Page 141 of Midnights
He spares me a glance before turning back to the road. “Nice try, I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know. I'm sure your job is plenty exciting for you.”
“Quick version, I'm in marketing,” I shrug. “I actually love what I do, and I’d say I’m pretty good at it.” I pause, trying to sum it up without diving into the boring details.
“The gist of today’s meeting was that we’re interviewing Mike for a partnership of sorts. He works in public relations and came under the impressionhewas interviewingme, which is exactly what my boss wanted him to believe.”
Kane raises an eyebrow. “So you’re playing it cool while he thinks he’s calling the shots.Smart move, Princess.”
For a second, I don’t know what to say.
Most people, hell, most guys, don’t get it. They either assume my job is easy, dismissing it like it’s a hobby, or give me that patronizing nod and say something likeoh, marketing. That sounds fun!Kane seems like he actually understands, and he’s actually interested.
He doesn’t seem to notice my momentary brain malfunctionand keeps asking questions, ones that actually make me want to talk about it. It’s rare for someone to have genuine interest.
And, of course, that’s doing things to my heart. Unexpected, inconvenient things.
Chapter 23
Question…?
Kane
Am I asking her questions I already know the answers to? Yeah. But I want to hear it from her.
The more she talks, the more I realize it’s not just about confirming what I already know. It’s the way she lights up when she talks about things, even when she tries to play it off like it’s nothing. She feels everything deeply, that much is clear. Even when she doesn't want to.
And fuck if I don’t want to keep pulling more of that out of her.
The second I saw her text, everything else became irrelevant. I may or may not have broken a few speed limits getting here. Good thing I know the cops. But for those few minutes, when I didn’t know what the hell was happening, something in my gut twisted tight.
I don’t know what I expected when I pulled up, but seeing her standing there, safe, was enough to pull me back from the edge.
This should’ve been the perfect moment to tell her, since I had her all to myself. Timing’s everything, or so they say. But whenisthe right time? Because the longer I wait, the more this game we’re playing twists into something else.
She keeps looking at me and licking her lips. What am I supposed to do with that?
Fucking hell.
I grip the steering wheel tighter, keeping my gaze locked on the road, because if I look at her right now, I’ll forget every reason I have not to touch her.
Before I can gather my thoughts, she suddenly gasps. “Ilovethis song!”
She leans over, cranking up the volume. Before I know it, she’s singing, seatbelt be damned, completely lost in the moment.
My grip on the wheel tightens because it’s either that or pulling over and doing something Iabsolutelyshouldn’t.
She has no idea I’m sitting here, gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles go white, trying not to let the low hum of her voice and the way she moves make me lose what little restraint I have left. Is this girl for real?
Her laughter breaks through the moment as the song ends and I drag in a slow breath, forcing my focus back on the road.
The conversation drifts, but I'm not listening to her words—I'm watching her. The way she scrunches her nose when she’s thinking, how her hands cut through the air when she's excited, and the spark in her eyes when she forgets to cage herself. Every slip, every tell…I don't miss a damn thing.
She has no idea how easy she is to read.
I shift in my seat, adjusting against thevery realproblem I’m having. Thankfuckshe’s still looking out the window. If she knew, she’d never let me hear the end of it.
By the time we pull up to her place, I’m somehow both relaxed and more wound up than I’ve been in years.
I take a slow breath, forcing myself to pull it together before turning to her. “Have a great day, kid,” I flash her a grin, hoping the reminder of how young she is will calm me the fuck down.
