Page 36 of Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them
It would be best to have everyone organized and ready to go by the time he got here. Ian stood again and clapped his hands lightly. “All right, before the vans get here, who’s going where? Let’s divide people up so we’re efficient about getting home.”
People gladly cooperated, listing off where they needed to go to and how far away it was. He organized them into two groups, one of them going into the suburbs and stopping there, the others going farther into the city.
It seemed like no real time had passed before Ian spied a familiar white sports car pulling in ahead of the bus. André. He must have sped most of the way to get here so quickly.
Grandmother lightly smacked Ian’s arm. “Is that him? Oh, it is!”
André stepped out of the car, dressed in a black trench coat to ward off the drizzling rain, still in a tux and with his light brown hair styled in a rakish way. Like this, he looked rather the part of a dashing prince coming to the rescue.
At the sight of him, Ian’s heart skipped a beat.
Calm down, heart, don’t get so excited just at the sight of the devilishly handsome man. You’re embarrassing.
Ian moved to meet him, traveling quickly down the narrow aisle of the bus, and rendezvoused with André right near the door. André’s expression was one of deep concern, and he cradled Ian’s face in his hands, blue eyes sweeping over him.
“You’re not hurt, right?”
“No, I’m fine,” Ian assured him. “We’re all fine. The driver kept the bus under control, all things considered.”
André sighed in relief. “Good. I’ve got two passenger vans right behind me. We’ll get everyone home. You too, sir.”
The driver ducked his head in thanks, although he looked a bit bemused to have this tux-wearing young man showing up. “Thanks. I didn’t look forward to the walk home.”
“You won’t need to.”
The driver mouthed to Ian,Who…?
Grandmother moved ahead, too, all smiles. “You’re Ian’s André. It’s so nice to meet you! Thanks for coming to the rescue. Look at you, handsome as a prince and acting like one. You’re as kind as Ian described you.”
André pointed a finger at himself in question, but he liked the way she referred to him, no doubt about it. He was all smiles. “You’re making me blush, ma’am. Oh, there’s the vans. All right, how to organize you all?”
“I’ve got everyone organized,” Ian assured him. “The first group will go directly to the suburbs along this road. The other group travels beyond that and will make three stops.”
André shook his head in amusement. “Of course, you have everyone organized before I can even get here. Why am I not surprised? Let’s get people loaded up and going. No one wants to be here all night.”
People were motivated to get home, so they were quick to offload and get into the vans. Ian helped the expectant mother down from the bus, not wanting her to slip, and she accepted the help gracefully, only to lean in to whisper in his ear.
“He’s darling, your André. You’re smart to keep him. Good luck!”
Ian ducked his head as he smiled. “Thanks. Get home safely.”
“I’d say you as well, but I know André will make sure you do. Good night, Ian, and thanks so much for the help. Thank you, André!”
André, near the first van, gave her a wave.
All right; people who hadn’t been picked up were settled in the vans, with just Ian and André left now. The rain had let up a little while they loaded people in, but it started to come down harder now. Ian hurried for the car, as did André, and they were quick to get in and shut the doors. Not a moment too soon, either, as the heavens opened.
“Safe!” André declared with satisfaction, gesturing with his arms like an umpire.
In the privacy of the car, Ian could take a moment and talk to him. “No one was upset with you that I pulled you out of the party, were they?”
André waved his concern away. “Honestly, I was kinda bored. I was happy to have the excuse to escape, and my parents were only concerned about you. Dad handled the logistics of sending people with the vans. All I had to do was supply the address.”
Well, that was reassuring. “Good. I didn’t want to get you in trouble.”
“You didn’t. Now, where to? Your dorm?”
Ian of yesterday would have said yes. But he knew that wasn’t what André wanted to hear. He wanted to spend time with Ian. It was about time to give André more of what he wanted. “Well, you can, but…I can’t sleep over at your house?”
