Page 51 of Taming the CEO

She was shaking slightly.

"Are you in pain?" I asked her.

"A bit."

She'd already cleaned up the wound. I fastened a bandage and then a second one, tying it at the back of her hand, making sure it wasn’t too tight.

"I’ll take you home," I said.

She glanced up. "I really want to take my car. And you should get out of Essex. They said the storm is going to last awhile."

"You can't drive like this. I'm taking you home."

She bit the inside of her cheek, closing her eyes. "You're right. I don't think I can drive. I was going to ask Dad if he could come get me, but..."

"I'll drive you," I repeated.

"Thank you. All right, but let's be quick," she said.

We hurried out of the kitchen. I saw her jacket by the entrance.

"Put it on," I told her.

"Maddox, it’s really not necessary. Is your car—"

"Put it on!" I insisted through gritted teeth.

She jerked her head back. "Caveman much?"

"Very much," I said, holding the jacket out for her.

She put it on, zipping it up, and then we stepped out while Cami quickly locked up. The wind was even stronger than a few minutes ago. This was going to be a clusterfuck.

We hurried into the car and drove off. There was no way I was going to make it out of Essex tonight. I could barely see the road.

"Shit, shit, shit," she muttered, though I barely heard her over the rain pounding against the car.

"You can turn right here," she said after a few minutes.

It was a good thing she was here to guide me. The rain was strong, and the fog was very thick. I either drove at a snail's pace or risked bumping into a car. It took us twelve minutes for the five-minute drive, and by the time we reached her house, the radio announcer insisted that no one leave their homes.

She glanced at me. "Maddox, come inside. It's not safe for you to drive back to Boston. Hell, it's not safe for you to even drive in Essex."

I looked at her tentatively. "I’ll go to the Gris to have dinner and book a room if necessary."

She shook her head. "Come in. We'll stay indoors, and maybe the worst will pass in a few hours. Enough for you to drive to the Gris."

"All right. Let's go inside, then."

As I opened the car door, the wind nearly ripped it off its hinges.

"Fucking shit. Don't open the door. I'll come help you," I said.

"Okay."

I closed it using all my strength and then went over to her side, opening it carefully. I'd never experienced wind like this. Cami stepped out and then pushed her weight against the door as I pressed both hands on it, trying to close it.

"I've got this," I insisted before slamming it shut.

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