Page 13 of Tangled Hearts

Eli’s voice snaps me out of my, frankly, inappropriate perusal, and my eyes fly to his. They’re narrowed, and I swallow hard. I haven’t so much as looked at another man in over five years because of Leo, and then after Leo, Idefinitelydidn’t want to. It really would be my fucking brother’s nephew who catches my eye. I shake my head. “What issue would I have?”

He glances down at his body, insecurity flashing in his eyes before looking back up at me with a scowl. “I don’t know. If seeing a man dressed like this is going to be a problem for you, you’ve probably come to the wrong place.”

I truly don’t even know how to respond to that. Something tells me that telling him it’s the opposite of a problem is the wrong choice, but thankfully, Julian breaks the tension and saves me from having to come up with something to say.

“I know you and Hold are two peas in a pod, but I truly didn’t think you’d be so grumpy without food.”

Eli drags his eyes from me to look at Julian. “I’m not grumpy.”

Holden laughs. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

I have no idea what I’ve done wrong, but I have a feeling this is about to be the most awkward dinner I’ve ever been to.

If looks could kill, I’d be dead.

“So, Eli,” I say after swallowing a bite of my food. Food I’ve barely even tasted. “What do you do?”

“What do you mean?” he asks.

Holden and Julian have been wholly unhelpful and have barely spoken. I’m starting to worry that maybe they were throwing me to the wolves—Eli—to see if I could pass, and if I didn’t… Well, that was their answer. “For work.”

His eyes go soft immediately. It’s a new expression for him, and it’s fucking stunning. “Well, I work at my dad’s non-profit.” Green eyes find mine, holding me in their depths. “He started it a couple of years before I joined the family. They help abused and underprivileged youth. The cause is really important to me, and I’m very proud of the work I do there.”

“Eli’s great with the kids,” Holden says, shooting Eli a proud smile. “He makes them feel safe.”

I’m a little awestruck, though, because that was the most words Eli’s said to me since we sat down. Maybe there’s a chance I can salvage this. “That’s amazing. I bet it’s really rewarding. I’m a vet tech. Or I guess I was.” Now, I’m just floating around with no home and no family. It’s cool, though. I can manage.

Eli’s eyes narrow to slits. “Did you ask what I did just so you could find a way to talkabout yourself?”

What? “Of course not. That’s how conversations work, yeah? You talk, I talk.”

Julian clears his throat. “Darlin’, can I see you in the living room for a second?”

Oh, that’s not a good idea at all. Holden stands and makes his way into the living room. Julian hesitates, then leans down and whispers something to Eli.

I’m actually dying to know what it was, but when Julian follows Holden out, the heavy weight of awkwardness settles over the room. Not that it wasn’t already awkward, but now it’s even heavier.

Eli’s picking at his food, shoving it around on his plate. This night has not gone at all like I wanted it to. Maybe I need to start fresh. Be vulnerable. I sigh, leaning back in my chair.

“I’m sorry.” Eli’s eyes snap to mine. “I worry we haven’t really made a good impression on one another, and I feel like that’s my fault. Holden has talked nonstop about you in the twenty-four hours I’ve known him, and I was really looking forward to meeting you. I’m not really sure what I did wrong, but if you tell me, I’d like to make it right. I…” My throat gets a little tight, so I clear it and try again. “It’s really important to me.”

The silence is oppressive. Seconds tick by, and finally Eli slumps in his seat. “You don’t need to apologize.”

“I do, though, I think. I clearly managed to upset you somehow.”

After a beat, Eli’s lips tilt up in a little smile. “Uncle Julian just told me to stop being a little shit.”

That gets a startled laugh out of me. It gets Eli going too, and for a moment, the kitchen is filled, not with oppressive silence, but with the sound of our laughter instead. “Are you serious?”

Eli gives me a rueful grin. “Yeah. Told me this dinner was important to Uncle Hold and to stop being a little shit.” The smile falls off hisface. “I’m not usually like this,” he murmurs, and I’m not really sure if the words are meant for me.

“I believe that. It’s no big deal. First impressions are overrated anyway.”

Eli laughs, his eyes dancing. When he falls silent, he stares at me. I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but after his eyes scan my face for what feels like a lifetime, he stands. A tentative hand reaches across the table, and I stand too, holding mine out to him.

His warm palm lands on mine, and he shakes my hand. “I’m Eli. Holden’s nephew. It’s very nice to meet you.”

I couldn’t fight my smile if I tried. “I’m Nic. It’s very nice to meet you as well.”