Page 25 of King of Pain

Kate

Luke looksgood in this truck.

I mean, really good. What is it about a little retro, a little dinge that just suits him?

The sunglasses rest on his nose as he leans back in the seat, driving with one hand, the good one.

I’d offer to drive but he doesn’t look uncomfortable at all. “How’s your arm?” I yell over the wind blowing through the truck.

It’s got to be pushing a hundred degrees out there so we can’t close the windows. “Fine, love,” he grins over at me, that one-sided sexy-as-hell, bad-boy grin that sends my stomach fluttering.

I know the arm can’t be fine, but you’d never know it looking at him. How do guys do that? How does he do it?

My fingers itch to undo the lap belt and slide over the bench seat. I’d press against his arm, and he’d kiss me. I let out a sigh.

It’s a dumb idea. I’ve seen my mom date a million bad boys. It always ends the same.

He gets bored, or meets someone better, and I’m left broken. He never would have even looked my way if we hadn’t been forced together.

I’m sure the adventure of running is fueling whatever is between us.

Placing my hands in my lap, I squeeze them together, trying to keep my eyes to myself, but they keep drifting to him.

“Shorty, if you keep looking at me like that, I’m gonna pull this truck over and fuck you on the side of the road.”

He has this way of making me blush and I do now. Because that sounds hot. “Luke.” I can’t even tell if I’m chastising or encouraging him.

His eyes scan down my body, and I can see him considering. “I’m going to keep driving, love. I want to put as much distance as possible between us and them.”

“You think they’ll follow?” He grimaces in a way that makes my stomach churn in the worst way. “What’s wrong?”

“They did follow. I saw Gorilla in the Walmart parking lot.”

“Shit!” I cry, gripping his arm. “How?”

“GPS on the Fit. I knew it was a possibility.”

I stare at him. “That’s why you parked it away from the motel last night.”

He nods.

Like I need any more evidence that Luke is trouble. I always secretly knew I liked trouble. Hence my lack of dating experience.

I let out a long rush of air. “Well, this truck probably isn’t equipped with GPS.”

“Nope. And I bought it fair and square.”

I pull my chin back in disbelief. “You’re not serious.”

“I am, you should have seen me work that one.” He reaches over and settles a hand on my upper thigh, his fingers dipping between my legs.

I stiffen away and he feels it,he looks over. “Want to tell me more about yourself?”

“Nope,” I shake my head. We should not be getting to know each other.

“Should I tell you more about me?”

“Definitely not.”

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