Page 63 of The Bad Wedding Date

We left the room like two quiet mice after Fraser had checked the hall and given me the all-clear. He led the way, pulling me along with the too-big sweater draped down over my hands. We took the stairwell, and before I knew it, we were several floors down, weaving our way through corridors and Staff Only exits. I followed him blindly until we were pushing through a door that led to the streets of London, and Fraser guided me to another area parked with cars, nodding at the valet guys manning them as he went on his way.

“Do you have access to every place in this city?” I whispered.

He didn’t answer or look at me, just weaved us around several cars, never once loosening his grip on my hand. His hold only grew tighter until we came to the most incredible grey Aston Martin. The lights flashed, and then Fraser reluctantly let me go, but not before he scanned the entire area around us.

“Holy shit,” I breathed at the magnificence of the vehicle in front of me.

“Charlotte,” he hissed, making me stumble out of my thoughts until I was climbing into the passenger seat, sliding against the leather, and breathing in the unmistakable scent of a brand-new car.

Within seconds, the engine roared to life, and Fraser began to peel out of the parking spot like a smooth, graceful snake. My eyes rested on his tense forearms turning the wheel and the way his neck strained as he glanced around, bobbing his head down to get a better view after each turn until the early morning dusky skies appeared beyond the exit ahead. Once there, a couple of valet men looked our way. They offered him another nod and a smile, giving him the go-ahead to leave like he did this a lot.

I couldn’t help but wonder who the hell Fraser really was and what he hadn’t told me.

I studied every inch of him, from his narrowed eyes to his strong jaw, his muscles pressed against his T-shirt to the veins running down his arms… and all I could think about was that dream in which he’d nearly kissed me.

And the fact that I’d kissed him when I’d been half asleep.

“I’m sorry about what I did when I woke up,” I said quietly, breaking the silence.

Fraser made a left turn, side-eyeing me as he did before he hit one of the main roads and put his foot on the accelerator. He didn’t respond.

“It hadn’t been my intention. I could tell you looked surprised when I came around.”

“Bad timing.”

“My speciality.”

He didn’t smile. His lips didn’t so much as twitch as he shifted gears and settled his hand back on the wheel.

“Are you going to tell me what you did to Matteo?”

The muscles in Fraser’s jaw tensed, and he looked in his rear-view mirror as though remembering who could be following.

“Did you hurt him?” I asked.

“Not enough.”

Something about the tension in his body told me that that wasn’t the right route to go down. Not yet. Whatever had happened was still fresh, and he needed time to process it. Get his thoughts in order.

“Are you going to tell me what he’s supposed to have done? Or are you just going to tell me to trust you again? Because I will. I’m here when I could have torn myself away from you, ran, and screamed. I could have told you I was staying in the suite. I didn’t. That means that, yes, I trust you on some level, despite you giving me reasons not to. You need to know that you can trust me, too, though, Fraser. This has to work both ways. Whatever it is you’re holding back, I can handle it.”

“And what if I told you that everything you thought you knew about those arseholes back there is only the tip of the iceberg? What if I told you that the things they do behind closed doors are far worse than their personalities that irritate you so much?”

“I’d say I believe you,” I said, matter of fact.

“So easily.”

“Yes. I know I’ve buried my head in the sand a lot over the years. They live in a different world where morals don’t exist, only schemes. You don’t get to the top by being nice. You get to the top by being devious and cheating every system you’re a part of. I may not know exactly what Matteo has done, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know he’s not good people.”

“Things would have been far less complicated if you were someone who didn’t ask so many questions.” He sighed.

“Should have researched me a bit better then, shouldn’t you? Nowhere on myfilewould it ever list the words docile and compliant.”

Even though his main emotion was anger, the way his eyes softened told me I had him.

“Once you’re in this, there’s no going back. Do you think you’re ready for that?” he asked.

“I don’t want to go back. There’s nothing waiting for me there.”

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