curl in a fond smile at the mention of her name.
After a moment he says, “She was about six months old
when she arrived. I was thrilled, Elliot less so. He’d
already had to contend with my arrival. She was perfect.”
The sweet, sad awe in his voice is affecting. “Less so
now, of course,” he mutters, and I recall her successful
attempts at the ball to thwart our lascivious intentions. It
makes me giggle.
Christian gives me a sideways glance. “You find that
amusing, Miss Steele?”
“She seemed determined to keep us apart.”
He laughs mirthlessly. “Yes, she’s quite accomplished.”
He reaches across and squeezes my knee. “But we got
there in the end.” He smiles then glances in the rearview
mirror once more. “I don’t think we’ve been followed.”
He turns off the I-5 and heads back to central Seattle.
“Can I ask you something about Elena?” We are
stopped at some traffic lights.
He gazes at me warily. “If you must,” he mutters
sullenly, but I don’t let his irritability deter me.
“You told me ages ago that she loved you in a way you
found acceptable. What did that mean?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” he asks.
“Not to me.”
“I was out of control. I couldn’t bear to be touched. I
can’t bear it now. For a fourteen, fifteen-year-old
adolescent boy with hormones raging, it was a difficult
time. She showed me a way to let off steam.”
Oh. “Mia said you were a brawler.”
“Christ, what is it with my loquacious family? Actually
—it’s you.” We’ve stopped at more lights, and he narrows
his eyes at me. “You inveigle information out of people.”
He shakes his head in mock disgust.
“Mia volunteered that information. In fact, she was
very forthcoming. She was worried you’d start a brawl in
the marquee if you didn’t win me at the auction,” I mutter
indignantly.
“Oh, baby, there was no danger of that. There was no
way I would let anyone else dance with you.”
“You let Dr. Flynn.”
“You let Dr. Flynn.”
“He’s always the exception to the rule.”
Christian pulls into the impressive, leafy driveway of
the Fairmont Oly
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