Page 224 of Midnights
“You should really keep your door locked if you’re in here alone.”
The words hit me like a challenge, stirring a flutter of something between nerves and defiance. I look up at him with a sarcastic retort already on my lips,but the way he’s looking at me stops me cold. His gaze sweeps over me with an intensity that makes my cheeks burn and my pulse race.
I shift under the weight of his attention, folding my arms across my chest in a defiant attempt to hold my ground. “What?” I challenge, tilting my head as if his staring is unwarranted, like my heart isn’t trying to climb out of my chest.
“You look stunning.” His words curl through the air and I watch the corner of his mouth lift into that confident smile, and all I want to do is punch him. I honestly don’t know where I stand with him right now. I’m still annoyed, but I know I have no leg to stand on.
I scoff, forcing a smile of my own, even though the warmth in his voice is unraveling my defenses faster than I’d like. “Thanks.”
For a second, his control slips and I catch the heat that flashes across his face. “Remind me to do that more often.”
“Do what?” I narrow my eyes, letting my curiosity get the best of me. “State the obvious?”
“No,” he smirks, taking a step closer. I can feel his presence pressing in around me. “Make you smile.”
The air between us gets warmer and that somehow feels more dangerous. It’s like standing on the edge of something I don’t fully understand, and I can’t decide if I want to step back or dive in headfirst.
“Don’t get used to it.” I’m trying to hold onto my anger toward him, but he’s making that impossible.
“Too late. Let's go, Princess.”
I roll my eyes even as a reluctant smile tugs at my lips. “Bossy as ever, I see.”
He holds the car door open for me, not even hiding his stare, and it sends another jolt of heat through me.Ugh.
Once we’re on the road, he looks over and smiles. “I have a confession.”
I arch an eyebrow, leaning back against the seat. “Should I be worried?”
He shakes his head, but the look in his eyes gives nothing away. “Cam isn’t coming.”
I blink, going into full panic mode. “Why not?”
“He’s following up on a lead. Once he’s locked onto something, there’s no pulling him away.” His explanation makes sense, but disappointment flares before I can shove it aside. Now what am I going to do?
“So… what’s the plan, then?”
Kane’s lips curve into a smile as he shifts his focus back to the road. “I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” I repeat, skepticism heavy in my tone. “Now, I’m worried.”
“Don’t be. Unless you’re afraid you’ll like it too much.”
I snort, shooting him a look out of the corner of my eye while I try to keep my nerves in check. “Please, you’ll have to try harder than that.”
“Is that a challenge?” He looks over at me, and his eyes burn with something dark.
I match his stare, but my insides are mush. “You’d know if it was.”
The tension between us hums, charged and alive, and for a minute I wonder if we’re about to drive off a cliff just to see who flinches first.
But luckily, the longer we drive, the tension eases into something a little more comfortable. He asks about what Rachel and I have been up to, and before I know it, I’m telling him all about our little adventures, the quirky people we've met, and the breathtaking places we got to explore.
He listens intently, occasionally throwing in a question or comment. I don't know how to feel about the way he seems so genuinely interested.
It’s nice talking about something other than the chaos that’s been hanging over me lately. For a while, I even let myself forget about the unanswered questions, the strange events, and the ever-present weight of uncertainty.
Kane mentions a few spots I haven’t seen yet, and I make a mental note to add them to my list for the week. The longer we drive, the more my curiosity nags at me. The questions sit on the tip of my tongue, but I bite them back, letting the anticipation simmer instead.
