Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
“Well, that would be a diabolical plan,” she muttered.
“That’s not my plan. If I wanted to kidnap and murder someone, I wouldn’t go to all this fuss.”
Well, that made sense.
“I guess that’s true.”
“So come on, get in the car.”
She sighed. “I don’t live anywhere close to where you’re going.”
“You don’t know where I’m going.”
“I can guarantee that it’s nowhere close to where I’m going.” Also, she didn’t want him to know where she lived. Not only because she was currently staying in a boarding house, but because it wasn’t in the best area of town.
And she had this weird feeling that he wouldn’t take that well.
3
Maeve let Gray pull her up. He walked to the car and opened the back door before waiting for her.
And he thought he wasn’t chivalrous. Sure, he didn’t look happy about it. But then, he didn’t exactly seem like he had a sunny personality.
She scooted inside the car, groaning as she got her coat caught on the edge of the seat. She gave it a tug, gasping as it made a ripping noise.
“Oh no.” This was just the cherry on the disaster sundae this night had been.
Maybe hot cocoa wasn’t going to be enough. She needed a huge sundae with whipped cream.
Trying to keep her tears at bay, she drew the bottom of her jacket up, searching for where she might have ripped it. Was that garbage smell getting worse? Was it in the car?
“What’s wrong?” Gray asked climbed in, shutting the door.
The inside of the car had seemed big until he got in with her. He seemed to suck up all the space. He was so potent.
“Girl? Maeve! Are you all right?”
She took a shallow breath. Whoops, she hadn’t taken a breath in a while. “What? Oh, sorry.”
He stared at her. Was that concern in his eyes? No, she had to be misreading him.
“Are you all right? You didn’t seem to be breathing.”
“Sorry. I’m fine.” Lord, that was embarrassing.
He gave her a look like he didn’t believe her. Darn. She really had to work on her poker face.
“What are you doing?” he asked as she turned her attention back to her coat.
She couldn’t believe she’d been staring at him so intently that she’d forgotten to take a breath. That was just insane.
“I think I ripped my coat. Although I can’t see any holes. Maybe it was just the stitching.”
“It’s an interesting coat.”
She beamed at him. “Thank you.”
He grunted, turning away from her abruptly. Well, that was kind of rude. But maybe he was tired. It was late. She was sleepy herself.
“Put your seatbelt on,” he told her.
“Oh. Right. This car is nice.” She yanked on the seatbelt. Darn thing wasn’t moving. She tugged at it harder. Finally, it gave way, but she was caught unawares and went flying sideways.
Straight into Gray, with her head face down in his lap.
Ouch.
Nose stinging, tears filled her eyes as she took a gasping breath.
“Girl?”
“Uh-huh?” She rubbed at her nose as she lay there.
“Can you move?”
What? She’d just banged her nose. Couldn’t he give her a moment to just lie here with her face in his crotch . . . right next to his dick . . .
Okay, then.
She sat up so quickly that she banged into the car door behind her. “Sorry, wasn’t trying to, uh, you see, uh, it was the seatbelt! They’re evil things.”
“Seatbelts aren’t sentient,” he said calmly.
“I know, I just always have trouble with them. It’s better that I don’t bother.”
“You will bother. You’re not riding around without a seatbelt on.”
He reached over and she froze. What was he doing? Was he going to touch her?
Ooh.
But he simply leaned across her and grabbed the seatbelt which he pulled over her the first time. Rude.
And then he did it up before sitting back.
Anticlimactic didn’t even cover it.
Although his arm did brush over her chest, which was rather nice.
“Where am I taking you?”
Oh, right. She sighed and reaching into her handbag, drew out her phone to give him the address.
He frowned. “You can’t remember where you live?”
“I haven’t lived there long. I wanted to get it right.” And sometimes details escaped her.
“You really live there?”
“Uh, yep. That’s where I live.” Why would she make that up?
“Not a good area of the city.” He frowned.
“It’s fine. I’ve never had any trouble.” It was actually true. She’d seen a few drug deals go down, and she was sure there were more shady deals where she couldn’t see, but mostly she stayed inside at night.
Tonight had been the exception.
She’d just wanted to forget for a while.
“Maeve?”
“Yep?”
“Your mind always wander like that?” he asked.
“Um. Yep. Sorry. I’ve always got a lot going on up here.” She tapped the side of her head.
“You shouldn’t go into your head when you’re with a strange man.”
“Aww, don’t call yourself strange. Sure, you’re quite demanding and grumpy, but you’re not strange.”