Page 28 of Enemies with My Brother's Billionaire Bestie

I glance at him, trying to keep the mood light. “You’re asking me to come eat with you? Is this how you charm women into dates? Because I’m not falling for it,” I tease, though I can’t help the tiny flutter in my chest.

He simply nods, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I don’t date women, Ollie, and definitely not you.”

His words sting more than I expected, even with the smile. He’s right, of course—we were never close enough for friendship, much less anything else. But why has the thought of a romance, a possibility—no matter how absurd—been haunting my mind the last few days? Could it be that I’ve been dreaming of my own tale of Beauty and the Beast?

“Like I’d ever date someone like you,” I say, trying to make a joke out of it, but deep down, the words feel like a lie.

The wedding needs to be over soon—along with whatever madness is swirling inside me right now. I know what I want in my life: a love that’s pure and beautiful, like what my brother and Julia share. Elliot could never give me that. The sooner I wake up from this foolish dream, the better.

His car pulls to a stop in front of his restaurant, and I can see the familiar scene—chatter, laughter, and staff hustling around, making everything run smoothly. I’ve always admired how he manages it all without losing his mind. In fact, I’ve heard the townies call him “The Amazing Multitasker”—and I can’t help but agree.

“Follow me,” Elliot murmurs, leaning in just enough that his breath grazes my ear. He takes my hand, guiding me through the crowd to a backdoor I didn’t even know existed.

The moment we step through it, the buzz of the restaurant vanishes, replaced by the peaceful sound of birds chirping and the soft breeze of the open fields. Sunflowers stretch toward the sky, their golden faces smiling down on us, and daffodils wave gently in the wind. My breath catches in my throat as I take in the sight—a table set in the middle of the field, a small fountain bubbling beside it. The place is breathtaking.

“Is this how you host food critics?” I ask, laughing softly. “It feels like a bribe, El.”

“Only if it’s you, Ollie,” he says with a teasing smile, his brown eyes warm as he pulls out a chair for me. “You’re hard to impress.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, still in awe of the scene, as Aaron approaches with a trolley of dishes.

He sets the plates down in front of me, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. “This is a pecan vanilla cake recipe we’ve been working on. We’re thinking of serving it for dessert at the wedding.”

I take a bite, the delicate sweetness melting on my tongue. Happy tears threaten to spill over. “What do you think? Should we scrap it?” Elliot asks, watching me closely, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

“Scrap it? El, this tastes like heaven.” I shake my head, my words tumbling out in a rush. “Well, it’s not like anyone could actually bite into heaven, but you get what I mean. I’m rambling, so I’ll just shut up.” I take another bite, my heart swelling with the joy of it.

“Keep talking about my food like that, and I might make you my primary taster for all meals,” he laughs, his dimples deepening, and for a moment, all I want is to run my fingers along his beard-stubbled jaw.

“Feed me this every day, and we have a deal,” I reply, and just like that, the moment is light again. Aaron replaces the plate with more dishes, and by the end of the evening, I am stuffed and overjoyed.

It takes nearly three hours to get through the tasting, but every moment was worth it. “Thank you, El. I feel like a stuffed panda, but I love it,” I say, my voice full of contentment as Aaron clears the table.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Aaron was in charge of the menu planning, though,” he says proudly, and Aaron gives a polite bow in response.

“I think you should call this the ‘Happily Ever After’ special,” I suggest with a grin. “It’s fire.”

Both men exchange a look, running the idea through their minds. “She’s a smarty pants, man,” Aaron adds. “Are you sure we shouldn’t employ her?”

It’s my turn to blush, but before I can say anything, Elliot’s phone beeps, and he steps away to take the call. Left alone with Aaron, I continue to admire the stunning view, my thoughts swirling. “So, you two put this all together just for a food tasting?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Aaron’s loud laughter echoes across the field, both reassuring and uncomfortable. “Come on, Ollie,” he says, gesturing to the sunflower fields around us. “I’ve never seen him do this for anyone. Not in six years. I trust you’re smart enough to read between the lines, love.”

The words hang in the air as Aaron walks away, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts. Like me, is Elliot struggling with emotions he’s unsure about? It’s hard to tell with someone who’s spent so much of his life hiding his true feelings.

Elliot returns a few minutes later. “Alright, little rascal,” he says, his tone light but with an undercurrent of amusement. “Time to get you home before your brother sends in the National Guard. He’s been blowing up my phone.”

I look up at the sprawling house in the distance, its glass walls facing the ocean. “Is that your place?” I ask, surprised.

“Yeah, I love the view of the ocean,” he replies casually, “and my dog does too. So, it’s a win-win.”

Although he doesn’t say more, Aaron’s words linger in my mind. Is Elliot wrestling with his own feelings—feelings he’s not ready to confront? It’s hard to tell with someone who conceals so much of himself.

“You know what?” I say, my voice softer now. “I think I’ll walk home. I’ve got some ideas for my blog that I want to work on.”

“So you could use some time alone,” he nods in understanding, stepping aside to let me go.

“Thank you for today. It was beautiful,” I add, my smile small but genuine.

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