Page 9 of When I Had You

“Allow me.”

I’m too familiar with the voice not to automatically tense. I look at Cash standing behind me in full bravado. The door of the Town Car is wide open, waiting for me. “I can get in a car by myself.” I climb in the back and reach for the handle. Tugging it, I add, “Thanks.”

But the door doesn’t shut.

Especially since his hand and body are now blocking it. “What are you doing?” I ask. “Move it. I don’t like to be late.”

“You’re already late, babe. Scoot.”

“Nope. Not scooting for you. Find your own ride, hotshot.” I tug on the door again, but he still stands in the way like a mountain blocking my view. “Do you mind?”

He holds the door firmly in his hand and grins while looking down. Glancing left and then right before his eyes return to mine, he kneels in front of me. “It’s my car, Marina. I called it, but I’m happy to give you a ride wherever you’d like to go.”

I look at the driver, who has climbed into the driver’s seat. He nods, and a wave of embarrassment washes through me. I throw a foot out, but Cash stands, effectively blocking me from exiting the vehicle. “Please,” he says, lowering his voice. “We can ride together.”

“There is no we in this scenario. There’s me going to dinner with my family and you going wherever someone like you goes at night.”

“Someone like me?” He chuckles. “Why do you make me sound so seedy? I’m simply going to dinner. Just like you.”

“Except somewhere else.” I push against his bicep, which is unwavering against my best efforts. “Are you kidnapping me, or are you going to let me out?”

A grin splits his cheeks, and then he says, “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news—”

“Why do I get the distinct impression that you’re not sorry to bear any bad news to me?”

“I’m not as horrible as you seem to think I am.”

“I’m going to need references for that before I change my mind when it comes to you.”

He’s still smirking, basically looking devilishly hot, and I’m not referring to the Miami heat, though that’s a thing that’s making me sweat. Or him. My body is in a state of confusion around this man. Super frustrating. He says, “I’ll let you talk to your brothers regarding my nature.”

“The press sure does love you.”

“By love, you mean hate, and that’s fair to throw in my face. I’ve made mistakes, but I own them.”

“As much fun as this is,” I deadpan, although I’m snacking on every interesting tidbit he feeds me. I check the time on my phone. “I’m now late for dinner.”

“We should go, then.” He maneuvers down and starts sliding in.

I move or get sat on, so I slip across the seat to the other side. “Fine.” I cross my arms over my chest in protest. “But you’re dropping me off first.”

As soon as he shuts the door, the car pulls away from the hotel. “You got it, babe.”

I glance back through the back window, realizing the last of my sanity was left under the hotel carport. Turning my eyes to the cracked screen of my phone, I tap lightly, hoping it works until I can get back to Canada to buy a new one.

I sit back, watching the world pass by outside, and release a breath that had been weighing on my chest.

“Is it that bad?”

Angling my head to face him, I ask, “Is what that bad?”

“Sharing a car with me?”

I could stick it to him by saying something snarky, but I ease up, already tiring of the fight. “I have a lot going on.”

“We all do.”

Annoyance wrecks my composure, and I roll my eyes. “I get that, but you asked me specifically if sharing a car with you was bad.” Waving my hand between us, I add, “I was simply saying it’s not only about you. I have other stuff going on in my life, and you just are the cherry on top.”

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