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Caught in her own thoughts, she accepted Gus’ request for help to dress down the hall at the end of the evening. She welcomed the distraction, anything that would delay the return trip home.
Leaving the tablecloths behind the stage, Amira kept her head low, melancholy cradling her in its sleepy embrace. Her foot was barely on the first step when Zane approached, lifting her at the waist and lowering her to the ground. Her body slid against his, a tantalizing trail of lust following down, down, until it hovered at her belly button. Then lower still. The current shocked her back to life.
“Leaving so soon?”
“It’s late. There’s nowhere to go but home.”
“I disagree.”
Her stomach jittered.
“Don’t play games with me, Zane.”
“This isn’t a game.” He gripped her hips, studying her response.
A loud crash startled them both. At the far end of the hall, Gus cursed at the overturned chairs.
“Walk with me.”
“Where?”
Zane held out his hand. It was a moment’s hesitation. Annoyance still held her close, stroking her temper like a jilted lover.
“Outside. Where we can speak in private.”
They slipped out into the cool evening air. The streets were quiet as midnight approached. All the sane people were already in bed, where she should be.
They walked in silence until Zane stopped at a sleek black vehicle. She was taken by the Art Deco inspired design, never having seen anything like it before. It was modern yet classic. Just like its owner.
Zane signaled to a man in an unmarked car parked behind it. The man nodded, driving away.
“Who was that?”
“Security.”
“You have a babysitter for your car?”
He shook his head. “This isn’t just any car.”
Amira raised her eyebrows, not bothering to hide her disbelief. Even though it looked pricey, she was unfamiliar with luxury cars. If it cost more than a deposit for a house, it was too expensive.
“This is a Maybach Exelero.”
“So?”
“Never mind.”
“Wait. How much are we talking about here, for you to have a driver babysit a vehicle?”
Two men hovered a few meters away. Zane nodded for them to approach, and one bounded forward, phone poised to take pictures.
“For pity’s sake.” She stepped back, waiting until the two college students finished peppering Zane with questions. Their excited voices trailed from down the end of the street.
“More than some people’s houses.”
She didn’t care that she probably looked like a fish out of water. “Like how many houses?”
“Enough to warrant a driver. Look, Amira, I’m not playing games with you.”
