Mom rolls her eyes in my periphery.
“Nothing but vegan.”
I kiss the top of Paige’s head, which almost comes up to the top of mine, and a sharp stab of pain drives into my chest.
As much as I do deserve a ‘break’, I hate leaving her. The fact I even need a break is not Paige’s fault, yet she’s going to be without a mom for the next week.
I have to remind myself, I’m doing this for us. For her.
I stroke a finger down her cheek. “If you need anything, call me, okay?”
“I will, Mom.”
A horn sounds on the street, making Paige jump. I give her one last squeeze then pick up my case as Mom opens the door.
“Wow. Cabs sure have changed since I last hailed one,” she says, blowing out a breath.
I bend my head to see what she’s talking about and almost die when I see a black, shiny, luxury SUV rolling up to the front of the house.
Paige materializes at my side. “Hey, that’s cool, Mom.”
Flustered, I tuck my blonde hair behind my ear and carry the case out the door.
Turning to face Mom and Paige, I wave them back inside. “Go on in, don’t catch a cold.”
“It’s May,” Paige pouts.
“Still,” I roll my eyes. “You have nothing on your feet. Go get warm.”
When neither of them moves, I head toward the car, not expecting the trunk to open automatically and for August King to step out the driver’s side.
“My,” I hear my mother say from the doorway, “cab drivers have sure changed too.”
Doing my best to ignore her, and the manic, unhinged butterflies having a rave in my stomach, I hand my case to August. Then, lowering my lashes, I try to ignore the electricity that zings down my arm when our fingers brush.
“This is understated.Not.”
He pauses, with both our hands holding the case, and waits until I flick my gaze to his. “I don’t do understated.”
He glances briefly up at my family, then nods toward the car. “Let’s go.”
I’m part irked, part turned on by the curt command.
Giving my ogling mother and daughter a brief wave, I slide into the passenger seat.
The smell of warm leather and muskiness envelopes me and I sink into the softest seat. Gerard had money, so we always had nice cars, but this one isextranice. I could live in it.
The drive upstate is quiet.
There’s nothing hostile about it, nor particularly friendly. I guess when August said this was going to be a job, he wasn’t kidding. Besides, it’s not like we get along or have anything in common. He needs a wife for a week, I need the money. It’s just a simple transaction.
Unfortunately though, I’ve seen what lies beneath that shirt, and regardless of how annoyed I’ve felt at him, I haven’t been able to get the marbled chest, contoured muscles and inked skin out of my head. That makes things considerably less simple.
I force my gaze out the window to watch as the scenery changes from streets and buildings to long stretches of greenery.
“So, what’s my back story?”
I feel him relax beside me. “Okay. You grew up in New York.”
