“Your choice.” He straightens up and closes the door, sauntering up the driveway towards the front door like the cocky bastard he is.
Ugh, this is so embarrassing. He’s shut the car door at least, I could peel out of here and ignore his invitation. And pee my pants or in a bush? Hell no. Like he says, it won’t take me five minutes to have a more comfortable ride home.
Blowing out a heavy breath, I set the parking brake and turn off the engine.
Mace hasn’t bothered to wait, although he left the front door open. I follow him inside and close the door then turn to check the place out. It’s homey, decorated in soft pastel greens with plush patterned rugs, pretty paintings on the walls and a vase of flowers beside the couch.
This is a woman’s house.
“Bathroom is down the hall, first door on the right.”
His voice makes me jump, I don’t see him anywhere, but instead of answering, I follow his directions and head down the hall. It’s even more feminine in here and I can’t help but wonder where the owner is. Or what she looks like, and what her relationship is to Mace.
Fuck that, I’m about to have an accident when there is a perfectly good toilet right in front of me.
When I’m done, and feeling a hell of a lot better, I head back out, ready to get on the road. It’s another fifteen minute drive to my place from here.
Around the corner, Mace is standing in between me and the front door, leaning one shoulder against the wall with his arms folded.
My steps slow, then stop altogether. He will need to move if I want to get around him and leave. Is it right that a man should look this good just… leaning? He’s taken off his cut which is surprising because don’t they have to be surgically removed? His biceps are bulging against the t-shirt where his arms are folded.
I’ve always had a thing for biceps. I’m squirming for a whole other reason now.
“Better?” he asks with a smirk.
“Just be grateful I gave you a ride, how about that?” I smirk right back.
His brow lifts, taking a second for me to connect the dots. I should be giving him shit for the innuendo, I mean, it’s not like anything happened of that nature. I draw my bottom lip in as our eyes remain holding fast on each other. He dips his and watches as I slowly release my lip from my teeth.
He pushes off the wall and walks toward me. I’m rooted to the spot, held captive by those green eyes as they search my face. Holy shit, my body is betraying me, I’m swaying toward him like some kind of damsel in a regency romance. I don’t do this shit.
“Put your number in my phone.”
It takes me a second to compute he wasn’t offering to slam me against the wall.
“You can let me know you get home okay.”
Heat burns up my chest and into my cheeks. Making eye contact with him right now is not happening. “I’ll be fine,” I go to walk around him.
He sidesteps. “That might be true, but I’d rather not have to answer to anyone.”
“Scared of my dad?” I snip.
He lets out a laugh. “No. Your mother.”
I can’t help but snort a laugh at that. Scared of my mom… Honestly, most of the brothers are. Rosa knows I can take care of myself, and what is he going to do if I do call and say I need help. He will be too far away to do anything. These men, they think they’re protecting us but I don’t need anyone protecting me. I have a can of… mace in my purse.
“What’s so funny?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I wipe the smile off my face at the stupid internal joke.
“You look different when you smile.”
I tilt my head back to look up at him, only now realizing he is standing even closer. I might not have my dad’s full height but I’m a lot bigger than my mother. Mace is about six, two and towers over me.
“More approachable,” he adds.
“Maybe I don’t like being approached, so don’t do it often.”
