Page 55 of Prince of Tides
“Are you sure this is safe?” I asked. “It’s horrible out here.”
“We’ll be fine. I can’t explain it, but you just have to trust me.”
“Okay.” How else could I respond?
Eb, who was driving the car, spluttered and protested as I got in. “Sir!” he said.
“Not now, Eb,” Rip said. “Go.”
The SUV turned, and Eb accelerated at what felt likefartoo fast a pace. Yet I noticed never once did the tires slip or fail for traction. We were glued to the road, even on the corners, as if there were no snow.
“Good tires,” I observed.
Rip chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’ll explain … I don’t know.” He frowned. “I don’t know how to do this best.”
“Dowhatbest?” I asked, shifting uncomfortably in the seat next to him.
“Explain.”
I stared at him. Again, he was discomforted. Which wasn’t like Rip at all. He was so sure of things, so confident in everything. What had him on edge all of a sudden?
Was he about to tell me something bad?
“Please tell me you aren’t a mafia boss,” I said, coming to a sudden conclusion about why he might have to sneak away in the middle of the night.
“What?” He laughed, setting me at ease. “No. Nothing like that. It’s not bad news, Laurie. Just … unbelievable, I guess.”
“You already tried to convince me you’re a prince,” I pointed out.
“I am,” he said.
“Ofwhat?” I challenged.
“Sir,” Eb said warningly.
Rip waved him off and locked eyes with me.
“Dragons,” he said levelly, his gaze never straying from mine.
I snorted incredulously. “Dragons. Right. That’simpossible. Nice try. This isn’t HBO.”
“Everything is impossible, Laurie,” he said in a grave voice, still never looking away. “Until it isn’t.”
“You expect me to believe you’re a prince of dragons? How on Earth?” I said, looking at him. “Come on, tell me the truth.”
“I am,” he said softly.
I sank back into my seat as I watched his face, slowly regretting my decision to get in the vehicle with him. The seriousness of his tone, the expression on his face … There wasn’t atwitchof his lips as if he were hiding a joke. To Rip, it was real.
And that was the problem as far as I could see it. He believed what he was saying. For that matter, Eb seemed to be under the same delusion as well. Or maybe Rip just paid him enough to disregard it.
Great, the father of my child is crazy.
I would have to raise this child on my own, wasn’t I? My child might not have a father.
