“As I said. Somewhere safe.” I could tell she wasn’t about to let the answer go without explanation. “My… house.” Hesitating wasn’t acceptable, but here I was.
Fortunately, there were no issues for the remainder of the drive, the late-night hour allowing for an easy trip. As soon as I pulled down the street, she sat up, scanning the area. She wasn’t simply impressed with the surroundings. She was memorizing details. I could easily tell by the look of consternation on her face and her rapid eye movement.
Another good sign.
I pulled into the garage, waiting until the door closed before turning off the engine.
We both sat for a few seconds in the quiet, the dim overheat lighting providing an eerie backdrop.
“Come on. You’ll be safe inside. God knows we both need a drink.”
I could tell my change in demeanor as I invisibly removed Drake Cavanaugh’s ‘mask,’ shifting back into being nothing but a chivalrous cowboy, as my buddies liked to call me, surprised her.
Yet she remained silent.
Once inside the house, I immediately removed my jacket and tie, tossing them across the back of a kitchen chair. All the while she was watching me, shrinking into the shadows, her breathing still labored.
When her eyes landed on my jacket, I noticed the handle of the Glock could be seen. I could smell her fear from where I stood. After I covered the weapon, I shook my head. “The world you were just rescued from is very dangerous.”
“From one danger into another, I suppose.”
“Maybe so.”
The night had been exhausting, leaving me enraged at what little I’d seen. Enough to know I’d do everything in my power to destroy every man and woman involved in the Privileged. Even the name invoked thoughts of violence.
“What would you like to drink?” I finally asked as I headed to the already open bottle of whiskey.
When she remained quiet, I shook my head.
“First things first. I’m not going to poison you and you’re allowed choices. I think there’s everything. Wine. Vodka. Hell, even tequila.”
“Why do you care?”
Her attitude was irritating, but I reminded myself that she was still in the dark. “Because everyone deserves a choice.”
“Except the women locked in cages and sold as cattle.”
The words biting, they did cause me to glance in her direction. When I said nothing, she rubbed her hands down her dress, licking her bottom lip out of nervousness.
“Wine. Red if you have it.”
The slight softening of her voice reminded me why I’d been immediately attracted to her. “That I can do.” I had no clue what I was selecting, but I grabbed a bottle from the smaller wine cabinet Maverick had installed in the kitchen. My skills were rusty opening the bottle and as soon as I broke the cork, she laughed after a little snort.
“Would you like me to do that for you? I would think a man of your stature and wealth could do anything. Or maybe you’re used to having everything done for you. Does that include wiping your ass?”
If she’d truly believed she would find her sister while engaging in such rebellious behavior, she hadn’t thought the plan through very well.
“I must admit, wine isn’t to my taste. Not very manly. But feel free to show me how it’s done.” I backed away, allowing her to fix the botched attempt. As soon as she was within a few inches, the same jolt of current tormented my already aching muscles.
Her body remained stiff and she constantly threw me a cautious look. When she was finished, she backed far enough away I couldn’t dare try to touch her.
It took me a minute to find a glass, which forced me to realize yet once again I wasn’t cut out for being an undercover anything. I hadn’t even bothered to go through every room in the house. A telltale sign I didn’t belong.
I slid the glass across the counter, noticing she was shivering.
The tension was worse than I’d anticipated and I wasn’t certain I was ready to delve into the entire story. She certainly had no intention of being cooperative.
“Why don’t we do this? I’m going to show you to your room. There are clothes in your closet that should fit you. I’m certain you’d prefer to be in something else. Not that the dress isn’t lovely on you.”
