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When we step inside, several overhead lights flicker on, illuminating a row of perfectly maintained vintage cars.A boyish expression builds on his face, as if they’re the only things that bring him joy.
Before he met Nora, I’d probably say that was the case.He collected sports cars because of what they represented — freedom.The ability to escape the real world, even if for only a few hours.
It makes me wonder what he wants to escape from today.
“I think the Jag.The weather’s beautiful.Don’t you think?”He walks toward a safe on the wall and places his thumb over the scanner.After a few seconds, it beeps, and Anderson opens the door, grabbing a set of keys.“Here.Catch.”He tosses them my way.
I react quickly and grab them but don’t make a move toward the baby blue 1965 Jaguar Roadster.It takes all my resolve not to hop into the impressive vehicle and tear out of here, like Anderson and I once did as teenagers.
But we’re not teenagers anymore.
Things are different now.
“What’s going on?”I ask.
“We’re going for a drive.”
I scrunch my brows.“I thought you wanted to go to the marina.Take out your sailboat.”
“We have to get there somehow.We’ll take the Jag,” he says nonchalantly, as if it’s normal for us to take this car out for a drive together.
If we were just friends, it would be normal.But we’re not.I’m his chief protection officer first and foremost.
At least for now.
Until I sign my discharge papers, my duty to him and the crown will remain my priority.
“Anders…,” I begin, but he cuts me off.
“I didn’t ask you to come sailing with me today as my chief protection officer, Creed.I did so as a friend.We used to take these cars out all the time and you didn’t say shite about it.”
“That was before I was your chief protection officer.Before I was in charge of keeping you safe.”
“But I don’t want you to be my chief protection officer today.It’s why I told you that if you wore anything other than a t-shirt and shorts, I’d fire you.”He offers me a sad smile.“I’d forgotten what it’s like to have you as a friend.But at my birthday party the other night, you weren’t my chief protection officer.I’d like more of that.So let’s go for a drive in this bloody awesome car and go out on the water.Consider it your birthday present to me.”He flashes me a conniving smile.
“I thought my birthday present to you was taking the night off so I could go to the party Esme threw for you.”
Just saying her name causes my skin to heat, my lips tingling with the memory of her kisses.It took every ounce of willpower I possessed not to kiss her this morning.God, I wanted to.
But I also knew I wouldn’t be satisfied with just a kiss.I’d want more.
Wanting more is precisely what got us into trouble last time.
I won’t risk that again.
“Consider it a bonus gift.”He winks, then hops into the passenger seat with an expectant expression on his face.
I don’t move at first, just look at the keys in my hand.
Most people think Anderson has everything he could ever want.He’s constantly surrounded by people, most of them celebrities in their own right.But it’s all very fake.None of those people actually care about him on a personal level.All they do care about is his social standing and how they can use him to increase theirs.
He may be surrounded by people, but I know how lonely he is.
Or how lonely he was before Nora.
In a world where most of your relationships lack any sort of substance, you search for something that is real.I’d like to think our friendship has always been real, despite my father telling me I can’t be his friend when I’m essentially the hired help.
But Anderson’s never treated me that way.If he wants to spend the day with a friend, it’s the least I can give him, especially after the year he’s had.
