Page 42 of Something Like That

He shrugged. “No worries.”

How could he be so blasé about the whole thing? She was absolutely mortified. He probably had a Lamborghini or a Ferrari or something back home, and here she was toting him around in her twenty-year-old Toyota, that was basically being held together by rust and a prayer. It was humiliating.

As if he was reading her thoughts, he reached over and placed his hand over hers. His fingers were cold, but a sizzle of warmth spiraled up her arm. He pulled away. Part of her wanted to grab his hand and hold on, but she didn’t give in. Instead, she flipped the heater up to high and grabbed the steering wheel.

“So, where are you taking me on this date that’s not a date?” His voice was light, a hint of teasing in his tone. A whole load of her tension evaporated. He was smiling. She felt the corners of her lips tilting up.

“You mean, you haven’t guessed yet?”

He glanced at his bag in the backseat. “Well, I think I have a general idea. The instructions were a bit of a giveaway.” He raised an eyebrow. Once again, she marveled at his ability to control his facial muscles like that. He was so damn cute. “Unless the whole thing was a fake out and you’re kidnapping me. Taking me to a seedy motel to have your way with me.”

She barked out at laugh. He didn’t sound all that worried about that prospect. In fact, he actually sounded eager. She couldn’t blame him. The idea definitely had its appeal.

If only…

She popped the car into drive and pulled back into traffic. “Sorry, it wasn’t a fake out.” She did a shoulder check and changed lanes. “Although your idea does sound appealing, getting arrested for kidnapping really isn’t on my bucket list.”

“I promise. I wouldn’t press charges.”

She laughed again. “That’s what they all say.”

“Have a lot of experience with kidnapping and then having your way with folks, do you?”

She made a humming noise in the back of her throat, neither confirming nor denying. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him shift in his seat. Good, she liked keeping him guessing.

Silence wrapped around them, but it wasn’t tense or uncomfortable. It was nice, if a little weird. Maybe it was just her. He brought out the weirdest reactions in her. She didn’t understand how she could be both nervous and relaxed at the same time. It didn’t make any sense. But then, nothing about her and him made a whole lot of sense.

They were from different worlds, and always had been. All the intervening years had done was make their differences that much more evident. Which was why nothing permanent or serious between them would work.

Now, she just had to remember her ground rules, and everything would be fine.

She flicked on her blinker and turned into the parking lot of their destination. The building loomed in the distance. He glanced at it and sat up a little straighter. A tiny bubble of happiness bubbled up inside her, confirmation she’d made the right decision inviting him.

Getting as close to the door as possible, she pulled into a parking spot and cut the engine. Now that the defrosters were off, the windows fogged up quickly. She popped the seatbelt and turned to face him. “Ready?”

He glanced out the window, first at the building and then at the sky. The rain was pounding off the pavement. “I guess.”

She laughed at his disgusted tone. “I told you to invest in an umbrella.” She leaned over and reached into the space at his feet. He sucked in a quick breath when she placed her hand on his knee for balance. She pulled out an umbrella, waving it around in victory.

His eyes widened and then narrowed as he reached for it. Or maybe her. And for the briefest of split seconds, she actually contemplated letting him catch her.

Then she came to her senses, reached back and pushed open the door with her free hand. She slid out of the car and popped open the umbrella with a whoosh.

The rain was loud as it bounced off of everything in the parking lot. He grabbed his bag, opened his door, and slipped out of the car with a curse.

She laughed and popped the lever for the trunk. Flicking the door lock switch was automatic. Although why she bothered, she didn’t know. The insurance payout if the car got stolen probably wouldn’t be enough to get her a bus pass. The only reason it mattered was for Em’s sake. It was much easier to haul her and her hockey equipment around with a car. When a vehicle wasn’t necessary, Alex actually preferred to ride her bike.

He sidled up to her, pressing himself fully against her back. “We can share the umbrella.” His warm breath against her ear sent a shiver through her. She just about swooned, right there in the parking lot.

Focus, Alex, focus. She glanced at him over her shoulder. He was right there, all up in her space. She sort of wanted to kiss him. And by sort of, she meant right now and very badly.

Another car’s headlights cut across them as someone else pulled into a parking spot nearby. She mentally shook herself back to reality. “All right, let’s go.”

She walked around to the trunk. He remained right against her, almost like he was glued to her back. It would have been cute if it hadn’t made her so hot and bothered. Before she could grab her bag and sticks, he was there, scooping them up.

She pushed the trunk closed. “Thanks.” She gave in to the urge to glance over her shoulder again. He was still there, close enough to touch, to kiss. His gaze dropped to her lips. He was obviously thinking the same thing.

Unable to resist, she tilted her face up in invitation. He lowered his face toward hers. Slowly, letting the anticipation build, possibly giving her time to change her mind.