Elliot

After so many months of planning and waiting for SIP's loan to be approved for the remodel, we're finally starting construction. I'm both anxious and excited about this. It's a large construction job that will bring in a good amount of money and if they're happy with the result, I'm hoping they spread the word. I want my business as profitable and self-sufficient as I can make it before my deadline of Ana's 21st birthday. I don't want to have to leave town constantly to check on jobs or work sun up to sun down just to keep it running. I want my senior management to do that shit for me. Someday.

Slipping into the building, I find Jerry Roach, owner and president, waiting for me in the lobby.

"Ah, Elliot, right on time!"

I shake his hand. "Always, Mr. Roach."

"I told you, call me Jerry. Mr. Roach makes me feel old."

I give him a nod. "Noted. My team has already roped off the back parking lot and is starting to unload. We plan to start on the biggest back offices and work forward from there first."

He nods. "Yes, that is perfect. I sent the senior staff home to work until they're finished. They'll be ecstatic once it's done."

I grin. "I would be too with the bathrooms we're putting in." Every two offices will share a full sized bathroom, allowing them the privacy they all want. Fancy. "I won't be here everyday with the others, but I will check in every few days to make sure that everything is running smoothly."

"I have no doubt that your team will do well. This place is past due for an overhaul. Everything is original and it's over fifty years old."

I take another look around, seeing the outdated tile and broken cement, peeling paint, and laminate counters that are curling up. "Definitely in need of some TLC."

XxXxXx

"We'll need to tear down the walls between all of these offices, put in new studs and new doorways so they're all the same size with the bathrooms-"

I stop. I smell vanilla, sugar, and apples. My mate. I must be going fucking crazy. Why would she be here?

"Elliot?"

I shake my head. "Sorry, I- I lost track. So, the bathrooms will be Jack and Jill and we'll need to plumb in the new pipes and make sure that the old ones from the common bathrooms aren't disintegrating and are up to code." I walk through as I explain and the smell of my mate hits me again, but stronger.

I put a finger up to stop them from following and continue towards the front area where the PA's and receptionists sit. I find my brunette beauty at the desk by the window, the light hitting her chestnut hair beautifully.

"Hey you." I step closer.

Her head pops up and she looks surprised. "Elliot? What are you doing here?"

I smile. "I could ask you the same thing."

Her grin matches mine. "I got a summer job."

"Me, too."

She laughs. "What?"

"My construction company is renovating the building."

"Really? Small world!" Her beautiful blues smile up at me and her little dimple on the right side of her mouth winks at me. Fuck, she's breathtaking.

"Indeed. Maybe we can have lunch every once in awhile." I'll take every second of her time that I can. I want her to get to know me and I want to learn everything I can about her. I want us to be close enough that our transition from friends to mates goes smoothly and naturally.

She gives me a dazzling smile and nod. "Yes, that'd be nice. I don't really know anyone yet. It'd be great having someone I know here."

XxXxXx

"Elliot? What are you doing here?" My site manager gives me an odd look while he stands over his table saw. I know I said I wouldn't be here every day, but with Ana here, I can't help but pop in more often. Yesterday I managed to keep myself away, but I couldn't today. It's my present to myself for staying in my own office yesterday.

"Big project, Jay, just making sure it's going smoothly." He cocks an eyebrow at me, but looks back down at the saw, continuing his noisy work.

After two seconds of looking at the area that's a complete war zone, I go in search of my girl. I follow my nose and find her at the same desk I did a couple days ago, but some blond fucker is bent over with his palms on her desk, giving her a grin. She looks uncomfortable and my force burns hot below my chest, warning me. I imagine that if I still had a Lycan wolf, he'd be pacing and snarling inside of me right now.

As soon as I take another step forward and she sees me, she pops out of her seat and side steps him, hurrying straight toward me. Her arm wraps around my waist while her opposite hand rests on my abdomen in front of the burning, instantly calming it. Reaching up on her tiptoes, she gives me a kiss on my chin and plasters a smile on her face.

"Good morning, babe. I was wondering how long it'd take you to come see me."

I catch on quickly and play along, wrapping my arms around her. Gladly. "You know I can't stay away."

The tight smile on her face relaxes into a relieved one and she bites her bottom lip, making her look adorable. I've come to realize it's a habit of hers, but one I don't mind. One day I'll catch that lip between my own teeth.

I hear the blond fucker clear his throat and Ana's jaw clenches.

"Oh, right. Jack, this is Elliot. Elliot, this is my boss, Jack. He's supposed to be working from home, but he decided to come in to check on things." Her voice is tight and I hate that he's making her so uncomfortable.

"Ah, I see." I offer a hand to the asshole. "Nice to meet you, Jack."

He shakes my hand firmly, squeezing, but I squeeze harder. His hard blue eyes narrow at me but as my grip tightens, it causes him to wince. I cock an eyebrow while I stare at him in the eye, giving him a warning. He won't win this one. I'll tear him to pieces.

"Elliot, is it? You're working for Grey Construction?"

"I am Grey Construction."

"Owner and operator." The fucker tries to make a dig, but it fails.

I give him a curt nod. "I am a leader, Jack. A leader leads by example. Respect is earned, not given." You'd do well to remember that.

"I see. And Anastasia, here, is your girlfriend? What a coincidence."

I hold Ana tighter to keep myself calm. "Pardon?"

"I just said it's a fun coincidence." He plasters on a fake smile. "At least you two will get to enjoy lunch together while you're here. Tell me, Elliot, is this your only contract or do you have others your working on, as well?"

I clench my jaw. "I have a fair few. If you're fishing for the days I'll be around, you're not going to get them. This is my biggest contract at the moment and I'll be showing my face periodically."

Ana speaks up. "I don't understand. Why-why does that matter?" I have a feeling she knows why, but she's too afraid to believe it. The fucker wants to know what days he can move in and try to groom her, but it's not going to happen. Not under my watch.

"Just want to make sure that he isn't going to interfere with your work while you're here. You've got a lot to learn, Ms. Steele, and only a few months to do it before going back to school."

She chews her lip. "I promise he won't interfere with my work."

He gives her a nod. "I appreciate that, Anastasia. Now, if you two will excuse me, I have work to do."

As he walks off, she releases me with a relieved sigh. "I'm so sorry I got you wrapped up in that, Elliot. I didn't mean to make you enemies. I hope this doesn't hurt your relationship with SIP." A worry line appears between her eyebrows and I reach up to calm it with my thumb.

"Don't worry, sweet cheeks. It won't affect a thing. That man needs to keep himself in check before he has an HR case against him." I'm worried he won't though. I can feel it in my gut. He wants the beautiful creature in front of me more than he's letting on. He won't have her, though. It's obvious Ana wants nothing to do with his advances.

I yank out my phone and open it, handing it to her. "Add your phone number, Ana, and I'll send you mine. I want you to contact me any time he tries anything. I'll be there."

She takes my phone, surprised. "Oh, well, thank you." She searches my face, looking pensive for a moment, causing me to cock my head to the side in question. Shaking her head, she lets out one of her giggles that lights me up. "All of you Greys are so wonderful. You guys have such a beautiful family. I wish I had that." She frowns and hands me back my phone after inputting her number. "Actually, I wish I just had family. But, we can't all be that lucky." She gives me a shrug and a forced smile. "Don't ever take your family for granted, Elliot."

I shake my head. "But Ana, you do have family. You have us now. Mia brought you and Kate in and now you're stuck with us."

"Elliot." Swallowing hard, she reaches for my hand and squeezes it between both of hers. They're small and cool to the touch, giving me goosebumps up both arms. "Thank you."

I grin. She's touched by my words and I'm glad it could be me that gave her those warm and fuzzy feelings. "Stop thanking me and get back to work." Giving her a wink, I squeeze her hands lightly before she releases me.

"Oh, right. Work. Yes. Yes, I better."

Before putting my phone away, I send her a text.

*Have a good day, sweet cheeks.*

XxXxXx

Over the last few weeks Ana and I have had lunch together most days and have been getting to know each other more and more. It's hard for me not to act like a love sick teenager with her, but I feel like I am doing an okay job.

As I open the door to the lunch room, the beauty of my mate smacks me in the face just like it always does.

"Elliot! You're late. And I even made you lunch." She chastises me with a finger wag.

I give her a guilty grin and put my hands up in surrender. "I know, I know. Don't hate me. I had a disaster at another site today and then the traffic lights were not in my favor." I didn't have time to grab anything for lunch today which is interesting, because it's never happened before. I like my food. I'm never one to forget it or skip a meal. I know it's more than coincidence that she brought us both lunch. My mate's own force is working with her even though she doesn't realize.

"You made me lunch? How domestic of you." I squeeze her against my side in a hug as I sit down.

"Ha Ha, Grey. I can be domestic. The truth is I made too much soup for myself and I want to be rid of it. Cooking for the week in one setting sounds great until you have to eat it all week."

She pulls out two glass containers and pops off the tops before rising to put them in the microwave.

"Glad to be of service, Ms. Steele. Anytime you need to dump some food off, I'm game." I smack my stomach. "I'm a big boy with a big appetite."

She laughs. "Good. I hope you like chicken and dumplings because there is a ton of it."

"Perfect. I love it. In fact, it's my favorite." I smile at her, teasing.

She rolls her eyes. "Buttering me up so I'll cook for you." Carefully taking out the containers with some paper towels, she sets them on the table. "You better be glad I love butter."

It makes me bark out a laugh. I love how playful she is. I feel so light around her. "Even all that butter doesn't make me slick."

Giggling, she hands me a spoon. "Not in the slightest."

I stir my soup and blow on it a little before bringing it to my mouth. She watches quietly, looking a little nervous about my reaction. I groan. The taste is phenomenal. So much flavor and it isn't overly salty. I can tell the dumplings are home made and I slide down in my seat, melting. "That's the best chicken and dumplings I've ever had."

Her shoulders pop up and she looks absolutely tickled with herself. "Really? You like it?"

Sitting up again, I nod. "It's great. And it's not just part of the buttering."

Relieved, she lets out a sigh and pulls a French baguette out of her bag, ripping it in two pieces before handing the bigger one to me. I take it from her. "What, no-" before I can get it out, she chucks a butter packet at me, hitting me in the chest.

"Hush and eat your damn butter."