Damn it, though it was exactly the right thing to say, I stubbornly reply, “I don’t care how good you are. I’m not doing this.”
“It’s already done. Rhodes starts today,” my dad interjects. I know he won’t change his mind.
“Today? You couldn’t even give me a heads-up?”
Kade stands and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Mads, we just want you safe.”
I shrug him off. “This is all your fault.”
I grab my camera bag and rush through the door. Rhodes steps aside to let me pass, and I catch a whiff of his cologne—something clean and woodsy that I absolutely did not want to notice.
“That went well,” I hear him say jokingly as I storm off, so I throw him the finger over my shoulder without looking back.
His laughter follows behind me, but otherwise he keeps quiet until we hit the lobby. “So I guess you’re stuck with me today,” Rhodes says, coming to stand by my side, so close our arms touch.
“Did no one explain to you the concept of personal space?”
“Oh, they did. But my job kind of requires me to violate it.” He hits the elevator button before I can reach it. “For safety reasons.”
The elevator doors open, and I step inside, jabbing the button for the parking garage.
“You know,” I say, watching as the numbers descend, “you’re really annoying.”
“It’s one of my best qualities.” Those dimples grace me with another appearance. “I’m also told I make a mean cappuccino and I’m excellent at games night.”
“Fascinating. Are you any good at shutting up?”
“Terrible at it, actually.”
My lips twitch, but I catch myself before they curve into a full smile and pull them into a scowl instead. “Where’s your car?”
“Don’t have one here. I’m riding with you.”
“Of course you are.” The elevator opens into the garage, and I head for my Range Rover. “I don’t suppose there’s any point in trying to lose you?”
“I’d rather you didn’t.” Rhodes beats me to the driver’s side. “I’ll drive.”
“It’s my car.”
“And it’s my job to make sure no one’s tampered with it.” He holds out his hand for the keys. “Plus, you seem pretty pissed off. Angry driving isn’t safe.”
“I’m an excellent angry driver.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
He doesn’t lower his hand, so I eventually slap the keys into his palm. “You’re going to be insufferable, aren’t you?”
“Probably.” He unlocks the car and rounds the front to open the passenger door for me. “But I’ll try to make it entertaining.”
I climb in, and he closes the door. When he gets into the driver’s side, he adjusts the seat and mirrors to his larger frame, and I grind my teeth.
“So,” he says, starting the engine, “are you this nice to everyone?”
“You’re taking away my limited non-babysitting time and adding more surveillance. That makes you super special.”
“I’m not taking away anything,” he says as he pulls out of the garage smoothly. “Yes, I’m adding a digital layer to your existing security. But Ace and Vander are still very much part of the team.”
“Oh good, now I have three babysitters instead of two.”
