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He suspected she’d take it the wrong way if he told her he’d figured as much.
But she guessed. She was smart. “Since I freelance, you probably knew that.”
“Mm.”
“Do you think that’s why I came with you tonight?”
“No,” he said after a pause. “You’re not like Georgette.”
“Oh. Thanks.” She paused. “I think.” She drummed her fingers on the arm rest between them. “How old are you?” she asked him bluntly.
“Twenty-six. And you, Ms. Raymond? How old are you?” he asked smoothly, wanting her to relax again.
It worked. She laughed, then shot him a look. “What a rude question.”
“Double standard much?” he quipped.
“Only on Saturdays. Google it if you want, but ask me to my face?” She shook her head in mock disappointment. “Please tell me your mama taught you better than that.”
“She did.” There was no need to tell her he’d already discovered she was twenty-four, which, along with her professional qualifications and experience, made her a prodigy, way ahead of her age level in educational achievements.
He’d accomplished his ends, getting her to abandon the good-little-doll act. Now she looked at ease. She was gazing out at the scenery. They were on the winding thoroughfare of Rockbrush Road, passing the mayor’s sprawling estate.
“Why do you want to go to Seattle, anyway?” he ventured, trying not to make it obvious he was wondering if the reason involved a man.
She sighed. “Family.” The one word sounded so depressed, he felt his gut tighten. He knew about the family blues.
“They’re in Seattle? What’s up? Problems?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just, I’ve been trying to get home, but no dice. The storm closed up Snoqualmie Pass on Thanksgiving weekend...my dad was traveling...my brother’s plans kept changing...I had a bunch of last-minute jobs...with all the flights being booked, it all conspired against me.” Her voice turned wry. “It’s like that movie,Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I feel like it’s been ages since I’ve been home and I miss everyone. Do you ever feel like that?”
“Never,” he said honestly.Home. It was a concept he had never understood.
“No?” He felt her eyes on him curiously. “Well, I’m bummed. My brother doesn’t get over to this part of the country too often. When he does, everyone goes all out and fusses over him. This year we get to meet—I mean, they get to meet his new girlfriend.”
“How old is he?”
“Owen’s almost thirty.” She met his eyes and responded to the interest in his. “He’s a medical researcher down at Emory. They met in Atlanta in September at DragonCon. I have another brother in Seattle, too. He’s less of a geek than the rest of us, he’s more into the...” She looked like she was about to tell him more, but then thought twice. “Oh, well, at least I can video chat with everyone.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you there.” His hands tightened on the wheel so he wouldn't reach out and grab her hand. Something told him he’d get it slapped away.
She made apshhsound. “How? You have connections to Santa’s Sleigh Company?”
Her husky, amused voice made him think of everything he’d rather be doing right now. Like listen to her sass him while he thrust inside her.
She’d been so responsive, he wondered if she’d been straight with him about not falling into bed with guys on a regular basis. Because if that was actually true, then her response meant she wanted him as much as he wanted her…despite all her hemming and hawing about attending tonight.
He wondered what she’d do if he told her he’d never wanted a woman more than he’d wanted her earlier. Admit the same?
More likely accuse him of insulting her.
He shifted in his seat.
“I have a private plane. Or rather, my parents do. I purchased it last year.” As he slowed for a stop sign, he heard an odd coughing noise come from the passenger side. “To shut them up,” he remarked, making an effort to keep his tone offhanded. “Stop them flinging all their past support in my face to get me to come to heel.”
“That must have cost...millions.” She sounded like she was wheezing. “I hope it was worth it.”
He didn’t bother to deny it, but he did offer a defense for what his friends had called a reckless impulse at the time. Trey Shoals in particular had called him a sucker. That from a trust-fund baby himself whose own parents were devils in their own right. “It resulted in about a fifty-percent reduction in harassment. I’d say it paid for itself. The whole family uses it, actually. It barely spends any time in its hangar.”
