.
“He does that.” Rachel rolled her blue eyes, which made her look even cuter. Isa hadn’t thought that was possible. “He calls me Dimples.” She smiled and poked the divots dotting each side of her face.
“That’s because you have two of the cutest ones I’ve ever seen in my life.” Tag leaned down and covered Rachel’s lips with a kiss—a kiss that lasted a really long time—and right then, Isa saw exactly how Tag and Rachel “worked.” Because they were drop-dead, head-over-heels, hold-my-drink-so-I-can-do-a-cartwheel in love.
Isa’s chest filled with hope at the sight. She wanted that. Someday. Today was a little premature for the fantasy, considering she and Eli were…well, she didn’t know what they were.
“He does that, too,” Rachel said with a breathy sigh when Tag set her on her heels again. Though her grin suggested she didn’t mind him grabbing her and kissing her. Isa couldn’t blame her. Tag was an attractive guy, and there was no denying his sex appeal. Any girl would feel safe in those tank-sized arms.
But it was Eli who caused Isa’s blood to warm significantly. He was the right mix of moody and gruff. He had an honest way about him, unlike Josh who had always been hell-bent to impress. Her ex had laid it on thick in the charm department. Shortly after they’d started dating, Isa had learned the true meaning behind the saying “hook, line, and sinker.” He’d totally reeled her in. Eli’s bald honesty was one of the reasons she’d been so drawn to him.
Tag, on the other hand…Isa eyed the fun-loving giant who kissed Rachel on the forehead, his arm looped around her neck. Yeah, he was made for the punchy blonde at his side.
“Perfect timing,” Tag said as a Porsche growled into a parking space next to his car. “Looks like we won’t waste away waiting for sustenance.”
The Porsche pulled to a stop and Reese stepped from the car. He was tall, too, but more Eli-tall than skyscraper-sized Tag. Merina climbed out next, her straight, golden hair resting on her shoulders. She smoothed a hand down her slim pencil skirt and gave Isa a smile.
Isa had always admired Merina. The woman was the epitome of a business matriarch, yet approachable and warm. She was also the reason Isa had received a call from Reese requesting aid from Sable Concierge in the first place. Without Merina, she’d never have met Eli. How about that?
“Well, well, if it isn’t Elijah Crane’s personal assistant,” Merina said with a wink as she rounded the vehicle.
“We were surprised to hear we were adding a meal for you,” Reese announced, his tone uncharacteristically light. He opened the back door and pulled out several bags from a local sushi restaurant.
“He means ‘happy,’” Merina corrected. “We were happy to hear you were joining us.”
“No, I meant surprised,” Reese said. “Eli has a way of pushing people away.”
“It’s a gift,” Tag said, taking one of the bags from Reese.
“You haven’t gone anywhere even though he’s fired half your staff,” Reese said to Isa.
“A third, actually.”
Reese’s smile warmed his eyes. She’d never seen him out of business mode and in that moment completely understood the gentler side Merina had access to—and had fallen for.
“I can handle Eli,” Isa said.
