Page 26 of Off Her Game
“Stick it in your pocket or something. Keep it with you all the time. If they frisk you they shouldn’t care about it. It won’t get picked up on a metal detector.”
She shoved it in her pocket and trekked to the front door. Once there, she glanced up. Mistake. The desire to dishevel him further and feel his lips on hers once more burned her from the inside out. A litany of excuses and justifications for why she had to go almost burst free.
“My driver is downstairs waiting at the front for you. Seems like as a date I should go with you to take you home, but you’re right, we need to back away from what happened here.”
Having a driver take her home sounded luxurious and way, way, way out of her comfort zone. “I can get home on my own. This is the safest part of the city.”
“If you’re not taking my car, then I’m going with you to make sure you make it home safe.” His face got tough.
“Fine. I’ll take the car.” She hugged her arms around her body.
He opened a closet and handed her a fleece jacket. “Take it. I don’t know if it’s getting cold outside or whatever. You can give it to me next time.” Before she stepped out the door he said, “I’m sorry the date sucked. Be careful tonight.”
She turned and glanced up. Oh dear. The concern in his gaze tempted her to lean into him and accept the comfort he offered.
He put his hand on her shoulder and lightly squeezed. “You’ll be okay, right? You can do this?”
“Oh my God. Stop it.”
He pulled his hand away. “What?”
“Being so freaking nice. It’s killing me. I can’t handle it.”No one’s ever this kind to me.
“Just promise me you’ll be okay.” He gripped his hands together.
“I can’t make that promise. There aren’t any guarantees with this.” She gazed at the elevator, reluctant to leave. “I gotta go. I’ll see you later.” Because this was a pseudo-date she threw over her shoulder, “Text me or something.”
In the elevator, her phone dinged with a message from Anonymous. Aside the surprise she got good reception in an elevator, the text contained an image of her in an elevator. No, couldn’t bethiselevator. She enlarged the picture and recognized the gold rings on the carpet. Goosebumps raised on her arms.
The elevator lurched. The lights flickered off and then back on.
Coincidence. Right?
Could she reach the panel in the ceiling to get out, if needed? No. Too high.
With a finger extended to press the red emergency button a new text came in from Anonymous:I see you.
She glanced around. Then up at the camera.
Anonymous:Fun date? Sure hate for something to happen to you ’cause you can’t keep secrets.
Had to be Symphis or one of his lackeys.
The elevator continued its downward journey. Heart hammering the inside of her ribs, Tori jabbed the button for the next floor and kept jabbing until the elevator doors opened. She jumped out, threw a hand against the wall, and slumped to her knees. Oh, crap, she was in a lot of trouble.
Noah stared at the closed elevator doors for several long moments, barely breathing and not moving. He worried about her safety at this time of the night and where she was going. He considered chasing after her, but the two of them alone in the back of a car would end in him kissing her. Again.
Letting her leave had to happen. He hadn’t wanted it. He’d wanted her to stay, not for sex, although their combustible chemistry would’ve made it inevitable had she remained, but to be safe from everything about the Stadium. If anything happened to her, he’d be devastated.
Tori…hell. Everything about her was new. Although the small taste he’d gotten with her might’ve shattered all expectations, it was a dead-end street.
He hadn’t gotten her up here with any sort of long-term hopes. He might’ve had a few plans for right now…a lot of right now. And, maybe a few plans for a bit more.
He wished things were different. That he could have real time with her, not fake dates. Time to explore her curves and tattoos. Time to see the game she’d programmed and play the rest ofZoneworld Warrioragainst her.He wanted to see her expression when she reached the accolade. That was far more plans than he should’ve made for someone he wasn’t actually dating. Someone he was using.
Damn it. She was a means to an end.
He released a frustrated snort. He both liked and hated the complication of actually liking Tori.
