“Mmhm. Looks like you’re stuck.” His tone made it clear he didn’t hate the idea.
“Thanks for the observation, Sherlock.”
James shrugged. “Well, lucky for you, I’ve got a car. I could give you a lift back to Bear and Bun. Unless you’d prefer to wait here for Beau to come rescue you?”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m perfectly capable of calling a tow.”
“Sure, but I’m already here, and honestly…” He leaned a little closer. “I kind of want to see what you look like when you’re forced to sit in my passenger seat.”
“Like someone regretting every life choice that led to this moment,” I muttered.
He grinned. “Come on, Grumpy Bear. Live a little.”
Grumpy Bear? My stomach flipped. Dang him.
I should’ve said no. Should’ve told him to walk back inside and keep playing charming bakery prince to someone else. But the sun was hot, my phone battery was dying.
And fine, I didn’t actually hate the idea of spending a little time in an air-conditioned car. Even if that car came with James’s smug little smirk and way too much cologne.
I grunted. “Fine. One ride. No talking.”
He threw me a mock salute. “Absolutely, sir.”
The inside of his car smelled like vanilla and citrus. Not bad, exactly. Just...dangerously nice. Like him.
I slumped into the passenger seat, arms crossed, and stared out the window.
James hummed as he started the engine, the song on the radio some kind of mellow indie pop I’d never admit to liking.
“You always this chatty?” he asked after a minute of silence.
“I said no talking,” I grumbled.
“I thought that was just a suggestion.”
“Everything out of your mouth is a suggestion,” I grumbled.
He laughed. “That sounded almost like a compliment.”
I didn’t answer. My bear stirred again, and I mentally shoved it back.Not happening.I’d been through this before.
I’d been charmed by pretty smiles and teasing words, let myself believe someone saw something in me beyond the growls and the temper.
Kellan had known how to twist my heart like a screw, always acting like I was lucky to be noticed. Always saying the right thing until it turned out he’d been saying the same thing to half the damn clan.
James was dangerous for the same reasons. He didn’t even have to try. He just was.
“Why do you do that?” I asked suddenly.
“Do what?” he said, glancing at me with a sideways smile.
“Flirt with everyone. Be...like that. All the time,” I said.
He arched a brow. “You mean charming?”
“I mean annoying,” I pointed out.
He chuckled. “It’s not flirting. It’s just how I talk. You ever consider you might just be fun to mess with?”
