I smirk at the admiration in her voice and nod, shutting the door, and when I slip into the driver seat, I find her palm running seductively along the buttery, one-of-a-kind leather.
The crotch area of my pants tightens at the thought of her hand stroking me like that.
Damn.I’ve got to get my head on straight.
12
Zach
“Can we drive around for a bit?”Paige asks.
“Sure.What did you have in mind?”
She isn’t dressed for public places and even if she’s okay with it, I’m not.Those shorts and her tank top aren’t everyday clothes and now that I’ve had a closer look, I’m sure it’s her sleepwear.
“Nowhere in particular.I’m not ready to go to your place.Can we just drive?”
I nod, push the start button, and drive down the street, away from the glaring lights and activity.
“I’m not a car person but I think I’m in love.”Her hand does that thing again with the leather and I force my eyes back on the road.
“Yes, I can understand that.”
“Wow.No modesty, I see.”She gifts me her first genuine smile all night.
“Pardon?”
“You’re so sure of yourself and your choices.”
It’s in my nature to deliver a sharp, witty comeback, but her raw, open demeanor has me at a loss for words.
“I think it’s what I like about you the most,” she muses, looking straight ahead, out the windshield.
“You like me?”
When she turns to face me, I wink, again, and top it off with a sly grin.She laughs and rolls her eyes and while it’s short-lived, I’ll take it.Her eyes now hold a slight shine.A little more of her spark is back.
“You make no apologies for who you are and even filthy rich, your money isn’t even a factor.”
“I’m not sure I’m following.What are you talking about?”
“You’re a billionaire,” she says like she’s unable to wrap her head around the concept.
“Go on.”
“But you don’t make a big deal about it.Something tells me you’d be this self-assured and confident in who you are even if you lived under the Gardiner Expressway.”
I chuckle, shaking my head at the homeless image of me she’s conjured in my head.“Okay.That was kind of random.”
“Turn here.”
She points at the upcoming street, which heads east along the lakeshore.I take the turn and she gazes out the window at the lake to our right, our conversation abandoned.
Silence slides over us like a warm blanket and during our drive, I seize every opportunity to glance her way.With her head resting against the window, it’s hard to tell if she’s focused on the dark thick haze of the night or if her eyes are closed.
Her small form is curled into the seat, feet up and knees tucked into her chest.It’s a little after eleven and she’s got to be exhausted.
”I’m so angry.Angry at him and at myself.”
