Without giving myself a chance to second guess myself, I climb into the Jeep, trying and failing not to draw in a quick sniff of the dark scent that emanates from James. A very male scent. Salt combined with a whiff of metal, and leather infused with notes of cedar. It’s a scent that hints at the danger the man carries pressed into his skin. It screams that he can’t be tamed. That he’s someone who lives a very different life from mine.
He’s a Marine who’s seen his share of action on the frontline, accordingly to what Phe has told me.
"All right?" His low voice rumbles over me.
I shiver, then lock my fingers together in my lap and nod.
He searches my features, then reaches for the seatbelt and hands it to me. "Don't forget to buckle in." He smirks at my flustered expression, then glances in the backseat. "You too, Phe."
He shuts the door, rounds the Jeep, and just before he slides into the driver’s seat, Phe grumbles, "Bossy."
He eases the car forward onto the street.
"Drop me off first, and then you can take Harper home," Phe calls out from behind.
I whip my head around, surprised and more than a little flustered by her suggestion. "What?! No, I… I don't want to trouble him?—"
"No trouble," he cuts me off.
I frown. "You could drop me off at the tube station and?—"
"It’s eleven p.m. I’m seeing you home." His voice brooks no argument.
I firm my lips and stop the sharp retort hovering at the tip of my tongue. I’m in his vehicle. I don’t want to seem impolite. Also, I don’t want to make it awkward for Phe.
Still, I can’t stop myself from glaring at her.
She holds up her hands. "You don't have to accept the lift if you don't want to."
James stiffens. I sense the disapproval radiating from him. But to his credit, he stays quiet.
"I just don't think it's safe for you to call a car at this late hour." She widens her eyes. "And I live closer, so it makes sense for James to drop me off first. That's why I sat in the back."
Oh, you've got to be kidding me.
She's playing cupid. And she's not being subtle about it.
Phe picked up on the chemistry between us and now she's orchestrating this like some meddling matchmaker who thinks she knows what's best for everyone.
Heat crawls up my neck. Themortifiedkind.
If James figures out what she's doing, and he's not an idiot, he's going to think I put her up to this. That I'm some desperate girl who needs her best friend to manufacture alone time with him. He'll shut down completely, and any chance I have of him seeing me as anything other than his little sister's pathetic friend will evaporate.
I shoot Phe a look that promises retribution. Alongconversation about boundaries and interfering in my love life. She has the audacity to give me an innocent smile.
We're going to have words later.
But what choice do I have? Refusing the ride makes this into a bigger thing than it already is. Makes it obvious that Iamaffected by him, that sitting alone in a car with James Hamilton is dangerous territory.
I grit my teeth. "Fine.” I nod in James’ direction without looking at him. “Thank you for the ride."
My tone is grudging, but I refuse to mask it. I turn and busy myself looking out the window, remaining silent.
We drive for a few minutes. Slowly, my muscles unwind, enough for me to sneak a peek in his direction.
The lights from passing cars and streetlights sweep over his face like a spotlight interrogating secrets.
The hollows under his cheekbones carve deeper with each flash, lending a brutal handsomeness to his profile that shouldn't be as appealing as it is. Light, dark, light, dark. The rhythm is hypnotic.
