Page 126 of Only With You

I think he snickers. “You’re not ditzy. A hot pain in the arse, but not ditzy.”

I roll my eyes but smile. “So, you’re saying I have a chance at making it?”

“You’d probably be the one who’s behind it all,” he says in all seriousness.

I scoff, leaning my head against the window. “Behind it all? You really think me, sweet, innocent Julianna, would be capable of doing such a thing?”

“Yes,” he immediately replies. “I’d probably be the first one dead.”

“You know what, that sounds about right.” I laugh and shudder as it starts to get cold again. This is the price I pay for wanting to look good. “I guess I should let you go. I’ll see you when you get here.”

“Why are you hanging up?” he questions, sounding sincerely puzzled.

I shrug even though he can’t see me. “So you can focus on the road, since you’re driving and looking at your GPS.”

“I’m focused. Keep talking to me.”

My smile grows. “Is it because you love the sound of my voice?” I joke and rub my hands together to warm them up.

Mental note: always carry a jacket.

“It’s mesmerising…the sound of your voice.”

I stop rubbing my hands. “What colors do you see?”

“That’s for me to know and for you to never find out.”

I groan, throwing my head back. “You’re a pain in my ass, do you know that? Just wait until you get here.”

“Oh, what do you have planned?” he questions arrogantly.

“Your death,” I flatly mutter.

“I’m intrigued. How do you plan to do that?” he asks, and I go into excruciating detail on how I’d mutilate his body.

He hums pensively just as bright light comes up behind me. “That’s dark, Love, even for you.”

Love.

If it weren’t because I was nervous about who could be behind me, I’d relish how euphoric his deep accent sounds at the single word.

“Someone’s here,” I anxiously say, slumping down in my seat, because there’s no way Landon’s already here. We’ve only been on the phone for twelve minutes. It’d take him twenty-two minutes to arrive.

“It’s me.”

I sit up, looking over my shoulder. I sigh a breath of relief as I watch him climb out of his car and approach me.

“That was fast,” I say and unbuckle my seat belt.

He stands by the driver door, the phone still pressed to his ear, staring down at me. “I know.”

Hanging up, I open my door and step out. He brazenly checks me out, and when I lift a brow, he shrugs unapologetically.

“You really didn’t have to leave, but thanks for coming.”

I smile up at him and wrap my arms around myself as a frigid gust of wind breezes past us.

“Don’t thank me. I’ll always come.” Promise held in his voice. “Here.” He reaches behind his head and pulls off his hoodie, causing his shirt to rise. I should look away, except I don’t and gawk at the sliver of skin. It’s quick, but I catch a glimpse of his sculpted abdomen, and a strip of hair beneath his belly button that trails into the waistband of his jeans.