Page 47 of Defending Love
“There were multiple options. Lilly’s offer wasn’t what we expected. Thankfully, Sinclair secured the patent on Propanolol and all that was avoided.”
That was a lot for me to think about. “Thank you, Stephen, for taking my call so late.”
His tone lightened. “Give my love to Marsha, and when you’re back home, we can chat.”
“Goodbye.” My stomach twisted as I disconnected the call.
Carrying the envelope, I walked from my bedroom to the computer room. For a moment, I stood in the door frame, watching as Eli worked. His intense gaze was glued to the screen, his forehead furrowed with concentration, and his untethered hair curled to his sharp chin. He was so enthralled as his long fingers flew over the keyboards, working between three different stations at the same time, I almost hated to disturb him.
Finally, I said, “Hey.”
His piercing green stare met mine. “Hey.” His gaze swept over me from my messy hair to my pink toenails. “You’re fucking stunning.”
Warmth filled my cheeks. “You said I had bedhead.”
Eli scoffed. “I said they’d believe you were in bed. That doesn’t mean you aren’t beautiful.” He smirked. “It’s hard for me to look at you and not think about my face buried between your legs.”
Thankfully, the sweatshirt would hide my hardening nipples. “That all ended rather abruptly.”
He nodded. “It did.” His gaze landed on the envelope. “What did you find?”
“I don’t know.” I lifted it. “Tearing it open seems wrong. I was thinking about steam.”
“That would work.”
As Eli stood, he seemed to double in height. The sight of his shirt reminded me that we had unbuttoned it earlier, and I ran my palm over his muscular chest.
He pointed to the door. “Let’s take it in the small bathroom in the hallway. We can turn on the shower and let it run for a while.”
My lips curled. “That’s a good idea.”
As we entered the bathroom, Eli turned on the shower, setting the dial to hot. I placed the envelope precariously on the top of the glass door. The flap hung over the spray, close enough for steam, but not to get wet.
“That should do it,” Eli said. Stepping back into the hallway, he asked, “How was Mr. Elliott?”
I shrugged as we walked together back to the computer room. “He was glad I called. I told him what happened. Tomorrow he’s going to call the Jacksonville FBI field office and check on the two agents.” I took a few steps closer, running my fingertips over the sleek desk. “He and my dad were friends and colleagues for my entire life—longer. Stephen even traveled down here with Damien and I after the shooting. I asked him if Dad had any secrets.”
Eli sat in the chair he’d just vacated and leaned back. “And…?”
“He said no, nothing earth-shattering.”
I peeled the latex gloves from my fingers and placed them on one of the desks.
Eli’s gaze went back to the screen before him. “Do you want to see what I’ve found?”
Excitement sounded in my tone. “You found something?” It was the first ray of sunlight in this dark nightmare. I moved closer, standing at his side and peering at the screen.
Chapter
Eighteen
Dani
* * *
Eli used the mouse to point. “This is an aerial schematic of your mother’s neighborhood. This is her home. This one is Carol’s. Most of the houses in the Villages use Ring security cameras. A recent string in the neighborhood app had multiple complaints about their security being down.” He pointed the mouse on the screen. “But see this house, the one across the street from your parents’?”
“Yeah. I’m not sure who lives there.”
