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Together they walked to the reception area where Trinity waved. “Thanks for coming.”
How she could be so cheerful after a long day, with hours still to go… Abigail shook her head in awe. “Everything was amazing. Thank you.”
At the top of the narrow, steep stairs, Hayes stopped her. “Let me carry your packages.”
He’d already done too much.
“Your choices are to let me give you a hand, or I’ll carry you.”
Abigail narrowed her gaze at him. His jaw was set in a sharp, uncompromising angle, and there was a determined gleam in his eyes.
“I think he means it!” Trinity called out, not helpfully.
“She’s right.” He didn’t smile.
“In that case…” Abigail turned over the cashbox and the bag, but she slung her purse over her shoulder.
As much as she would hate to admit it, she might have trouble navigating the darkened area without holding onto the banister.
When she pushed open the club door, the unseasonably warm, humid night air wrapped around her. Several people were waiting in the valet line, making her reconsider walking.
Just then a sleek black SUV pulled to the curb.
“Here we are.”
For a moment she stood there, shocked and unmoving. “Uhm… There’s no one behind the wheel.”
“It’s a Bonds vehicle. Autonomous driving.”
“Is that even legal?”
“I haven’t bothered to ask.” He placed a hand against the small of her back. “You have to admit it does have its uses.”
Like skipping the valet line.
As they approached, her door opened. “That’s a little freaky.”
“I told it to do that. Doesn’t read my mind, though I asked Julien to work on that.”
“Julien? As in Julien Bonds? You’re friends?”
“Acquaintances. Man keeps his circle small.”
She slid onto the luxurious leather seat. Accepting a ride might have been a bad choice. Now she’d hate riding in Raven’s company van even more.
Abigail gave him directions to the parking lot. Even though it was late, revelers were still out, so he drove cautiously to avoid those who stepped off curbs or partied in the streets without paying attention.
The drive to their destination only took a few minutes, and she reached for the door handle. “I appreciate the ride.”
Now that she knew him a little better—and the way he didn’t like to see a damsel in distress—she wasn’t surprised that he insisted on walking her the few steps to the van.
She hopped up into the vehicle, which was a bit of a challenge with her Steampunk outfit.
Though he closed her inside the compartment, he didn’t walk away.
Her mind still reeling from everything that had happened this evening, she slid the key into the ancient ignition and turned it.
An ominous clicking sound echoed through the vehicle.
