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“We’re both used to getting our way,” I agree. “So you would think we’d be fighting non-stop, wouldn’t you?”
He glances over. “I remember we had a littlefrictionback in the beginning.”
“All of a week ago,” I crack.
“But, you saw the error of your ways and came around to my way of thinking,” he continues smugly.
I laugh. “I came around, huh? On what?”
“Us.”
The word sits between us, simple and full of promise.
I feel a shiver of anticipation roll through me. There’s an ‘us’now. What it means, I don’t know, but damn, I’m going to have fun finding out.
“So, Chapel Hill …” Reeve glances over at the GPS. We’re about three hours out, the fall foliage blurring past under the bright autumn skies. “Did you want to stay close to home?”
I shrug. “Yes and no. Other archeology and anthropology programs are more prestigious, but I wanted to work with an amazing professor there, and they offered me a great financial package. Plus, I needed to be within driving distance, in case my parents’ accidentally burned the house down,” I quip lightly, even though it had been a big decision, turning down places at other, bigger schools. A part of me wanted the adventure, but staying in state just made more sense – especially with my student loans. “It was a great program,” I add. “And then I met Jake there, and, well …”
“You went on to build a wildly-successful TV franchise, and hone your skills as the best treasure-hunter around,” Reeve finishes for me.
I blink. I never knew that support and professional respect could be such a turn-on, but boy, is it. But then, everything about Reeve seems to make my pulse race right now: the two-day stubble on his jaw, the way his dark hair is curling just a little too long into his eyes …
He casually pushes up his sleeves, revealing tanned forearms; hands resting on the wheel.
Hello, lover …
I flush, getting warmer in the confined space. “Want some fresh air?” I ask, already rolling my window down to cool odd. Except, we’re on the freeway now, with a massive truck spewing diesel fumes in its wake. “Maybe not.”
I roll it up again, and turn up the AC instead, fanning myself.
“Hot?” Reeve glances over, looking amused.
“It’s unseasonably warm out, for this time of year,” I reply, babbling. “Usually, it’s already getting cold. We’ll probably get snow soon enough. Or maybe not. Global warming!”
Quiet, Ivy.
I clamp my lips closed, and tug at the collar of my good blouse. There’s an alumni drinks mixer scheduled as soon as we arrive, and I didn’t want to have to change for it. Now, I’m probably going to roll up drenched in sweat and red-faced from the challenge of spending three hours in a confined space with Reeve lookingthatgood, and making me feelthishot.
Then Reeve looks over. “Hey, could you take the wheel a sec?” he asks.
I reach out, keeping it steady, as he casually strips his sweater over his head, and tosses it to the backseat.
He’s wearing a thin white T-shirt underneath. Soft, and form-fitting, and just grazing to the edge of his biceps…
“Thanks,” Reeve says easily, while my temperature rockets up another ten degrees.
“No problem,” I answer, strangled.
It’s going to be a long drive.
* * *
By the timewe reach Chapel Hill, I’m just about ready to combust. The whole drive, Reeve has made casual, fun conversation … while I’ve secretly imagined tearing all his clothes off and ravaging him at the nearest rest-stop.
The citizens of the I-40 are lucky I’m clinging to my self-control, here.
“Nice hotel,” Reeve remarks, after we’ve left the car with the valet out front, and made our way into the marble-floored lobby. It’s the grandest place in town, with historic details and a killer breakfast buffet. I figured I’d be treating myself to a solo vacation, but now I’m even more glad I went the extra mile and splurged.
