Page 48 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

Luca’s eyes flick toward the rearview mirror, clearly hoping Michael will intervene, but Michael has his head tipped back against the seat, eyes closed as if he’s praying for patience.

“Uh, yeah,” Luca says.

“Great,” I say cheerfully. “When we get to my house I’m ordering a few. My friend Sarah’s coming over, and we’re all going to hang out and play board games.”

Luca’s eyes widen as Michael’s snap open.

“What the hell, Katie?”

I ignore him and pull out my phone, already scrolling to Sarah’s contact. His arm lashes out, snatching the phone from my hand.

“Give it back. Now.”

For a beat, he just holds it, his thumb stroking the screen, and my mind flashes to those same fingers rubbing me.

Stop it, Katie. He’s an asshole. I rip it from his grasp.

“Sarah, hey,” I manage, locking eyes with Michael, whose glare could melt steel. What would it feel like to give in, let him spread my legs and devour me until I shatter? No. Focus. “You doing anything for lunch?”

“Nope. Want me to come over?”

“Yes. Please.”

“See you in a few?”

“Yeah. I’m out, but I’ll be there in like fifteen minutes.”

“Okay. See you then.”

I hang up and look at Michael triumphantly, but he leans towards me.

“Eventually you’ll have to be alone with me again.”

Sarah’s car is already sitting in my driveway when we pull up. I reach for my door, but Michael stops me.

“Don’t even, Doll,” he says as he climbs out of the SUV.

I roll my eyes and wait while he walks around the front of the vehicle. He opens my door, offering his hand. I take it and hop down onto the driveway, but the second my feet hit the gravel I let go of him and head straight toward Sarah’s car without a backward glance.

The engine is still running, and when I reach the driver’s side window, Sarah is leaned back against the seat with her eyes closed. Her music is so loud the bass is vibrating through the door. This woman drove across town for an emergency lunch and immediately fell asleep in my driveway.

I knock on the window. She jerks upright so violently her head nearly smacks the roof of the car. Her eyes fly open as she scrambles to figure out where she is. Her hand slaps wildly at the volume knob before she finally looks over and sees me standing there.

“God,” she groans as the window rolls down. “What the hell, Katie?”

I laugh loudly.

“Come on,” I say, stepping back from the car. “There are some people I want you to meet.”

Her eyes narrow. Sarah has known me long enough to recognize the tone I use right before something extremely questionable happens. She turns in her seat to look over her shoulder. Michael and Luca are standing in the driveway a few feet away.

“What the fuck?” she hisses.

I wink at her. “Let’s go.”

I open her door and pull her out before she can start asking more questions. She stumbles after me while I haul her across the driveway toward the two men waiting a few yards away. By the time we reach them, she’s gone completely quiet.

“Michael,” I say. “Luca. This is my best friend Sarah.”