Page 48 of Close Knit

“That’s so cool.” I bet everyone in the Hastings family is as impressive as Cameron. “Growing up, my sister and I shared a Prius, but I haven’t driven much since moving to San Francisco eight years ago.”

“Want to take it for a ride?” He shoots me an unfairly charming smirk.

My mind, traitorous thing that it is, screams,YES PLEASE!

“Not even an hour into our little rendezvous, and already you’re giving me the chance to say yes. Kudos to you, sir. Kudos.”

With a grace that’s utterly infuriating in its elegance, he slides into the passenger seat, leaning over to pop open the driver’s door for me. “Get in the car, Daphne.”

The car’s interior exudes luxury, with plush black leather seats and gleaming surfaces. The driver’s seat is set too far back for my small frame, and he reaches over to adjust it. His earthyscent overwhelms me. I have to resist the urge to lean in for another sniff.

“All right, this is nothing like a Prius,” I admit.

“You’re going to start the engine.” He points to the button on the steering wheel, and I press it. I wrap my hand around the black leather steering wheel. Between us, there are switches with lettering on them, and he toggles a few. “Now, you’re going to want to—”

“I got this.” I cut him off, swatting his hand away. I can handle this. I buckle up, check my mirrors, and awkwardly crane my neck to scope out the road from my left.This can’t be that hard.I press my foot on the gas, and the car roars to life. A deep growl morphs into a high-pitched scream. The steering wheel shudders under my hands. The scent of gasoline fills the air. “Ahhh!” I yell, startled by the explosion of noise and movement. I snap my gaze over to Cameron, who’s biting back a grin. “What was that?”

“You didn’t take it out of park,” he says and flips another switch.

“I knew that.”

“Sure.”

I do a final sweep behind me, making sure I won’t run over a squirrel, and then gently hit the gas. The car lurches forward, and I jolt back. Adrenaline floods my veins like an overflowing river. I try tapping the pedal again, but again, my head slams onto the headrest, causing me to shriek.

“Okay!” I hit the brake, put it in park, and burst out of the car. “I’ve driven a sports car. It’s all yours now.”

Cameron slips past me by the hood. “You’ll get it next time,” he says, and an image of his rough hands pushing me up against this beast of a car flashes in my mind. I cough, attempting to tame my filthy thoughts.

He slinks into the driver’s seat, adjusting the seat to accommodate his long legs. A vein twitches at the top of his tanned hand as he clutches the steering wheel. My mouth dries at the sight of his thumb digging into the leather, the rest of his rough knuckles turning white as he adjusts the mirrors.

“We’ll go to the countryside next time,” he says, “so you can edge more than a couple of inches off the road.”

Trust me, I’ve been edged plenty from this entire interaction. “Yep, we’ll save that for another day.”

“Counting on it,” he murmurs in that tantalizing growl that sends shivers down my spine. Before I can react, he leans over me, and in one smooth, deliberate motion, he buckles me in. His fingers graze my hip just enough to send my pulse into applause. “Safety first.” He winks, lips curling into that infuriating and belly-warming smirk.

My heart pounds so loudly I’m certain he can hear it.

“Those grandparent dates sure did make you an honorable gentleman.” I laugh awkwardly. This is starting to feel dangerous. It’s only outing number one, and I’m already wishing he’d thrust himself right into me like one of those steamy vampire TV show stars Juni is obsessed with. Maybe without the bloodsucking.

Or, I don’t know, he might like that. Maybe I would as well.

Where is my mind?

We’re supposed to be just friends, but the incidental touches and lingering looks remind me that we started as more. His brooding charm makes it hard to remember why we chose to stay platonic.

As he rolls out into the street, he flashes me a look that tells me he’s wondering the same thing.

Half an hour later,we’re strolling through opulent hedges toward an expansive conservatory fit for royalty. Cameron may have made me feel like a princess when he asked me to twirl, but I’m definitely underdressed for a place like this.

“Is this yours?” I stammer as he retrieves a wrought-iron key from his pocket. There’s no denying that Cameron is extra wealthy. But the idea of him casually owning an estate-sized garden is beyond my understanding.

“No.” He unlocks the gate and holds it open for me. “I’ve never been here before. My very-well-connected brother recommended it.”

“You’re going to need to give me a full family debrief.” I laugh.

We step inside, and my mouth falls open. Despite the dreary sky, the garden is vibrant and alive. The breeze makes the greenery dance, and the air is thick with sweet perfume. In the distance, an archway is illuminated by twinkling fairy lights, casting a magical glow over everything. This is Narnia-level transportation to a different world.

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