Page 14 of The Finder

He eyed her a moment. Emma looked away; she felt like he saw too much. “Do you not like it?” he asked. “I can get you a different one, or you can pick out one with the money I gave you,” he said turning angry as he said the last few words.

“No, no, it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever owned.” Emma suddenly stopped talking.Stupid mouth,she chided herself. It was silent for a beat, and Emma looked anywhere but at him. When he didn’t say anything, Emma took a chance to look up at him. Immediately she knew that was a mistake. She hadn’t really looked at him without the suit jacket on. She took in the dark gray button-down shirt that coated his muscular chest and felt like she couldn’t breathe. He was so strong and powerful. She looked down, away from his intense eyes before he could read her thoughts. She pulled his jacket around her and wondered how in the world she was going to get out of this mess.

“Come on,” he finally said. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

He motioned her to start walking, and she, being the idiot that she was, started doing just that. She walked to the end of the sidewalk and stopped. She turned to Garrett. “Um, the thing is...you see I don’t actually...have a car,” she managed to squeak out. She dared a peek up at his face. He didn’t say anything. His face revealed nothing. “Sooo,” Emma let the word drag out because she had no idea what to do next.

“How do you get back and forth to work each day?” Garrett asked in a low voice.

“I walk,” Emma said brightly.

Garrett’s eyes darkened, his face set in a scowl. “What time do you have to be at work each morning?” he asked in a steady voice. Emma glanced up at him and looked away. He didn’t look very happy.

“Um, it’s a little different every day. Sometimes I get there a little later than other days. Tomorrow’s going to be a different time altogether,” Emma rambled.

“What time?” he asked slowly and distinctly.

“Five,” Emma said quickly.

“You leave your house at five?” he asked incredulously. “In the dark?” he was louder this time.

“Uh, sort of, well not exactly,” Emma bumbled around.

“I’m not in the mood for your games!” he thundered at her.

“Four thirty. I leave every day at four thirty. Well, technically, starting tomorrow I have to be at the shop at four thirty. So I’m guessing I’ll leave around four. I’m not sure if that will be every day or not. We’re trying...” Emma stopped talking when she saw the look on his face.

Garrett pulled out his phone and put it up to his ear, never once taking his eyes off her. “You’re taking Emma home, now.” He ended the call, turned away from her, and began walking. It took Emma a moment before she realized she was supposed to follow. She ran to catch up to him. They walked towards the parking lot and stopped. A moment later, a black Land Rover rolled to a stop. The driver’s door opened and Liam popped out.

“Cat girl,” he said with an easy smile.

Emma was too lost to return his smile. She glanced up at Garrett, but his face was like a stone. She couldn’t get anything from him. Without a word, he turned and strode away. Emma couldn’t help but think she had really messed up. How? She wasn’t really sure, but she knew he was really angry with her. She watched him for just a moment and was surprised when the guy that was always with him joined him. She had no idea where the guy had come from. It was like he just appeared.

“Come on,” Liam said gently, like he was talking to a scared cat. “Let’s get you in the car and get you home.” He herded her towards the back door. Emma slid in without really thinking about it. She was trying to figure out how in the world she was going to get herself out of this mess. “Where to?” Liam asked when he climbed behind the wheel.

Emma was tempted to lie to him and just have him drop her off at a house that she passed on her walk each day, but with her luck, they would show up looking for her there and she would get arrested or something. “Just go straight for a while,” Emma finally told him.

The first few minutes were silent. Emma had no idea what to say. She finally got her wits about her. “Why am I in the backseat?” she asked, curious.

“Because I like living,” Liam said with a chuckle.

That made absolutely no sense to Emma, but she let it go. It was quiet again for a moment or two before Liam talked. “You comfortable back there?”

“Yes,” Emma said quietly.

“He’s not angry with you,” Liam said after that. Emma looked up and caught his eye in the rear-view mirror before he looked at the road again. Emma didn’t say anything, and Liam didn’t offer anything more.

Her heart rate picked up the closer they got to Hope House. “This is my block,” Emma said and was surprised when her voice came out clear.

“Okay,” Liam said. “Which house?” he asked.

Panic hit Emma. She tried to come up with any other idea but finally slumped back in her seat. There was no getting out of this. “Hope House,” she said quietly, not looking forward. She didn’t want to see the look on his face.

It was absolutely silent in the car. A few moments later, Liam put the car in park in front of Hope House. He didn’t say anything. Emma peeked a glance at him. He was staring straight ahead.Time to get out of here,Emma thought.

“Thank you so much for bringing me here,” she said, once again surprised her voice was working. “I don’t guess there’s any way to keep this just between us?” she asked hopefully.

Liam didn’t say anything. Finally, he opened his door and climbed out. He opened Emma’s door for her. She climbed out, and he shut the door behind her. She didn’t know what to do, so she walked towards the front door. He walked around to the passenger side and leaned against the vehicle.

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