Page 15 of Follow Me Down

“Me?” I snort. “No. My father would never allow it.”

“Well, if you stick around long enough, I’d be happy to introduce you to my guy. He does some of the best work around.”

“Thanks, though I’d probably be too chicken to actually go through with it.”

I turn my gaze to look out of the window.

“So, are you going to tell me what happened last night?” Titus’ question seems to come out of left field, and while it catches me off guard, my answer is instant.

“Nope.” I shake my head, not sure if I’ll ever be ready to have that conversation. It’s something I would like to push to the back of my mind and never think about again.

“Okay.” He chuckles at my abrupt answer. “How about we start with something easier then?”

“Like what?” I ask when he doesn’t elaborate.

“I don’t know. I feel like I just told you my life story yet I don’t know a damn thing about you.”

“Not much to know.” My goal is to seem uninteresting, but I think my silence might have the opposite effect.

“Somehow I doubt that.” When his gray eyes come back to me, I’m completely unprepared for the intense flutter that runs through my stomach.

“I hate to disappoint, but I’m a pretty boring person.”

It’s not a lie. I kind of really am. My entire life has been one straight shot road paved by my father.

Sure, I could tell him the history there, but I don’t know him well enough to do that. I don’t want him to know who I am. Not until I know I can trust him.

God, I sound like a complete wackadoo. It’s not like learning I’m a governor’s daughter is big news or anything. He had no problem telling me about his family and where he comes from, yet I can’t seem to bring myself to tell him onerealthing about myself. I guess, at least for now, I want the chance to be someone else. Or rather, to decide who I am for myself without there being any assumptions or preconceived notions hanging over my head.

“Says the girl who jumped on a stranger’s motorcycle in the middle of nowhere. That doesn’t scream boring to me.”

“There were extenuating circumstances. It’s not like that’s something I’ve made a habit of doing.”

“Good to know.” He chuckles. The sound is deep and raspy and causes tiny bumps to spread across my skin.

“Besides, you were the one who gave me a ride. And let me stay the night at your house. What if I had been some crazy psychopath who tried to kill you in your sleep?”

“No offense, but if you came at me, I think I could take you.”

“Not if you were sleeping.”

“Fair point. I guess I’m lucky you didn’t turn out to be a murderous wench.”

“Careful. There’s still time,” I warn playfully. “Maybe I just haven’t shown you my true colors yet.”

“And maybe I haven’t shown you mine.”

His words are casual, playful even, but something about them still vibrates me to my core.

Maybe it’s naive of me to think, but I honestly don’t believe this man would ever hurt me. If I did, I wouldn’t be here with him right now. And I certainly wouldn’t be staying in his house.

There’s definitely an edgy darkness to him that’s a little unsettling, but I’m notscaredof him. Not gonna lie, knowing he’s a Driscoll does make me feel a little better. Though your family name hardly defines who you are.

We travel several more miles, the silence settling back over us like a heavy blanket the closer we get to Rocks Peak. Titus travels the winding roads like he’s driven them a hundred times before. He seems completely relaxed and at ease, which is the complete opposite of how I’m feeling at the current moment.

It isn’t until he turns down Halls Creek Road that my surroundings start to feel even remotely familiar.

“Do you remember how far down the house is?” His question interrupts my thoughts.

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