“Not really. There’s no chance you’ll get your inheritance if he doesn’t believe us.”
I know my dad is a hard-ass, but I’m the only child he has. Therefore, it gives him a strong urge to protect me at all costs.
“Because I got Mom on board, Dad will automatically follow.”
He tilts his head. “I’m not sold.”
“Hey, you totally threw us under the bus in the end!”
“I did, didn’t I?” He rubs at his five o’clock shadow. “I don’t know what happened. It just slipped out.”
My hands twitch, wanting to know what his stubble would feel like against my palm…or between my thighs.
“We need to talk out the details of the move.”
“How about a drink at my house? I think I need one after tonight. Your dad drilled me hard.”
I giggle. I’ve had a surprisingly good time tonight, and it would be a shame for it to end already.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t say no to another glass. If we hash out some more details. I thought our meet-up was good and that we covered enough.”
“Clearly it wasn’t enough,” he jokes.
I face the window watching houses pass by. I’m still unable to believe we made it through four hours with my family and now we’re on our way to his place for a drink.
“T?”
Pulling my gaze from outside to him, I hadn’t realized I’d zoned out. “Y-yeah.”
“Are you okay?” His tone is soft, yet commanding, and I don’t want to admit that guilt is hitting me. Lying isn’t something I do. Yet I did it. And now we’re adding another layer to it, so I’m still trying to process how that makes me feel.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a little stunned. That’s all.”
He reaches over and touches my hand, startling me. His large one covers mine and an unexpected warmth surges through me.
These tender moments he shares with me leave me astonished. I can’t tear my hand away, even though my brain is yelling at me, telling me my parents aren't here, so we don’t have to act anymore. He doesn’t have to do this. For a brief moment, I wonder if he wants to, though. The throb in my temples from stress has me reclining the car seat, all the way back. “I’m going to close my eyes for the rest of the drive. I have a headache starting.”
“Yeah, of course. Let me know if you need me to pull over or something. Are you comfortable?”
His soft leather seats and his warm hand in mine have me feeling just that. I smile softly. “Yes, very.”
“Good.”
My eyes are already closed, and the heaviness takes over.
It isn’t until strong arms are lifting me that I feel like I’m floating. It’s a nice dream. The cold night air gushes around me, and I snuggle into a neck.
A neck?
I take a sharp intake of breath and jerk. My body is currently flushed to a solid bit of muscle. Firm hands grip me harder as my eyes fly open.
“Shhh, I’ll take you inside.”
I blink rapidly. I fell asleep in his car?
I thought I would just close my eyes. I never thought in a million years, I’d fall asleep.
This thoughtful moment makes my brain turn to mush, and I just merely stare at him, blank yet amazed. With no fight in me, I simply nod, succumbing to his care.