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“I mean, I’m used to the lifestyle, and in some ways, it’s so much better than all this materialism and excess. I was good at what I did and left with a big sense of accomplishment. Most of all, the people were amazing. I got to work with people from all over the world, and the people in the villages…well, I told you last night. They don’t get better than that.”
We’ve exited the highway and Tom stops for gas. I use this time to stretch my legs and move to the front seat. My body fizzes with the notion of sitting next to him. Sure, we were close in the car together, but this, side by side, is different.
Almost immediately on sliding into the front seat, I’m hit with the intoxicating scent of him. The corners of my mouth curl upward, loving his smell. We drive for a while, and I can’t help but notice how Tom steals glimpses at my legs.
I like it. A lot. The bare skin of my thighs heats and I squirm in my seat, unsure if I should ignore his attention, flirt, or call him out.
Just then, my phone rings. It’s Fallon.
I place the phone to my ear. “Hi. How are things in New York?”
“Insane. If I have to give one more interview, I’ll scream. Oh, wait, I’ve got like six more today.” She releases an aggravated scream, and though I believe she pulled the phone from her mouth, it’s still loud. So loud, Tom peers at me from the corner of his eye, questioning.
I shake my head and give a face that I hope conveys I have nothing to do with her outburst.
“Better?” I ask dryly.
She snorts. “Kind of. It’ll do until I can have a glass of something. How are you? Did you talk to Felix?”
“I’m good.” I laugh and study Tom whose eyes are firmly fixed on the road ahead. “And no.”
While our call last night was brief, my need to take my mind off Tom and my disgusting behavior prompted me to send her a shot of my post and Felix’s comment. I hated giving that man any more airtime but it served its purpose.
Fallon’s outrage on my behalf was welcomed though it went on for far too long. It’s the actress in her and now, I worry she might be gearing up for round two. “Have you tried to reach him today?”
“No, and I’m not going to. I’m done. What are you up to?”
Not taking the hint, she sticks to the topic of Felix. “Done? Like for good? But what if he reaches out?”
It’s a valid question. He has before, after weeks of doing the very thing he did—ignore me—and foolishly, I fell for his excuses and caved under the pressure from my father. Not this time.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m done for good this time.”
We need a topic change. I don’t want to waste any more breath on Felix, and Tom may not be looking at me, but the arch of his brow suggests he’s intrigued by the conversation. I don’t want an interrogation once I’m off the phone.
“He can be persuasive when he wants something. Girl, you of all people know it.” She snickers and I purse my lips at the memory of Felix’s over-the-top gesture to get me to talk to him last time.
Not touching that.Uh-uh.And I’m smarter this time around. Not going to happen. I stare out the window and plant the seeds of our new topic of conversation. “So we’re almost in Vail.”
“Nice. I love your place there.”
“Me too, but we might only stay a day.”
“I wish I could fly in but I can’t. Ugh, I wish I was there with you and your hottie driver.” Her moaning and whining bring a silly smile to my lips despite how she continues to imply she’s lusting after Tom. “Okay, change of topic. You know what I think?”
“I’m almost afraid to ask.”
She lowers her voice and turns on her seductive tone. “You need to have some fun with that sexy driver of yours.”
“What?” Self-conscious and alert, I instantly spin from the window to look at Tom. Did he hear her?
Still staring at the road, hands at ten and two on the wheel, he acts like I’m not even there.
“You need to make a move. I bet he’d be interested. I didn’t want to say this, but he definitely had eyes for you the night we met him.”
I continue looking at Tom, until he eventually casts his gaze, slow and languid, on me. An easy grin coasts his lips.
“What?” I croak on the repeat.
