Page 204 of The Christmas Wife

"Pleasure, sir. Madam." He tips his head and melts back into the darkness.

Our security detail walks ahead, and I lead her to the door. By the time we step out of the restaurant, my Aston Martin is waiting for us. I open the door, and she slides in. I round the car, slip into the driver’s seat, then ease the car forward.

We drive in silence for a few seconds, then I jerk my chin in the direction of the glove compartment. "Open it."

She glances at the built-in door in the dash, then back at me with a frown. "I’d rather not."

"I promise, it’s not what you think," I coax.

The groove between her eyebrows furrows. "You have no idea what I’m thinking right now."

"You’re thinking how much you’d like to slap me, then kiss me." I smirk.

Her jaw drops, then she laughs. "So damn cocky."

"With good reason."

"Not going there now," she warns.

"Go on, open the door and look inside, Alice."

She shoots me a glance from under those thick eyelashes, "Only because you referred to Alice in Wonderland."

"Do you knowThe Matrixwas inspired by it?"

She blinks. "Was it?"

"Nah." I grin.

She scowls, then chuckles again. "You can be charming, if a little cringe-worthy, I’ll give you that."

"And you want to open that door." I nod in the direction of the glove compartment again, "Go on, do it."

"Hmph." She leans over and presses the button on the panel, and it slides down. There in the middle of the space is a colorful rectangular packet. She reaches for it and draws it out, then holds it out to me.

"Haribo?" she asks in a dazed voice.

"They’re your favorite," I say simply.

"You bought me Haribo gummy bears?" Her voice has a breathless quality to it now.

"Open it," I urge.

She tears open the small packet and pours out a few in the palm of her hand. "They are all the same color."

"Gold."

I say at the same time as her.

"They’re your favorite," I add.

"You never get Haribo bears all in one color in one packet."

"I do."

She looks up at me, then back at the packet. "Not sure what to make of this." Her voice now has a touch of panic to it.

"It’s only candy, Zara; don’t read anything into the gesture."

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