Page 16 of A Matter of Time
Richard’s gaze went heavenward as he thanked his lucky stars for this turn of events.
“That was quite stealthy of you, Angelina. I had no idea you were there.” Nick turned off the lights and exiting the building behind Richard and Angelina, locked the door. As they approached the truck, he waved Richard into the front passenger seat. “You sit up front, Richard. I’d like to stretch my legs in the back.”
Richard nodded and strode quickly to the driver’s side to open the door for Angelina, who smiled in surprise at his gesture. “M’lady,” he announced, with a flourish of his arm.
“Wow! I’m getting the royal treatment here.” She got in the car and Richard closed the door behind her, before getting in on the other side.
“Seatbelt,” Angelina said.
Richard glanced back at Nick for guidance. Nick grinned and popped his head between the two seats, snaking his arm around to pull on the seatbelt beside Richard’s shoulder, bringing it across his body and inserting it with a click. “Yes. Put that seatbelt on. We don’t want to get a ticket now, do we?” He winked at Richard and turning to Angelina said, “He’s such a scofflaw, this one.” Chuckling he sat back and put his own seatbelt on.
Richard admired his friend’s ability to deflect attention from his ignorance of all things twenty first century. Angelina seemed none the wiser. He surreptitiously took in the interior of the truck and was quite impressed with how luxurious it was in comparison to the much smaller vehicle Angelina seemed to prefer.
“Isn’t this more comfy,” she asked, as she pulled out of the parking lot and headed into the heart of the city. “Looks like it’s starting to rain again.” She touched something near the steering wheel and another modern miracle began to clear the water from the windshield. Fascinated though he was, Richard kept his thoughts to himself. The large raindrops began to fall with increasing speed until they pelted the truck in a constant splattering rhythm. Angelina was complaining about the fact that people didn’t know how to drive in the rain and Nick was agreeing with her. Richard kept silent, having nothing to add to the conversation. Instead, he gazed out the window at the passing sights. It was dark now, but the streetlights lit their surroundings just enough for him to see. The stop and go of the vehicles around them interrupted their progress, but that was fine with Richard. He was enjoying the opportunity to sit beside this woman, who was an enigma to him. She was a rare beauty, delicate and feminine. The smell of her perfume was driving him crazy with the desire to nuzzle her neck with his nose. Self-control was his greatest ally at this moment, the only thing stopping him from giving in to his needs. Despite her dainty demeanor, Angelina had proven she could wield a sword with the best of them, and he didn’t doubt she’d take a dim view of him touching her without her permission. In fact, she was better than their entire group, with the exception of himself and Nick of course.
“Angie,” Nick said and Richard raised an eyebrow. He’d never heard Nick call her that before and immediately decided he didn’t like the sound of it, preferring the use of her proper name.
“Nickie,” she retorted. Richard immediately had the impression this was some sort of game they played with each other.
“Why don’t you stay at the house tonight? I don’t like the idea of you driving in this weather.” Nick paused, waiting for her to respond.
“I don’t know,” she began doubtfully.
“I won’t hear otherwise,” Nick stated firmly. “Richard will sleep on the sofa, won’t you Richard?”
“Of course, it’s very comfortable.” Richard tried not to sound too eager at the prospect of Angelina staying with them overnight.
“You don’t mind?” Angelina was studying him with those beautiful blue eyes.
“No. I agree with Nick, this is not a good night for you to travel alone.” Richard swiftly glanced away from her mesmerizing stare, before he found himself forever trapped in those pools of loveliness.
“Okay, then, I’ll stay,” she agreed.
“This will be fun,” Nick said, smiling widely.
“It’ll be like a slumber party,” Angelina teased.
“A what?” Both men asked the question at once.
“Oh, never mind. I guess they must call it something different where you’re from.” She glanced at Richard and then quickly back at Nick before refocusing on the wet road ahead.
“Perhaps if ye explain it to us, then we’ll ken yer meaning.” Nick poked Richard in the shoulder from behind.
“Yes, do explain please,” Richard added.
“It’s something that girls do when they’re younger. They have sleepovers. Their friends all come with their sleeping bags and pajamas to stay the night. Then they watch movies, eat pizza, gossip and do each other’s hair and makeup.”
Richard saw Nick’s ears perk up at the mention of pizza and he had to admit the idea sounded good to him as well. “What are pajamas?” he asked.
“Pajamas? Sleeping attire.” She wrinkled her brow as she eyed him speculatively.
“Ah, yes. Sleeping attire. So how will thethreeof us go about having a slumber party? What will we do?” Richard could see he was making Angelina uncomfortable with his questions, but he had to admit that he was enjoying teasing her. He kept his face serious, knowing she’d be confused by his lack of reaction.
“I was just kidding. Of course we’re not going to have a slumber party,” she muttered. “We’re adults.” Angelina kept her eyes on the road, even as a deep chuckle erupted from Richard’s chest.
“You’re having fun at my expense,” Angelina said, peeking in his direction. “I’ll remember that.”
“I apologize. I couldn’t help myself.” Richard noticed that Nick was extremely silent in the back seat. Very unlike him. He always had something to say, about absolutely everything. Richard snuck a quick look in his direction and discovered Nick was obviously holding back his own laughter.
