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I groan. “Thanks a lot. But there isn’t anythingtohappen. We aren’t dating or anything.” My stupid blush is back. “It’s just that my car wouldn’t start, and when I asked Hans if I could borrow his truck, he offered to drive me.”
Dad smirks. “I wouldn’t let you drive my truck either.”
“So—” I talk over the old man. “I invited him to come up for a meal as a thank-you. Please don’t turn it into torture.”
“What’s wrong with your car?” Mom jumps back into the conversation.
I shrug. “Who knows. I’ll get it figured out. I just didn’t have time to do it today without canceling on dinner.”
“How are you going to get to the airport tomorrow?”
At her question, I can feel Hans turn his attention to me.
“I’ll figure it out.” I don’t know why I bother lowering my voice, everyone is obviously listening.
“I’m sure Hans wouldn’t mind driving you,” Dad helpfully chimes in.
“No, that’s not?—”
“I’ll drive you.” Hans cuts me off.
I lift my eyes to his. “You don’t?—”
He cuts me off again. “I’ll drive you.”
The hard look in his gaze tells me it would be a mistake to argue. “Okay,” I whisper.
Mom clears her throat. “You all packed?”
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
“Where are you going?” Hans hasn’t turned his attention away from me.
“Um, Mexico.” I try to smile. “It’s for work.”
“Where in Mexico?” Hans’s tone has gone hard, like maybe he already knows the answer.
CHAPTER34
Hans
When she saysthe name of the city, I nearly drag her over my knee.
I’m no stranger to the country. It’s beautiful. The people are kind. The food is some of my favorite on earth. But that city, that particular city, has been labeled the most dangerous city in the world the last three years running. Specifically for cartel violence and kidnapping for ransom. That city is not somewhere I want my Butterfly going. Ever. And definitely not without me.
But those facts aren’t something the average person would know. And if it wasn’t for myfascinationwith my beautiful neighbor, I wouldn’t know it either. But when I did myresearchon Cassandra, I did my research on the company she works for too. They have branches all over the world, but their biggest and newest manufacturing facility is in this particular city.
As someone who works in human resources, I didn’t think there would be any threat of her having to go there. That’s for product development people, maybe the salespeople for training.
But apparently, I need to up my game. Tap her phone. Hack her emails.
If I’d known about this more than a day in advance, I could’ve found a way to make sure she couldn’t go. But now…
“And where do you work, Hans?” Mrs. Cantrell asks.
Since I’m still staring at Cassandra’s profile, I watch her slowly turn to face me. She’s clearly curious about my answer but can’t really admit she doesn’t know.
In all fairness, I’ve never asked her about her job either. I just know the answer because… well, because.
