Page 57 of The Kiss that Captured a Billionaire
At the next service station, she pulled over, put the van in park, and smiled sweetly. “Would you mind getting me a bottle of cold water? Oh, and you can pay for the gas while you’re at it—please.”
He gave her a look but got out. She started the pump, filled the tank, and as soon as the nozzle clicked, she hopped into the driver’s seat.
By the time Theo emerged from the store, water bottle in hand, she was already easing toward the road with the smug satisfaction of a woman making an exit. His look—half disbelief, half ‘did you just dump my ass?’—was worth every mile of him grinding his teeth and stomping an imaginary brake.
That’s how you teach an arrogant jerk a lesson for getting into your vehicle without asking.
The best part? The tiny thrill in her chest at the thought that he would absolutely come after her.
Her lips twitched. Then laughter burst out—hard, full-bodied, and bubbling—until she was giddy. The kind of laughter that made her forget, at least for a few minutes, why she’d been running at all.
If he hadn’t been hanging on to the seat so tightly, Theo was fairly certain he would’ve slid right onto the floor of that ridiculous van at least twice during the drive.
Now, he was standing in the middle of God-knows-where, holding two bottles of water and a cup of coffee that looked and smelled like it had been brewed over a wood-burning stove.
One sip of burnt bitterness and the whole cup went straight into the trash.
He was contemplating his next move when his phone buzzed. When he saw the caller ID, he chuckled.
“Nikos,” he greeted, lifting the phone to his ear. “Let me guess—you’re calling to ask if I need a lift?”
“How did you know?” came the amused reply—just as a familiar SUV rolled into the next lane and stopped at the gas pump.
Theo arched an eyebrow and walked over. He opened the passenger door as Nikos slid out.
“Be a friend and grab me a coffee while I fill up,” Nikos requested casually.
“No,” Theo replied flatly. “I’ve already done that once today and got left behind for my trouble. Besides, the coffee here is undrinkable.” He shut the door a little harder than necessary.
Nikos laughter rang out.If Nikos isn’t careful,he might just end up being the one stranded,Theo thought, before he leaned his head back against the headrest. Nikos leaned against the open window on the driver’s side, waiting for the pump to stop.
“How did you even know I needed rescuing?” Theo asked, buckling in.
Nikos chuckled again, looking far too pleased with himself. “Look in your coat pocket,” he said, nodding toward it. “I put an Air tag in it. I put one in Rose’s van, as well—just in case.”
Theo turned slowly, his lips twitching despite himself. “She’s going to kill you.”
“Probably. I figured it might be a good idea to tag along for a bit. You know, make sure everything was… cool… before I headed back to New York.” Nikos’s grin widened. “When I got an alertthat one air tag was moving and the other one wasn’t, I figured you were in trouble. It took longer than I expected.”
Theo snorted. “Trouble is a polite word for it.”
“So… what exactly did you do this time?” Nikos asked, smirking.
Theo chuckled under his breath. “I might have… mentioned something about her driving.”
There was a beat of silence—then Nikos burst out laughing, loud and unrestrained. “Oh, that explains it! You insulted a woman who just bought a psychedelic van. Of course she left you at a gas station!”
Theo laughed, deep and genuine, shaking off the last of his irritation. “She’s going to pay for that,” he said, his tone both fond and determined.
“Sure she is,” Nikos replied, still grinning. “Just as soon as you catch her—for what is this—oh yeah, the third time.”
Theo tore a candy bar in half and handed one piece over. “If we find a decent restaurant, stop. I’d kill for a proper cup of coffee.”
Nikos took the candy, still chuckling. “Coffee, huh? You might need something stronger by the time this is all over.”
Theo’s smile widened. “The only thing I need… is Rose.”
“So, is this what love feels like?” Nikos asked.
