Page 46 of Made For You
“Thanks,” I mumbled as I slid into the low bucket seat, admiring the stitching and leather as I settled in.
I was already a nervous wreck by the time Talon pulled out of the driveway. The car was loud, almost annoyingly so, and my neighbors made their existence known as they loitered in their yards to check out the vehicle. I sank low in my seat, even though I knew they couldn’t see inside. Talon glanced over at me once and winked before he revved the engine and darted down the street. The car rumbled as we came to a stop, and I caught myself smiling.
We sat at the stop sign for a minute, and I wondered why we were waiting, until Talon asked, “Directions?”
“Oh! Sorry. Take a right. I can plug it into the GPS if you’d like, but it’s a pretty straight shot once we get onto the main road.”
“I’ll follow your lead,” he replied, and I clamped my legs together. I had a sinking suspicion he wasn’t just referring to the directions to my childhood home. There was something sexual in the way he said it.
“Take another right, then straight for about twenty minutes. There will be a sloped ninety-degree turn halfway, so be ready for that.”
“I’ll be fine.”
In the car, there was no music, no talking… just the sweet purr of the engine as we zipped down the road. Talon drove the car flawlessly, but I supposed when you had endless amounts of money, you had access to driving luxurious, exotic cars whenever you wanted.
The fields on either side of the road were tall, with wheat and grass rippling in the breeze. I tied my hair back so I could ride with the window down without creating a knotted mess ofmy locks. Leaning my head back against the headrest, I took it all in. It was rare that I was ever driven around so that I could enjoy my surroundings. Ashfield was beautiful, and I often forgot how much so. It was an idealistic place to grow up, and usually it took me visiting a big city to see that. As much as my sisters wanted to spread their wings and leave the small town, they both found their way back here.
Thinking about my sisters left me wondering what their reaction would be when they met Talon. I hadn’t even said anything to Franny, and she was my best friend. It was going to be a shock when she carpooled with me to school tomorrow.
The reaction I was most worried about was Andrew’s. He was overly protective of me, and for good reason. He was there to help pick up my mess when it all blew up in my face.
Suddenly, I felt a hand land on top of my own, halting their twisting motion.
“You okay?” Talon asked, and I nodded.
“Just nervous.”
“Why? They still pining for your ex?”
I was surprised he remembered that part of our deal. Since our kiss after the wedding vows, I hadn’t thought about Jeremy for a second.
“No.”
“Then what is it?” He moved his hand back to the steering wheel, and I immediately missed its warmth.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
Smoothly, Talon maneuvered the car off to the side of the road. Well, as far as it could go. There wasn’t much of a shoulder on these winding paths.
“What are you doing?” I asked frantically as I checked all the mirrors to make sure there was no one coming up behind us. “Talon, someone could hit the car.”
“I don’t care,” he explained as he slipped off his seatbelt and turned to face me. “We’re going to sit here until you talk to me. I can tell something is up.”
“We’re going to be late, and you don’t want to be late for my family dinner.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck about being late. I give a fuck about what’s bothering you. You were over there, nearly pulling your nails away from your skin. So, we’re going to sit here until you get everything off your chest.”
“Talon…,” I warned, but he lifted his arm to rest on top of the steering wheel and continued to stare at me. “Ugh. Do you always get what you want?”
“Mostly.”
I contemplated lying to him, or giving the barest of details, but I had a feeling Talon didn’t get to where he was in life by believing someone’s bullshit.
“Fine. I’m just nervous, okay? I can’t just introduce you as a boyfriend. You’re living at my freaking house, for God’s sake.”
“I’m not your boyfriend.”
“I know. We’re married, and my parents are going to flip when I tell them.”
