Page 21 of Destined To Fall

“Oh, come on. It’s an Aston Martin,” he pleads with a pout.

“It’s just a car.” I know very well it’s notjusta car. I picked it on purpose, and it truly drives like a dream.“Now, you can pout inside the sex-on-wheels or on the sidewalk. What’ll it be?”

This time,he rolls his eyes before we both get in.

“So, where to?” I ask as the car purrs to life, but when he doesn’t respond, I look at him expectantly.

“Oh, right. If you get on the ninety-three—”

“Isn’t that an extra five miles or something?”

“Yeah, I guess it is.” He shrugs, if not a little sheepish.Interesting.

“Okay, so route one it is. Plus, the bend on the Tobin Bridge will be fun.”

“Yeah, I bet. Killjoy.”

“That’s one thing I’ve never been accused of.” I grin, thinking back to when I accused Antony of the same thing.

“There’s a first time for everything.” I can hear the smile in his tone.“Like getting you out on a date.”

“Surely if this was a date, you’d be picking me up, not vice versa. You’re emasculating yourself there,” I tease.“I’m so the one wearing the pants in this faux relationship.”

“No way,” he protests with a laugh.“Though I have to admit, I’m kind of grateful for the pants.”

“What?” I frown, chancing a glance at him and seeing a slight blush to his cheeks.“Oh, this should be good,” I mutter.“Out with it.”

The blush deepens as he shakes his head.“I should have known you wouldn’t let that slide.”

“I never let anythingslip.”Pun intended.“Out with it.”

“Okay. The whole driving thing you’ve got going on,”—he gestures to me as I shift gears—”would make for alongride if you were wearing a short skirt, too.”

I grin, clearing the Tobin Bridge, and I look at Jeremy as I shift into third, the car smoothly accelerating in seconds.“You like how I handle a stick?” I purr, not breaking eye contact, and I relish the way his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows before responding, his eyes darkening to burning sapphires.

“If I say yes, will you watch the road?”

My lips curve up as his eyes flicker to the road and then back to me.

“You’refreakingme out a little.”

I quirk a brow, moving into fourth.

“Okay, I give. You’re hot as hell, even without the skirt.” It comes out rushed, tense, and…a little husky?

“And you were calling me a killjoy.” I laugh, turning my eyes back to the road, shifting again.“Next you’ll be telling me I drive too fast.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” His chuckle comes out forced and strained, so I cut him some slack and ease off the gas.

“Better?”

“I’d feel better if I was driving.” I shake my head at him as a wolfish grin breaks out on his devilish face, his eyes sparkling with mischief, and I realize the player just got played.

“You were faking this whole time?”Nooo.“And here I thought only women did that. No way am I letting you drive now, spoilsport. I was enjoying freaking you out, and you had to go and ruin it.” This time his laugh is real, deep and rich, making me all too aware of the confined space we share.“Bastard. I should have changed lanes on you. Then you wouldn’t be laughing.”

“I don’t know any woman, or man for that matter, who’d be brave enough to do what you did, let alone pull it off. So I’ll hazard a guess you can drive. You might be crazy, but I doubt you’d be stupid enough to try it on a whim.”

“Point.” I smile.

---