Page 126 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

“Yes. How else am I supposed to know whether I can take you anywhere in it?”

“Pretty sure that’s not one of the things you’re supposed to check when you buy a car.”

“It is today.”

Manolis looked up at Blane and then into the tiny passenger compartment, obviously wondering the same thing Bea was.

“You want to go?”

“Want?” Blane muttered. “Don’t know about that, but hell yeah, I’m going.”

It took some maneuvering, but he managed to fold himself into the passenger seat, moving it as far back as it would go before lowering himself in. Once he was settled, his knees still looked alarmingly close to the dashboard.

Bea bit her lip.

“Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“I was only going to ask whether you’re comfortable.”

“No, you weren’t.”

Manolis was laughing openly now.

Bea looked at him. “Will you be coming with us?”

He shook his head and handed her the keys.

“We won’t go far,” she assured him.

“It’s good.” He gestured toward the building. “We have cameras everywhere.”

“Oh.” She smiled as she realized he’d answered the question she hadn’t quite known how to ask. “I see.”

Blane grunted beside her.

She glanced at him. “What?”

“Nothing. Just appreciating his security measures.”

That made Manolis laugh again.

Bea started the engine and adjusted the mirrors. “Don’t worry. We really won’t go far.”

Blane looked down at his knees. “Probably for the best. Not sure I’d survive a road trip in this thing.”

“You’re being very brave.”

“I’m suffering for you, darlin’.”

She laughed as she pulled carefully away.

Within a few minutes, she knew.

The little Ignis was easy. Not easy in a way that made her feel as though she needed something simplified for her, but easy in the way the Vitara had gradually become easy once she’d stopped thinking so hard about every movement. She could place the car on the road without wondering where its edges were, the automatic gearbox meant there was one less thing demanding her attention, and when she turned onto a narrower street, she didn’t tense at all.