Forbidden Serenade

Chapter Three

Leo and I were up long before anyone in the house stirred. He made a delicious breakfast, but no guests showed up to eat. Instead, it was just me devouring the food and keeping him company.

Leo sat opposite me at the kitchen table. "What do you think?"

I finished chewing and swallowed the food I should be paying an obscene amount for. "This is amazing. Totally worth staying sober so I can be up to eat this. Seriously, whatever they are paying you is not enough."

Leo chuckled as he sat back in his chair. "Max said if this weekend goes well, Sterling Youngworth is likely to recommend me to some friends. This is the break I needed, and I think I nailed it."

I shoveled another bite of food in my mouth as I nodded. "You totally nailed it."

Leo opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly sprang up from his seat. The chair screeched backward as he stood at attention. "Good morning. Breakfast is ready in the dining room, but if you'd like something different, I can whip up whatever you'd like."

"No, thank you."

My fork froze mid-air with a bite of food as I recognized that voice. Setting my silverware onto my plate, I spun in my chair and laid eyes upon Elijah Wyatt. He wore jeans and a simple black T-shirt that fitted him perfectly. What kind of clothes were rich people buying that were exclusively made for them? A black ball cap sat backwards atop his head. His dark, wavy hair fell out beneath it. Black-rimmed glasses sat on his nose. They both aged him and added an authority of intelligence to him.

Elijah's blue eyes caught my hazel ones and locked on as though a missile on its target. "I was looking for Riley."

I could feel Leo's questioning gaze heavy on my back. "Looks like you found her."

Standing up, I brushed my hands over my pale blue dress with black splotches. I wore a black cardigan with it that featured some rhinestone design along the sleeves. "Did you need a drink? It's kind of early for one, but I'm not one to judge." I gave a nervous laugh at the end, pretty certain that's not why he was seeking me out, but confused why he was.

He grinned as though he found my lame humor funny. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he glanced with curiosity toward Leo before his gaze returned to me. "I was going to take a walk into town. Would you care to join me?"

"Oh," I said, glancing back at Leo like a child who needed permission. Turning back toward Elijah, my words dropped from my lips with the best excuse I could think of. "I can't. I mean, I would love to, but I'm working and such, so I really shouldn't. Don't want to get into trouble and lose my paycheck or something."

"Nonsense," Leo said loudly behind me. "You don't have any work to do right now. Take a break."

Spinning back toward Leo, I gave him my best mom glare. My words came out slow and deliberate. "I really don't think I should leave you shorthanded."

Leo leaned toward me and whispered words for only me to hear. "You need to move on. Go have some fun." Standing back upright, he gave me a tight smile. "I'll hold down the fort. Enjoy your walk."

I stood in astonishment at how easily he'd just made it impossible for me to escape Elijah's offer. I didn't want to. It's just I knew I should.

Pushing my shoulders back, I turned to Elijah with a polite smile. "I guess I would love to go on a walk."

Elijah's eyes shifted with a mountain of unspoken questions between me and Leo. Taking a step toward us, he put his hand out to my brother. "I'm Elijah Wyatt."

Leo shook his hand vigorously. I'm sure he saw this as networking. "Leo Turner. I'm the chef stepping in for Max this weekend."

Elijah must have noticed the shared last name as his eyes flitted to me when Leo spoke it. Taking a step back, he ended the eager handshake. "The food was amazing. Thanks for helping out."