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"Oh come on," Calli says. "You have to get over this aversion to being pampered. Are you jealous of Lachlan? Because I'm here with you. I invited you to stay with me, not your brother. I'm sleeping with you, not your brother."
"If you met Lachlan, you'd probably prefer him. Or maybe Rory." I jam the key in the ignition, jerking it to start the engine. It grumbles to life.
And I feel like grumbling too. What an erse I've become.
"Is Rory well off too?" Calli asks. "Because if he is, I'm starting to see a definite pattern."
"He's got money. Not as much as Lachlan, but at least fifty-fold more than I've got." I shift the car into reverse, fling an arm over the back of her seat, and crane my neck to glance behind. "And of course there's a pattern. They're successful, and I'm a failure."
"That is not true."
I swerve the car backward in a semicircle, so fast she's thrown forward. Since she hasn't done up her seatbelt yet, she has to thrust her hands out to stop from crashing into the dashboard. She yelps.
And I hit the brakes hard, which flings her backward into her seat.
"Jesus Christ," Calli hisses, "if this is how you drive, you can forget me going anywhere with you."
I drop my face into my hands briefly, then look at her. "I'm sorry. That was childish and stupid, and I could've hurt you. It will never happen again."
"Damn straight it won't. If it does, I'm out of here, and you can sleep in this car."
"I'll be more careful, I swear it." I point at her lap. "But you should still do up your seatbelt."
"Oh, yeah." She secures the belt and rests her arm on the center console. "By the way, you are not a failure. Everybody has bad times, and that does not make you a failure in life in general."
I grunt, then shift the car into drive and ease it down the gravel road. Cannae believe I behaved that way, all because she asked if my brothers are rich. I'm skint, which she knows. Of course she didn't mean anything by her questions, but I seem to have developed a thin skin lately. My brothers might have more money than I can ever dream of having, but Calli is with me, not them. She wants me.
What am I complaining about? I have the perfect woman.
Sighing, I relax into driving and even manage a satisfied smile. "Where should we go?"
"What are you in the mood for? Secluded or crowded?"
"Secluded." I glance at her sideways, letting my smile heat up. "I have plans for you that might be illegal in public."
She sinks into her seat, her smile soft and warm and full of sensual promise. "Take a left at the end of the driveway. We're heading north, into the wilds."
Chapter Twenty
The Mustang hugs the asphalt as it flies up the winding, two-lane highway through the woods toward the summit of Brockway Mountain. Calli told me the name of the mountain. It's the highest point in Michigan, and I have to admit the view is magnificent. I'd rolled the top down so we could enjoy the scenery with a three-sixty panorama. I love the way the wind whips through Calli's hair and her lips curve into a relaxed smile like she's completely content. I keep my hand wrapped around hers on the center console, our fingers entwined, while I drive with one hand draped over the wheel. I feel relaxed and happy too, because I'm with her.
My outburst of bloody stupid macho rubbish didn't ruin our road trip. I'm grateful for that.
"There," I announce with great conviction, pointing at a turnout along the side of the highway. "We'll stop for a bit."
"Okay, but it's just a view of trees."
"It's secluded." I glance in the rearview mirror. "And we have no company at the moment."
Naturally, I want privacy so I can do wicked things to her. My idea of a road trip with Calli involves her screaming my name—and not because I'm rocketing down the road at ninety miles per hour. I haven't driventhatfast.
The side mirror shows no cars behind us either. Perfect.
I slow the Mustang, pulling off into the turnout. It's a dirt patch situated at the edge of the mountainside, hemmed in by a wooden railing. I stand up and step out of the car over the top of the door, strictly to show off. Why not? I love making Calli smile.
She watches me stride around the front of the car to swing her door open. "You have something against using the driver's door?"
"With the top down, I don't need it."
