Making Her His

by Lucy Leroux

  Elynn hung up the phone with a smile. Alex couldn’t help ordering everyone around. But he was unfailingly kind to her, despite his ingrained bossiness. And protective. Over the years, he’d become her best friend, although she would never have admitted that to him. One did not impose such feelings or titles on Alexandros Hanas.

  Despite the gruff warmness Alex reserved for her and his father, he generally kept everyone at a distance. Even after all these years, he was still a bit formal with her mother, although he was always polite. He did have a group of college friends he kept in touch with, but Elynn had never met any of them.

  Elynn knew she was closer to Alex than most other people, but she also knew exactly where the boundaries to their relationship were. She had her own boundaries as well, and he respected them. For that she was grateful. There were just some things she did not want to discuss with her stepbrother.

  Not that she had a lot to tell him. After they had moved to the UK, she had settled into a happy studious life with few disruptions. While she was still in high school, there had been the occasional silent untraceable phone call. Those had completely unnerved her, and whenever she got one, she had lived looking over her shoulder for months. But over the years, the mysterious calls tapered off. There might have been one or two last year, but whoever it was hung up quickly, so she’d decided it was probably a wrong number. Elynn put them out of her mind and continued her life, secure in the protection of her family.

  Early the following Sunday, she made her way to Alex’s penthouse in the city. The night she had spoken to him on the phone, he had takeout delivered to her from one of her favorite sushi places. Alex often did that sort of thing when she was very busy at school. Elynn wanted to thank him and give him his birthday surprise.

  She had found a 1936 Jaguar SS100 in Oxford and, after several failed attempts, had talked its reluctant owner into selling it. The car was in terrible shape, and she had spent all of her savings to buy it, but it was worth it. Alex had mentioned several times that he wanted to add that model to his collection, but he hadn’t yet found one that suited him. He was constantly scouring ads looking for one, saying he would rather find and restore one than buy one from a specialty dealer.

  Alex had probably never intended to buy one that was nearly a junk heap, but Elynn knew that at least this way he could have it restored to his exacting specifications. She was just sorry that he hadn’t been around for his own birthday last month or she would have given it to him then. Instead, she’d mailed him an assortment of homemade cookies that she’d spent an entire evening baking. He’d probably taken them to the office for his staff, but she didn’t mind since he always pretended he ate everything himself.

  Elynn was shown into Alex’s luxurious penthouse suite and directed to the terrace balcony. It overlooked the Thames and had a fantastic view of the city. Excited, she pulled a ribboned box out of her bag and set it on the table in front of his chair. It contained a picture of the car she had stored in a garage in Oxford. She was sitting down again when a woman’s annoyed voice came from the second story balcony, which was connected to the one where she was sitting by a wrought iron staircase.

  “What the hell do you mean?” the woman said.

  Elynn didn’t hear anything else clearly as a door above slammed shut. After a minute, it opened again and a voluptuous blonde stalked down the stairs to the terrace. She was wearing a slinky dress and three inch heels. Had she spent the night?

  “Hello,” Elynn said brightly.

  I guess I spoke too soon, she thought as she remembered telling Eric that Alex never invited women to brunch. It was indeed Sonia Steel in the flesh. I guess I was right. He does have a girlfriend. She wondered why she felt a little queasy at that realization.

  “Who the hell are you?” the over-endowed blonde demanded.

  “I’m Elynn. It’s nice to meet you,” she said, taken aback but standing and raising her hand to shake.

  The woman looked at Elynn like she was something that had just crawled out of the gutter. Self-consciously, Elynn looked down at her jeans and white button down shirt. The shirt did have a small soil stain on it. She’d been out looking for mushrooms earlier that morning and had transferred some dirt when she’d changed clothes. Self-consciously, she wiped at the mark with her free hand.

  Elynn’s face flushed red when she realized that the woman wasn’t going to shake her hand. Slowly she withdrew it and sat down. The woman continued to stare daggers at her until the door above opened a second time and Alex looked down from the balcony to see both women staring at each other.

  Alex, scowling, rushed down the stairs and took Sonia by the arm above the elbow. He pulled her aside and hissed something in her ear.

  Eyebrows raised, she finally pasted a smile on her face and addressed Elynn stiffly.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard absolutely nothing about you,” Sonia said, smoothing out the front of her dress with her hand in a move that accentuated her cleavage.

  Despite the smoothness of the actress’ voice, Elynn could detect the disdain in it.

  “Are you staying for brunch?” she asked, trying to smile despite her instant dislike of the woman.

  “Miss Steel has to go. She has an important meeting,” Alex finished in a stern voice.

  “Okay. I really enjoyed your last movie,” she called out politely as Alex hustled the woman out.

  He came back quickly, frowning and running a hand through his hair.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Costas about your latest conquest,” she teased. “I know you’ll do anything to avoid another lecture from him.”

  She poured them both cups of coffee, feeling slightly more generous with him now that she knew he hadn’t invited that woman to join them.

  “I’m sorry she was so rude,” he apologized as he sat down next to her.

  “The big-chested ones always are,” Elynn sighed reflectively as he lifted the cup to his lips, causing Alex to choke on his first sip of coffee. “They are,” she insisted, as if his choking was a denial. “Do you remember that horrible Anastasia? She used to plop that rack of hers right in your face like it was a gun and then proceed to win the ‘I’m the biggest bitch’ contest.”

  Alex burst into laughter. “I know several kind, well-endowed women,” he said cautiously.

  “Do you now?” Elynn’s voice was wry.

  “And so do you. Mrs. Braden is one,” he pointed out before taking another sip of coffee.

  “Yeah, cause that’s who you were talking about,” Elynn said with a slight roll of her eyes.

  “Why are you so early?” he asked, changing the subject.

  “To give you this before Mom and Costas get here,” she said, nudging the box he hadn’t noticed in front of him.

  Alex tore open the box and broke out into a huge grin. “Where did you find it?”

  “I was at a rummage sale when I saw it all dusty and in pieces in the back of the garage. The owner didn’t want to sell, but I went back three times until he finally caved,” she boasted.

  “I should put you in my sales department,” he teased her, pretending to be impressed.

  “Yeah, right. You would have had that car for a tenth of what I paid,” Elynn said, sipping her coffee. “No, I take that back. That old man would have just given it to you along with his firstborn once you were done negotiating,” she added in total seriousness.

  “Thank you for this. It’s great,” Alex said, studying her for a long moment.

  He started to say something else but cut himself off when their parents arrived. Distracted, Elynn forgot to ask him what he was going to say when Costas and Mary announced an extensive tour of Italy at the start of summer. They would depart soon after Elynn’s commencement exercises, and they wanted her to go with them.

  “I can’t for longer than a week,” she protested. “I have to work.”

  “You missed our tour of the Greek Isles last summer because you were working. You work too much. Yo
u can’t spend the entire summer toiling away in the lab,” Mary argued.

  Costas was quick to agree. “You can afford more than a week. A month off is better.”

  “I can’t,” Elynn said, feeling pressured. She loved her mother, but she didn’t want to commit to spending all of her time off with her and her doting husband. “I’ve already made my plans to get a jump-start on my Ph.D. project. And I’ll be assisting with an ongoing project, which means I get my name on another paper,” she added, having explained many times how important it was for a scientist to publish as often as they could.

  “Elynn can join you for a week, but a young woman her age needs some independence and freedom,” Alex said, and she shot him a grateful smile.

  With Alex on her side, she couldn’t lose this argument.

  Costas and Mary tried to insist, but in the end, Mary reluctantly agreed to a short visit during their time in Venice, one of her favorite cities. Afterward, Costas and Alex exchanged a few odd serious glances, but soon Costas backed down as well. He and Mary left for their town house slightly preoccupied—no doubt figuring out new arguments to convince her to go with them. But Elynn lingered, happy to have Alex to herself for a little while.

  ****

  Brunch the following week was at London’s newest and most exclusive restaurant. Elynn was waiting outside for her parents and Alex when a familiar face greeted her.

  “Eric! What are you doing in town? We’re both due back in the lab tomorrow.”

  “Well, Fred and I decided to come to town for some shopping and to see a show,” Eric said while looking over her shoulder before pivoting to check out the crowd behind him.

  “What did I tell you about the family only rule, Eric?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Why, whatever do you mean, Miss Scallett?” he asked in faux outrage.

  “I mean you are looking for Alex right now you bad, bad boy,” Elynn said, widening her eyes for emphasis. “He’s really very stern about the only-family-at-brunch thing.”

  Eric’s face was the picture of innocence. “I’m not waiting for anyone except Fred, I swear. But since you mention it, isn’t big brother running late?”

  “Alex is always ten minutes late, which gives you exactly four minutes to run along. He won’t be impressed if you crash brunch. You’re going to meet him at graduation anyway, so you should go now. I promise I’ll give you all the details on Monday.”

  She wondered if she should mention meeting the illustrious Ms. Steele, but decided the better of it. He would never leave if she started telling him about what a cow she had been.

  Eric sighed dramatically, “Okay, drill sergeant. But I expect a detailed report tomorrow.”

  He went to hug her and ended up sweeping her into a Hollywood style dip. He kissed her cheek, and with an, “Until tomorrow Miss Scallett,” Eric set her back on her feet.

  Laughing to herself, she watched as he practically sashayed away down the street.

  ****

  Alex was getting out of his town car across the street when he spotted Elynn standing outside the restaurant. He smiled to himself. He could always count on her to be on time. She was paranoid about being late. Locking his car, he was starting across the street when he saw a young lanky man with red hair go up to her. She smiled warmly at him, and Alex froze. When the young man grabbed her and swept her into a dramatic kiss, his gut clenched. It felt like someone had punched him in the stomach.

  Alex stood there like an idiot before a sudden rush of anger came over him. He felt like tearing someone apart. And he planned on starting with the redheaded toothpick waving goodbye to Elynn. He reached her the same moment Costas and Mary arrived. Chuckling about something Elynn had said, Costas ushered them into the restaurant.

  The older couple was full of plans. “We’ve decided to throw a party just before we leave for our tour of Italy, to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary,” Mary announced with a huge smile.

  “Oh, that’s a great idea,” Elynn said, and the three of them fell into a discussion about the party and travel plans.

  Alex felt the jovial mood lap around him like warm water at the beach, but he was untouched by it. He was having a difficult time being civil and was giving monosyllabic answers to every question. It wasn’t reasonable to be angry with Elynn…but he was.

  Wordlessly, he stared at her while she engaged in an animated conversation with her mother. No, he was just angry with himself. He obviously hadn’t been watching her closely enough. It was clear to him now that he had been overly cautious. Waiting around for Elynn to be ready for a relationship had simply allowed some other man to sneak into her life. Well, that was over with now.

  No more waiting.

  Chapter 3

  Elynn studied Alex apprehensively as their parents left. He was still sitting quietly, as though lost in thought. When he had first joined them, he had resembled a bomb ready to go off, but as the meal went on, he seemed to have slowly warmed up to the company around him. Which was good, because he’d been behaving the way he had before their parents were married. Although he hadn’t seemed angry with them. Maybe he’d had a fight with Sonia.

  Maybe the actress means more to him than I realized, Elynn thought with a sinking heart.

  “Are you okay?” she asked. When he didn’t answer, she leaned forward to reach for his hand, “Did you quarrel with Sonia?”

  “Sonia?” Alex sounded surprised. “No, we’re not seeing each other anymore.”

  “So that’s not what’s upsetting you? Do you miss her?” Elynn asked with mixed feelings.

  “No, it’s not that. It’s nothing,” he said, leaning back into his chair.

  “Alex, I can tell that something is wrong. You know you can tell me anything,” she reassured him, giving his hand a squeeze for good measure.

  He stared at her hand on his for a long moment before gripping it tightly in return. He held it when she tried to retrieve it and looked into her eyes. “Something has just come to my attention…something important.”

  “I hope everything’s okay,” she said, her stomach sinking with sudden suspicion.

  “It’s nothing serious,” Alex assured her hastily. “I just realized that I missed something important.”

  “Like a business thing?”

  “Sort of,” he said, looking at her pensively. “There’s a project I need to get started on. Something I have apparently put off for too long.”

  “Oh…okay. Well, I’m sure you’ll make up for lost time and achieve yet another remarkable success,” she said in a calmer voice, taking a last sip of her coffee before saying goodbye.

  She left him with a reassuring smile.

  ****

  Elynn was getting ready to go home after a long day in the lab when her phone rang.

  “I’m in town,” Alex announced without as much as a hello.

  He always plunged straight into conversation without any of the formalities.

  “You are? What’s brought you down?” she asked, surprised.

  “The car of course,” Alex said.

  “The Jaguar? I thought you’d just make arrangements to have it sent up to you instead,” Elynn replied.

  Alex had dozens of minions to take care of his every need, something she teased him about mercilessly. She’d told him more than once that she was surprised he bothered to tie his own shoes.

  “Why when I can do it myself and take the opportunity to have dinner with you?” he answered with a laugh.

  “Really?” she answered, pleasantly surprised.

  “It’s too late to prepare a meal at your place, so why don’t I pick you up and we get dinner out somewhere?” he suggested.

  “Oh, I’m not at home right now. I can meet you—”

  “No need. I’m standing outside your lab,” he said.

  Elynn hurried outside to find Alex leaning on his car. He greeted her with his usual restrained warmth. Though a stranger would have found his behavior with her reserved, she
understood he was simply accommodating her insecurities. He knew that maintaining a little physical distance made her more comfortable. He drove them to a little restaurant near her place that she’d had no idea even existed.

  The restaurant was romantic and elegant. “This would be a great place to take a date,” Elynn suggested as she looked around the dimly lit interior.

  Alex smiled slightly, but didn’t reply. They ordered and received a delicious meal while they caught up. Happy to have more time with him, Elynn asked Alex about his work and his friends. He told stories about them all the time, and even took calls from them during brunch, something she rarely got away with, but he had never introduced her to any of them.

  “Why have I never met your friends?” she asked, after a few glasses of wine. “Sergei, Calen, and Gio all seem like legends, larger than life figures, more than real men after all the stories you’ve told. But you’ve never introduced them to me. And I know they’ve been here to visit. Wasn’t Sergei just in town?”

  “Only for the weekend, and you were down here at school. And I mostly visit the guys when I go to New York or Rome for business,” he said. “Besides, Sergei is the last guy I would introduce you to. Him and Calen both. Hell, I wouldn’t even trust Gio within a mile of you. These are my friends we’re talking about, after all.”

  Elynn blushed. “I thought you said Gio was married.”

  Alex sobered and leaned back in his chair. “He’s getting divorced now, thank god.”

  “Why do you say that? Didn’t you like his wife?” she asked, wrinkling her nose.

  “Hell no. I’m glad he’s rid of her. She was a piece of work.”

  Elynn frowned. “Alex, are you sure this isn’t a little misplaced misogamy?”

  He looked indignant. “No. Just because I didn’t like this particular woman, it doesn’t mean I dislike all women. Believe me, she gave me good reason to hate her.”