Page 189 of Nobody's Girl

Eden shakes her hand. “I’m just visiting for a while.”

She leaves her hand in his after the shake. “I’d love to show you some of the homes I have. This is a great town to buy investment property in. We have a great many people who vacation here.”

Eden looks down at how she’s refusing to let his hand go. “Not interested in making any purchase here. I’m just down, visiting the in-laws.”

“I’m ready, Eden,” I snap, making her turn her attention to me. For Christ sakes, there is no way she could miss seeing me sitting right here. The top’s down, for the love of all that’s holy.

Finally, she releases his hand. “Sorry, I’ll leave you two alone.”

Her ass wiggles back and forth under her too-tight skirt as she sashays away from Eden.

What a whore!

Eden slides into his seat and starts the car up. “Thanks for the save, princess,” he says as he takes my hand, placing a kiss on top.

I grin and say, “Not a problem there, hubby. Visiting the in-laws, you say?”

“You caught that, huh? Must have been listening in pretty hard. I do believe I see a bit of jealousy in your gorgeous sapphire eyes.”

“Jealousy, ha! I was saving you from the old hag,” I say and turn to look away.

The people on the sidewalk actually point at us as we drive by them. What a bunch of nosy people we have in this town. It’s as if they’ve never seen a convertible in their lives.

A ringing noise brings my attention back to the radio as my father’s voice fills the speakers that seem to be everywhere in this magnificent machine.

“Hi, Eden. What can I do for you?” my father asks.

“I would like to take Alyssa to lunch and she’s informed me she’s not allowed to go anywhere with male individuals. Would you like to assure her of your approval?”

“I suppose you have me on the car phone?” he asks.

“I do.”

“Okay, then. Alyssa, it’s fine for you to go anywhere you want with Eden. We trust him implicitly. Have a good time, honey. We’ll see you when you get back home. Doctor Baker called and told us about your appointment. Looks like it all went well.”

“Who are you?” I ask in amazement. “Where are my real parents?”

A laugh is the only answer I receive as it dies away and the hard beat of a rock song fills the speakers. “So where would you like to eat, my lady?” Eden asks.

Not sure how to take any of this, I let it all go. Perhaps my parents have a deeper friendship with Eden’s parents than I realized. Yeah, that has to be it. I am hungry, so why not eat while we’re out?

“I’d like a burger, and Trixie’s has the best in town. It’s just up this road a bit.”

Placing his hand on the headrest of my seat, he looks over at me. The wind is moving the longer top of his dark hair around just enough to make him look like he’s doing a photoshoot for some men’s magazine.

He’s a sight to behold and I am an awful person who cheats on her devoted boyfriend.

“Trixie’s it is, baby.”

I have to look away, out into the small town we drive through. I watch the people walk down the sidewalk. My small town looks somewhat different from inside of this perfect machine with this perfect guy driving me through it.

It’s almost as if I’m not a part of it at all. The people I see look at us as if we are some sight to behold. None seem to recognize that it’s just little ol’ me riding in the passenger seat.

The car slows as Eden prepares to turn into the parking lot. “You sure about this place, Alyssa?”

Taking notice of the three motorcycles in the parking lot and only a couple of cars, I say, “Don’t worry, Eden. It’s nearly three in the afternoon. Not a prime time for most people to eat. The food’s good, I promise.”

“Should I put the top back up? I mean, will the car be safe out here? This place looks rough,” he says with hesitation.