Page 25 of Touchdowns and Temptations

“Hey, Alex!” Cara looks past me and waves to my brother, who has unbuckled his seatbelt to peer between the two front seats.

“Are you coming with us?”

“I'm going home,” she says.

“Home?” I ask softly, looking over my shoulder at the driver. Yes, he's nice, and I don't think he'd hurt Cara, but I still don't like the idea of her taking an Uber or a cab. I don't have a good feeling about it.

“And you take an Uber? What about your car?” I ask.

“I've been drinking wine,” she replies.

“But Uber?” Yes, my argument is ridiculous. It's admirable that she calls an Uber instead of getting behind the wheel. Unlike me, Cara doesn't see the poor driver as a potential sexual predator. I usually don't either. The woman drives me crazy. “Next time, call me. Where's your car?”

Cara looks at me questioningly and turns her head. She points to a black Mercedes SUV. First the Ferrari, now the Mercedes. Not bad. I wonder how many cars she has. Now this is a conversation that doesn't end in a fight.

“Keys?” I hold out my hand. “I'll drive you home in your car.”

“No?”

“Yes!” I turn and look into the Uber. “I'll drive her home and then catch up in a cab.”

“What?” Alex and the driver ask out of the same mouth.

“Get back in the car now,” my brother says, annoyed. “Both of you. We have to go.”

But my mind is made up. Tonight, I'll drive Cara home and take the opportunity to finally find out more about her.

I repeat again, “I'm driving Cara home,” and smile at her. Of course she shows no reaction. “Don't worry. I'll pay you anyway,” I turn to the driver.

I want to pull my wallet out of my jeans and pay for Cara's ride, but Alex shakes his head. “I'll do it,” he says. “You drive.”

I nod gratefully to my brother and push the door shut. Then I turn to Cara.

She has her arms crossed over her chest and looks at me with anything but enthusiasm. “Did you really just do that?” she asks as the Uber pulls away. “I ordered an Uber.”

“And I'm not letting you take an Uber tonight or tomorrow because your car is here.” I point to her Mercedes SUV.

I start to walk away, but Cara makes no move to follow me.

“Are you coming?” I ask.

“What are you doing?” she hisses. “I've taken Ubers so many times and nothing's ever happened to me. You should have gone with your brother.”

“But I don't want you in a car with a strange man.” She raises her eyebrows and laughs. Okay, that does sound strange.

“And who are you?” she wants to know. “Not a strange man?”

“At least not that strange, right?”

“Hm,” Cara says and sighs.

“Keys?” I hold out my hand and make a request for her to give me the keys. Cara is annoyed, but opens her purse to rummage through the huge thing and finally finds the key.

“Here,” she says, handing it to me. “But don't you dare make the slightest dent in it.”

“Sure,” I reply and she struts past me to her car.

She looks really hot in that skimpy dress that barely covers her cute butt. I follow her, whistling.

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