Page 15 of Velvet and Valor
“I’m afraid I don’t follow,” she replies.
I struggle to concentrate on my reply, because now that I’ve got time to get a good look at her, she takes my breath away. Full, pouty lips, eyes that just exude chutzpah, and curves that won’t stop.
Her dark hair hangs in thick curls, partly obscuring the left side of her cheek. She casually sweeps it away, and my heart beats faster.
“I said, I’m afraid I don’t follow,” she repeats, a bit pointedly.
“Sorry.” I shake my head to clear it. “Your driver called the studio office, asking where you were at, and when no one could locate you, they grew concerned. Someone called Easton to see ifshe’d given you a ride home again. Easton of course had not, so she used her friend finder app to ping your location, and found you were on the move.”
“Thank god she didn’t assume I’d taken a taxi instead,” she mutters, turning a bit pale.
“She almost did, but you know Easton. She does like to double-check that all the I’s are dotted.”
“Yeah, that’s true, but how did you figure out I was in trouble?”
“When airport security rendered assistance, they found video footage of the woman you collided with at arrivals. A few minutes after you were forced into the limo, they identified known triad members picking her up. When they ran her ID, they realized she falsified her passport. It was all too coincidental and definitely spelled trouble.” Axel chuckles softly. “You were obviously under duress getting into the limo, so Jax’s friend on the force called up Platinum Security because it was going to take hours before they could spare a unit to look for you.”
“And you used that friend finder app to what, track me down on the highway?”
I grin and dig my phone out of my pocket to show her.
“As a matter of fact, I did! It’s actually really neat. I can see why so many people are worried about Big Brother but you did have to opt into the service willingly–”
She holds up a hand.
“I understand how the app works. I’m glad I let Easton convince me into putting it on my phone and joining her network.”
My gaze drops to the briefcase she is still clinging to.
“What’s in there?” I ask.
“My laptop, flash drives. Everything I’ve worked for over the last decade in production.” She stares at the suitcase like it’s made of gold.
I pull over onto a gravel road and put the car in park.
“You were just in a high-speed chase, after being kidnapped, and your foremost thought was to save your work?”
“I wouldn’t say kidnapped really. I got the sense that they picked up the wrong person.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, the vampire guy talked to me like we were working together, at least until he realized I had no idea what was going on. That’s when you showed up. I don’t want to know what would have happened to me if you didn’t.”
“Nothing good sweetness, nothing good.”
She sighs. “Classic case of mistaken identity. By the time I knew something wasn't right, it was too late. I guess my mind was on other matters.” She covers her face with her hands. “I’m such an idiot.”
“Eh, everybody can have a bad day now and again. I’ve done plenty of bone headed things myself.”
“You? Really? I never would have guessed.”
I stop and give her a look. She’s grinning, her eyes filled with mirth.
I laugh, and after a moment, she does, too.
She looks away for a moment, and I can’t help but think that she looks even more beautiful than she did while in danger and afraid.
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