Needing to shift topics again, I go with a safer question. “What was in New York?”
“I had to sign a new contract. A Thin Blue Line was renewed for another season.”
“Oh, that’s awesome!” I heard rumblings on a few of the news outlets that the show might get dropped. “I really hope you’re finally able to get a new partner. I don’t know why they keep pushing that story line. Tina is not a good match for Jimmy. Brody and I have been riding together for almost seven years, and I would punch myself in the face before I ever kissed him. The show needs to give Jimmy a woman who he saved or something. That would be an interesting plot. Also, your brother on the show has to stop sleeping with that model. Twitter went nuts when he went back to her. She’s a bitch.”
Eli’s gaze shifts to mine, and he chuckles. “I thought you didn’t watch the show.”
Crap. I did say that. I chew on my thumb and shrug. “I guess I’ve seen a few seasons.” I say the last word under my breath, hoping he didn’t catch it.
“Seasons?”
No such luck.
“Whatever. It’s just to see how bad you butcher my job.”
Eli shakes his head and grabs my hand. His fingers thread with mine and then he gently squeezes. “Sounds like you’re a little more invested than that.”
“Fine,” I admit. “I watch it religiously.”
He brings my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles. “I knew you liked me.”
I laugh and hit his chest with our entwined hands. “You’re crazy. I like your show, but seriously, tell the writers they need to clear that up.”
“So, you and your partner have never . . .”
“Eww!” I twist in my seat. “Never. He’s married first of all, and I was married to our lieutenant so that was never going to happen on Matt’s watch, but . . .”
“You were married to your boss?” he questions.
I guess I haven’t really been very forthcoming with information. Not that we’ve had a ton of time to get into much. I mentioned my ex-husband but didn’t go into any great detail. “Yes, I was married, but we’ve been divorced for almost five years. It was amicable to a point, I guess. Not sure whenever a marriage dissolves that it’s ever on good terms, but Matt and I see each other every day, so we’re civil.”
“You still see him every day?”
“He’s still my boss. Unfortunately, it means that I have the pleasure of dealing with him almost daily. I hoped they would transfer me or him, but Matt has a lot of pull in the department.”
Eli tenses, but he does a good job at hiding any further reaction. He has to know that I come with a past, just as he does. Might as well get some of this out in the open.
Besides, I’d much rather know what kind of man he is before we get too deep in a relationship or whatever this is. Matt couldn’t accept my relationship with Stephanie, and she’s a non-negotiable. If Eli can handle the Matt thing, I’ll brave telling him about my sister.
“I can’t imagine being around my ex. Especially with access to a lethal weapon.”
I laugh. “In the beginning, it was tempting, but Matt is a selfish prick. He isn’t worth the jail time.”
His thumb rubs back and forth, leaving my skin tingling in its wake. Sure enough, we pull up to the gate on Harbour Island. Here’s the contrast of my life to his. Eli scans the card that allows us access.
My anxiety starts to climb as the reasons why I should’ve said no start to swim back into my mind. I’m in his second of whatever number of vehicles, going through the metal gates to houses I couldn’t afford to rent a bathroom in, and I’m completely out of my element.
I was crazy to think he and I were ever a possibility. I don’t fit in this world.
As we drive down another road, the houses get grander, and my despair deepens.
The car stops, and he turns toward me. “You okay?”
“Yes. No. I’m not really sure,” I finally settle on.
He releases my hand and turns to face me fully. “Care to explain?” His voice is light, but the concern is clear in his eyes.
My heart lurches when I see the house we’re parked in front of. I point to the incredibly large mansion in front of us. “This. I live in a rundown house that could fit in your driveway. This is just one of the reasons I pushed you away. We’re from different worlds, and this scares the shit out of me.”
Eli sighs, exits the car, and walks around to my side.
Well, that wasn’t what I expected. Is he going to tell me to get out of his car? Am I supposed to call a cab? Is he leaving me here?
My car door opens, and he grabs my hands, helping me out of the car. After releasing a heavy sigh, he speaks. “I didn’t bring you here because I wanted to show you we come from different worlds. The truth is, I lived in the ghetto of Tampa, but I think you knew that already. Money doesn’t define who we are, it’s what’s inside us that matters.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” I’m not sure if I could hate myself any more than I do in this moment. Eli has done everything right, and my insecurities are getting the better of me.
“I want us to spend the day together, talk, and it’s private here. I’m just a guy, Heather. At the end of the day, no matter what you think I am, I’m a man.”
“I’m truly sorry,” I say immediately. “I didn’t mean to freak.” Our bodies are close, almost touching, and I pull one of my hands from his so I can cup his cheek. “You’re more than just a guy to me. You’re a man who reminds me that I’m a woman. You look at me as if I’m special, and that’s difficult to accept. More than that, you’re a guy that I spent my entire life dreaming of, but right now, you’re real.”
Eli’s arm tightens around my back. “I want to be Ellington today. Not Eli Walsh the actor or FBD member. Can we do that? Can we just be . . . ourselves?”
It’s a grand idea. To let go of the bullshit around us and just be two people getting to know one another. I want nothing more than to see who he really is. “Just the two of us?” I ask.
“No one else will be here today,” Eli says and brushes his lips against mine.
“Then it’s nice to meet you, Ellington.”
His name falls from my lips, and I sigh.
“You, too, Heather.”
I push forward, pressing a sweet kiss on his mouth. His smile is warm against my lips, and he releases his hold on me. Eli takes my hand as we walk toward the house.
He opens the door, and my jaw drops. This is beyond words. As we step inside, I look around, trying to take it all in. The foyer hosts two huge staircases that lead to opposite ends of a balcony. There are two rooms off to each side at the bottom, one of which is a library. I’m not talking about a few books on a shelf, either. The entire wall looks lined. We walk deeper, and the other room opens to what looks like a more formal living room.
“Wow,” I say with awe.
“I bought this house a few years ago. I like to visit my mother here in Tampa, and Randy lives in Sanibel Island, so this is a good medium.”
“There’s nothing medium here, Eli. This is super-sized.” My voice cracks a little as he continues to lead me down the hall.