Before he could try to flirt with her any further, Krista grabbed her phone and called Hattie to let her know that she’d be coming to the reunion after all, and she’d be bringing Blake with her. And that Blake was her fated mate, and that’s why he’d been following her. She thanked her lucky stars that the call went to voicemail because Hattie would have grilled her like a cheese sandwich.
Hattie was probably home already. She had headed straight back to Flowering Dogwood as soon she’d finished lunch, no doubt driving like her tail was on fire and there was no water in between Crystal Bay and home. Hattie hated visiting the big city. Krista winced in sympathy as she thought about the other drivers scattering out of the way. Hattie should have had her license taken back years ago, but nobody was brave enough to tell her that to her face.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Blake said.
“You can keep your penny,” she sniffed, and added, “cheap bastard.”
“Dollar?”
“Please.” She injected a note of wounded pride into her one-word dismissal.
“Million dollars?”
She swiveled her head to look at him scornfully. “You don’t have a million dollars.”
“I have been told that I have a million-dollar smile.”
“Well, your mother lied.”
As soon as she said that, she actually felt an odd pulse of pain, even before she glanced at him. Was his mother dead, maybe? And was it possible that she was somehow picking up his emotions?
No. No, no, no, because that would have to mean that hewasher… no, just no.
She squirmed uncomfortably, looking out the window as they drove. The silence stretched on and on.
Memories of their kiss kept drifting through her head, and she moved uncomfortably in her seat. This trip was going to be hell. It would be so much easier to hate him if there wasn’t this weirdthingbetween them. And if he didn’t have such a talented tongue.
Her cheeks colored as soon as the idea flashed through her mind. Her fox was laughing at her. She silently chided it.That wasn’t what I meant! Oh, for the love of God, I’m arguing with my own subconscious.
“Why are you blushing?”
“I’m not blushing, I’m flushing.” And why was he so damned observant? “It’s hot in here.”
The scent of musk filled the air, proof of his arousal. She rolled the window down, as if that would help. “Ahh. Cool night air.”
“Very cool.”
Great. Awkward conversation with her sexy blackmailer.
“Your GPS is only going to get us so far,” she said, squirming in her seat again. Damn, she was like a caffeinated toddler. “Keep on the way you’re going for about twenty miles. I’ll let you know when it’s time for me to start giving directions.”
He just nodded. He was gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white, as if he was trying very hard not to let her distract him. She sneaked another look at his lap for confirmation, then regretted it. She could see his thickness perfectly outlined against the denim of his jeans, and there was an answering pulse between her legs which made her want to whimper out loud with need.
She blamed it on her fox. Her fox was a shameless hussy. Krista, on the other hand, had pride and self-respect and… oh God, she was staring at his lapagain.
And he noticed.
And his mouth twitched in a smile. He was literally and figuratively a complete son of a bitch. She tore her gaze away and stared blindly out the window.
“For the record, I wasn’t looking where you think I was, and I hate you.”
“For the record, you absolutely were, and what you saw is entirely for you, and Idon’thate you.” She could hear the smile in his voice, but she didn’t dare look at him because she was sure he was smirking, and she was mortified that he’d caught her staring in a crotch-ward direction.
They drove in silence for as long as she could stand it. The houses were fewer and farther apart, the trees hemming them in. The midsummer sun was melting into the horizon ahead of them in a lake of red fire. “Okay,” she said finally. “You know what? If we’re going to be working together, we should get to know each other.”
She was still furious with him. More than that, she felt betrayed, like he was someone she should’ve been able to trust and who’d suddenly turned on her. But that was ridiculous because he’d never promised her anything.
He leaned back, holding the wheel in one hand. He had the car on cruise control now, so he was able to get a bit more comfortable behind the wheel. “What do you want to know?”
