“Thanks again for waiting.” She leaned in for a hug. Before she could step back, Johnny caught her jaw, tilted her head up, looking into her eyes.
He was handsome in that bad boy way mothers warned their daughters about, but when you grow up with someone, you see them through all stages of their life, from the adolescent boy with a chip on his shoulder to the man she knew today, a brave firefighter who would put his life at risk in a heartbeat to help. She had seen it all, and she loved him as if he were family.
He kissed her forehead. “Take some Advil and call me in the morning. We'll go out for a big greasy breakfast.”
He opened her door and closed it behind her with a flourish. Amber started her car and was waving as he pulled out of the parking lot when her car sputtered and died.
She closed her eyes, leaned against the steering wheel, and let out a scream of pure, elemental frustration. Groaning at the way her back creaked at her, she got out and stood in front of the engine, willing it to start. It was times like these she wished she had had a dad to teach her about cars. As it was, she didn’t know the first thing about engines.
Frustration bubbled over and she let loose with a hard kick to the front bumper with her Converse, and promptly started swearing. “Ow, ow, shit, ow, fuck!”
She hopped around on one foot, swearing like a sailor. Finally, feeling marginally better from her tantrum, she straightened.
And screamed again because Theo Clairmont was leaning nonchalantly on his car watching her.
“Car trouble?” he asked with his eyebrow raised.
“Did your Ivy League education teach you to state the obvious?” she asked nastily.
“I guess you don't need my help, then,” he said evenly, turning to leave.
“Wait.” She closed her eyes and attempted to gather her composure. It was amazing how she could manage to charm an entire bar full of men, yet this one could reduce her to feeling like a child throwing a tantrum.
An unwelcome memory of another late night with him coming to her rescue came to mind, and she instantly dismissed it. She’d come a long way from needing anyone’s help, especially someone like Theo Clairmont.
And yet...Amber looked back toward the pub and chewedher lip. If she went back in, she’d have to ask Killian for a ride. She considered calling Johnny, but she knew he wouldn’t be able to hear her over the engine of his motorcycle. Besides, he was probably on his way to another bar to pick up a lady friend. She could walk the few blocks home, but her body was already screaming at her.
“Wait,” she called out. He didn’t, even though she knew he heard her. Asshole. “Wait,” she called again, hopping over. Her toes better not be broken.
“Can you give me a ride? Please.”
Theo turned back around without a word and led her around the Mercedes. He brushed her hand aside when she went to get the door and held it himself.
She settled into the buttery leather seats, every overworked muscle in her body lovingly cupped in luxury. It was a beautiful car. It put her little ice skate-looking car to shame. She couldn't hold back a deep sigh as she settled in.
“Oh, this is fancy, Mr. Mayor. Too bad you’re not driving your date hom—” Her words were cut off as he closed the door briskly. She smirked.
Theo slid his long legs under the steering wheel and started the car. She idly watched the streetlights cast his face in interesting shadows, giving the moment a dream-like quality. In what other reality was she sitting in the mayor’s car getting a ride home?
The combination of blessedly cool air conditioning, adrenaline dump, and the worry from the last few days caught up with her suddenly, and she sank deeper into the leather with a grateful sigh.
“Where to?”
She gave him the address of the historic Phoenix Hotel, which had been renovated into apartments, a few blocks away. “Thanks,” she said quietly, all joking aside.
His crisp white shirt glowed in the dark car except for a round splotch of amber. A twinge of shame pricked her conscience. Did she really throw a drink at the mayor? Not for the first time, Amber wondered why she did the things she did.
Theo glanced over at her. “Playing the damsel in distress doesn’t suit you.”
Amber stiffened. “Really? Because playing the arrogant, rich white guy suits you perfectly,” she shot back, her pride stung and shame gone.
The car hummed in silence before Theo spoke again. “Your boyfriend needs a lesson in manners. He should've stuck around and let you go first out of the parking lot.”
Amber rolled her head toward him, all of her irritation coming back in a rush. “Johnny has more chivalry in his pinky finger than you ever will.”
Before she could lay into him further, he turned into her parking lot and got out. Amber was already trying to get out of the car when he offered his hand. She brushed it aside. “I don't need any help.” She glared up at his face before stomping up the steps of the three-story brick building.
She sensed Theo behind her and sped up until she reached the entrance. Of course he would walk her to the door. Theo was the epitome of a rule follower, but there was no way she would let him see her apartment.
