Cause For Scandal (Dynasties: The Elliotts #3)(20)
Author: Anna DePalo

“Where do you travel for the restaurant?” Zeke asked.

Bryan shrugged. “Europe mainly. Paris.”

“I was in Paris just a month ago. What did you think of—?”

“Excuse me, will you?” Bryan said suddenly. “I just spotted someone I’ve been trying to catch up with all evening.”

Strange, Zeke thought, watching Bryan’s departing back. He got the distinct impression that Bryan wanted to avoid talking about his travels.

Zeke watched as another guy who’d also been observing Bryan’s departure turned back now and said, “I see you’ve met the clan’s International Man of Mystery.”

Turning to Summer, the guy gave her a peck on the cheek and said, “Hey, honey. Long time no see.”

“Zeke, this is—”

“Let me guess,” he said dryly. “Your cousin.” The guy bore a striking resemblance to Bryan. They shared the same coloring of jet-black hair and blue eyes. In personality, however, this cousin seemed as smooth and laid-back as Shane.

“Cullen Elliott,” the man before him said, his eyes glinting. “I’m Bryan’s younger brother.” Holding up his thumb and index finger a half an inch apart, he added, “But only by that much.”

“Cullen is the director of sales for Snap,” Summer supplied.

Zeke feigned shock. “You’re from the rival camp? What are you doing here?”

Cullen grinned. “I’m invited everywhere.” He added, “So Summer’s filled you in on the family rivalry, has she?”

“Yeah,” he said. Turning to Summer and jerking a finger at Cullen, he asked, “If he’s here, where’s Scarlet? Doesn’t she work for an EPH magazine, too?”

Zeke watched Summer frown. “Scarlet decided not to come. She went skiing with friends this weekend.”

Cullen turned to him and raised an eyebrow. “I saw the piece about you and Scarlet in the Post,” he teased. “Are you wondering if you’re out with the right sister?”

If only Cullen knew, Zeke thought. Beside him, he noticed that Summer froze for a second, then pasted a lighthearted smile on her face.

“Don’t listen to Cullen,” Summer said, swatting her cousin playfully. “He’s broken more hearts than I can count.”

“Yup, that’s me,” Cullen said, obviously playing along, though Zeke noticed a shadow flit across his face. “I’m giving Shane a run for his money for the title of Playboy Elliott.”

They talked to Cullen a little more, then Zeke suggested to Summer that they head to the bar and refresh their drinks.

When he’d asked the bartender for a bourbon on the rocks for himself and another glass of white wine for Summer, he turned to her and said with dry amusement, “I’ve run the gauntlet for you tonight with your relatives.”

“They’re just curious,” Summer responded. “They know I broke off the engagement to John, and now, tonight, I show up with you.”

“Did you tell them that it was you and not Scarlet at the Waldorf?”

“No, but they’re curious nevertheless.”

“Do they have anything to be curious about?” he couldn’t resist countering.

She cast him a sidelong look. “Not anymore.”

He noted, however, that, when their shoulders accidentally brushed, she moved away self-consciously. She was clearly not as cool and collected as she wanted to appear.

He handed her drink to her and took a sip of his own. “I like your cousins. They’re interesting characters.”

“Interesting?”

“More than they seem,” he elaborated.

She tilted her head inquiringly.

“Bryan and Cullen seem like they have a few secrets. Bryan in particular.”

Summer looked doubtful. “You know, Cullen was joking when he said Bryan was the International Man of Mystery. It’s just that, more than most of the rest of us Elliotts, Bryan has a separate life away from the family.”

He arched a brow. “Something tells me there’s more to it than that.”

Summer looked skeptical, but then smiled. “I’ve known them my whole life and, believe me, there’s never been anything mysterious about them. Bryan is a restaurateur at heart, and Cullen…Cullen is exactly what he said he is. He’s a magnet for women.”

Zeke decided not to push the point further, though he remained unconvinced Bryan and Cullen were as uncomplicated as baby cousin Summer thought they were.

He followed Summer to a buffet that had been set up at the back of the restaurant and they helped themselves to items such as fried Kumamoto oysters, crab and avocado millefeuilles, and a lobster and melon salad with Asian pear and Thai mango dressing.

Later, Cullen joined them again, and Zeke met a few more of Summer’s coworkers, who all seemed curious about him.

Eventually, however, they were left alone at a corner table, and an awkward silence reigned—a novel situation for him where women were concerned.

Slowly, though, he succeeded in drawing her out. They talked about the places that he’d traveled to, and he regaled her with stories about strange and unusual fans and even weirder tabloid headlines.

They discovered that they both knew how to speak Spanish well and French badly, that they loved Malta in the summertime, and that they preferred their Mexican food really spicy. They debated whether they’d had better skiing in Vale or the Alps, and which were the best places to go on St. Bart’s.

“So,” he finally joked, “what’re your musical tastes? Who do you like?”

“They’re all dead.”

He laughed. He supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised. “Classical?”

She took a sip of her wine. “Yes, and oldies. Sinatra. Nat King Cole.”

“Are you just being diplomatic and trying not to admit you prefer my competition?” he teased.

She looked at him from beneath her lashes. “If I did, would you mind?”

Realizing that she was flirting with him, he banked his satisfaction. “I’d be heartbroken, but I’d console myself with the thought that we’re both Beethoven fans.”

A smile tugged at her mouth. “I enjoyed your concerts. You’re very good.”

“Only very good?” he teased again.

She looked into his eyes. “Compelling,” she said softly.

As he continued to look into her eyes, he felt himself go up in smoke. Man, she had an effect on him.