Page 34
“Yes,” he says lowly, almost inaudibly.
A rush of adrenaline runs through me, and I can’t quite figure out how to answer him.
Xander leans forward, as if he’s preparing to capture me if I run. The apple of his throat bobs up and down.
“Why?”
His fists move in his slack pockets, like he’s restraining himself.
“I needed to make sure you got home safe.” His voice is coming out strained, as if it physically pains him to tell me this.
“Bullshit.”
His mouth quirks up so quickly I almost miss it. He pushes off the white Audi, slowly closing the space between us. I back away until my back hits the parked car behind me. My throat instantly dries when he towers over me, sucking all the air out of my lungs. The back of his hand caresses the side of my face as his eyes dart between mine.
“You’ve ensnared me,” he croons.
“What?” I breathe, unable to take my eyes off him.
He huffs out a laugh, his mouth curling on the left side, revealing a single dimple. He pulls his hand back and moves it around in his trouser pocket.
Oh god, he’s going to pull out a gun and kill me now.
He dangles a key between us. I eye it and give him an expectant look. “What?”
He flicks his head towards the Audi behind him. “It’s yours.”
I’m struck dumb at his statement.
He has to be joking?
“What?” I repeat, this time a little more taken aback. “Is this a joke?”
He shakes his head, messy hair flopping over his forehead. “It’s all yours.”
I shake my head back at him. I’m at a loss for words, so the only thing that forms from my mouth is, “Why?” for the second time.
“It’s company courtesy.”
Get a grip on yourself, Camila.
What in the fuck is happening right now?
“You just admitted to stalking me, and now you’re gifting me a car?” I ask, completely bewildered.
He’s still close to me, giving me no room to move, let alone try to leave.
“I’m not leaving here until you accept it.” He grabs my hand and peels open my fist, placing the key in the middle of my palm and closing my fingers around it.
“Do you realise how insane this sounds? My boss stalked me home—who I’ve never met before, by the way—and now he’s gifting me a car?” I push the key into his chest, but he backs away. “I can’t— Xander, I can’t accept this. I will get my car fixed. Return it.” I come off more assertive than I mean to, but this isn’t a box of chocolates. I just pray that my forwardness isn’t landing me in deep shit, like losing my job.
“You can’t.”
“I can’t?”
“I had it towed this morning. It would’ve needed an entire new engine—”
“You had it towed?” My voice rises with the last word, my fist clenching around the key.
