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“Unfortunately.”
A tiny grin pulled at the corner of his lips. “Ready?”
As I’ll ever be, I thought, shooting Penelope a look that said, When they find my cold, dead body, I’m blaming you. Then I headed for the car.
With trembling hands, I tugged on the door handle and opened it before I sank down into the soft leather. I tried to steel my nerves as I clicked my seatbelt, pretending that his mere presence didn’t amplify my nerves. Like he didn’t completely unbalance me. He had no effect on me whatsoever. I was cool as a cucumber. Completely chill.
“Take pictures!” Penelope beamed from the sidewalk with Topher’s arm draped over her shoulders, and I shot her one last look as we pulled away from the curb.
And then it was just the two of us, sitting in a car together that probably cost more than some people’s salaries.
I focused on the roar of the engine while we flew over the highway. The road spread out in front of me like an inky snake. The trees whipping past. Anything to keep my mind off of the man beside me and the erratic beat of my heart.
The scent of Thorne’s cologne filled the small space between us like some sort of heady drug I couldn’t ignore, and before I could stop myself, I leaned a little closer, being careful to keep my gaze straight ahead.
When we passed under a streetlight, I took a moment to study him out of the corner of my eye. It was unfair how beautiful he was. With dark hair, a straight nose, and an angular jaw beneath full lips, he had the kind of face artists painted and sculptors worked to recreate.
A slight hint of stubble speckled his smooth skin, and the sunglasses he wore only made me secretly wish for another glimpse of his green eyes. As if those attributes weren’t intimidating enough, his talent was something to admire. Though he’d starred mostly in teen flicks to-date, he was amazing at his craft. Not that I’d ever tellhimthat. I’d die before I’d admit that I used to have his poster on my wall. Or that at one time I knew all the Treemont High songs by heart.
Cringe.
His arrogance already defied odds; he didn’t need any more help.
In an effort to maintain my cool indifference, I nodded toward his face. “It’s dark outside, you know. Somehow I don’t think you need to shield your eyes from the sun.”
“It’s supposed to be more of a disguise than anything. It’s better if I’m not instantly recognizable. Besides,” he said, pulling them off and holding them out, “they’re not dark lenses, just reflective.”
My cheeks heated at the correction because I hadn’t thought of it, and because he made me sound like I was only picking on him. Which, okay, I kind of was. But, really, like a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap was going to concealthatface.
He stared at me for a beat, his brows arched as if he expected me to have something else to say about the hat and glasses.
“So, where are we going?” I asked instead.
“You’ll see,” he answered vaguely, and once again, I wondered if this was a mistake. Being in the car alone with him. Going out with him. After all, what did I really know about him other than the fact that he had a reputation for being a Hollywood screw-off?
As far as I was concerned, the only thing good about him was his exterior package, and even that was debatable because, from my experience, the hottest guys were often the biggest jerks.
Case in point the Royals at Lakeview. Topher was a one-off; Penelope got lucky. And Thorne may be famous, but his skills on-screen weren’t the only thing he was famous for. He didn’t exactly have a glowing reputation off-film.
“Nervous?” He smirked, and I realized I’d been chewing my lip.
I released it while he draped one hand casually over the wheel and glanced at me.
“What makes you say that?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Most girls are around me.”
“Pah, not me.”
“Good. Because I’m harmless. Mostly.”
“Good. Because I know a million ways to drop a man if you so much as try to lay a hand on me.” Then I offered a cheeky smile. “Just joking. Mostly.”
Thorne snickered. “Me, lay a hand on you?” He eyed me like I was crazy. “I’m the one that should be worried. At least you know who I am. I know nothing about you, remember?”
“This was your idea,remember? So tell me now. How many minutes of my life am I going to lose tonight?”
He chuckled, and the sound crept up my spine. “You’re funny,” he said.
