Page 8 of Shiny Things

“That’s not going to happen,” I assured her.

“Are you even the least bit curious?”

“No,” I lied.

I knew exactly what Elias said when he told me it felt as though we had an unbreakable connection. That was why it hurt so damn much seeing another woman on his arm. But I knew my place in this world of ours, and it was never going to be as Elias Davenport’s mate. The mere idea of it was absurd.

I was a grown-ass woman now. I couldn’t afford schoolgirl crushes like this.

“Why would he want to know anyway?” I blurted out.

“Because he loves you and he wants it to be true.”

I started coughing, choking on my own spit, and then I laughed in her face.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Whatever, will you at least talk to him? He looks pathetic out there, and I think he’s about ready to start groveling. I love him, but he can be a bit thick in the head at times. His reality of last night was that he spent the entire evening watching you and paid no attention to her whatsoever. He didn’t even remember her hanging on him half the night.”

I wanted to growl in frustration, but the bell chimed over the front door, alerting us to a new customer.

“I’ve got it,” I said before walking out to the dining room.

Our latest customers walked over and sat in Gia’s section. I frowned. They were regulars of mine and even had “their table” on the other side of the room. I looked in that direction and saw the “Section Closed” sign was up.

“Someone will be right with you,” I told them, and gave a smile I wasn’t feeling.

I stomped back into the kitchen.

“What the hell, Gia? You closed my section just so I’d talk to your idiot brother?”

“What are you talking about? I’d never do that.”

I stared at her as we both processed this change of events.

“Elias,” we said in unison.

“I’m going to murder him. I swear he’s trying to drive me insane on purpose.”

“I’m sorry. I can boot him out, and I’ll take the sign down immediately.”

“No, go handle your customers. I’ll take care of him.”

“Okay, but try not to actually murder him. Please?”

“Is everything okay?” David asked.

“No,” I said at the same time Gia said, “Yes.”

He looked back and forth between us and threw up his hands. “I don’t want to know.”

We both started laughing in spite of the situation as he retreated.

“I make no promises, but I will try,” I conceded before stomping out to the dining room.

I left the sign up for the moment.

“We need to talk,” Elias and I said at the same time.

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