Stopping just in front of him, I folded my arms across my chest and narrowed my eyes. “We haven’t really established it’s your key. I still don’t understand how you think I have your truck, and even more, how you ended up with my registration.”
“You own a slate gray Autobiography Range Rover, caramel interior, brand new. It’s likely not even a week old because I just got mine two days ago. Only difference is you have fruity shit in yours and I don’t. I also don’t own and have never purchased a Beyoncé CD. When I turned on the radio, that’s what was playing. The attendant mixed up our keys and I left in yours while you left in mine.”
“Wait, no way?” I said, stunned by what he was saying.
I mean, it was possible, but was I really that oblivious to what I was driving? I mean, I never did turn the radio on because I’d talked to my father the entire drive to my apartment and was in tune with what he was saying. My truck was brand new, so I didn’t have any personal items in it. I was a neat freak and I didn’t really do that anyway. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed I was in a man’s truck. It was pristine with no signs that a man owned it. This very sexy, rude man.
Without responding, he grabbed my hand and dragged me with him to the glass doors that led to the street. Once we were outside, he used the key fob in his hand to unlock the doors of a replica of my truck, and pulled me with him toward the passenger door. When we were close enough, he pulled the door open and reached for the visor in annoyance, yanking away one of the Bath and Body Works clips that held Mahogany Coconut scented air freshener.
“I damn sure didn’t buy this shit, but I’m sure you did. This is your truck, shorty. Now can I have my key so I can get mine? I’m supposed to be balling right now, and yet, I’m here trying to convince your ass this is your shit.”
He tossed the visor clip of air freshener into the passenger seat then stared at me.
“Are you always this aggressive?” I asked, tilting my head to the side and looking into those beautiful dark eyes. Damn, this man was too sexy for his own good.
My question made him laugh before he delivered what had to be the sexist smile I had ever seen in my life. I bet he used that often to make women fall at his feet.
“Aggressive? How the fuck am I aggressive? I smiled and asked you for my key.”
“It’s not what you asked, it’s how you asked.”
The smile he wore was gone just that fast, replaced with a sarcastic expression. “So, you’re one of those, huh?” He smirkedand folded his arms while he stared me down. It was intense as hell and I broke out in a light sweat.
“One of those? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s not what you asked, it’s how you asked,” he repeated, then smirked. “That shit sounded condescending as hell. And yes, I know what the fuck condescending means. I’m street, but I’m not dumb. I actually have a master’s degree in business with a concentration in finance. They don’t just hand those out because you show up for class, but you think I’m aggressive because my time is valuable to me and I want my damn key so I’m no longer wasting it by standing here with your stuck-up ass. You might not be used to my language, Ms. Prescott, and maybe I am aggressive when it’s necessary, but you don’t have to speak to me like I’m beneath you. Now, can I have my gotdamn key so you can get back to your life and I can get back to mine?”
I just stared at him, floored by the way he had just addressed me and turned on at the same time. Never in my life had a man handled me like him. It was such a huge turn on. The problem was, I could tell from the way he was shooting daggers through me that he had no interest in me at this point.
“You’re right and I apologize for that. I did not mean to disrespect you.”
I turned toward the building where Anthony stood a few feet away. “Will you have Oscar bring my truck, I mean Mr. Carter’s truck, around, please?”
“Thank you,” Mr. Carter said, then pulled out his phone. I listened as he turned his back to me and began a conversation.
“Ay, I should be on my way home in a minute, then I’ll be heading your way. Fuck you. Aight bet.”
I couldn’t help but let my eyes dance across his solid frame as he held his phone to the side of his face with one hand, the other lifting the ball cap on his head and lowering it again. Themuscles in his arm, shoulder, and back created a domino effect the way they flowed with the simplest motion.
“Yo, I see my shit. Let me inspect it really quickly, then I’ll be on my way.”
I looked away and focused on Oscar who was pulling up behind my truck, not wanting Mr. Carter to know I was damn near drooling over him.
This man was arrogant enough and I didn’t need to add fuel to the fire. Slipping his phone into his pocket again, he glared at me and moved toward his truck, walking around it, slowly inspecting every inch.
Oscar slipped out of the driver’s seat and Mr. Carter slipped in. I watched as he pulled the glove compartment open and held up stacks of cash before he returned it and got out.
“Looks like you took care of my shit. I appreciate that. I would say it was nice meeting you, but I’m sure we both agree this experience damn sure wasn’t nice.” Without another word, he smirked at me while his eyes moved across every curve of my body. When his tongue moved across his bottom lip, my uterus contracted. I was so disoriented by my thoughts that I hadn’t even realized he had driven off until Oscar called my name and I was met with his disapproving frown.
“Sophie, do you know that man? He doesn’t seem like the type you associate with.”
“Uh, no, actually I don’t, but you’re right. He’s not.” There was no point in explaining anything further. Right now, I headed back to my apartment for a session of yoga, then would be off to handle business.
Chapter 3
Trooper
“So you mean to tell me you drove off in her shit and really didn’t know it?” Los had a big ass grin on his face before he pulled his locker open and grabbed his bag.
