Page 60 of Drive Me Wilde

"I've got Kiki's car."

"I hate to ask you a favor after what you just did, but do you think you could drop by and hang out with Rio for a few hours?Nicole and I need to go see her lawyer. She's going to sign over custody."

"Really? Well, that was a quick change of heart," I say.

"After the evidence you sent me, she knows she doesn't have a chance in the courtroom. I need her to sign over custody. I can't go through this again and neither can Rio."

I glance toward the truck. Zander, the guy who everyone in town avoided because he was such a badass, is holding the stuffed dragon while Rio is telling him some long, animated story with her hands flying through the air. Nicole, on the other hand, has just agreed to give up her child for good, and she's busily scrolling through her phone and acting as if it's just another day.

Jameson takes my hand before I can turn to leave. "Indi, you already owned my heart, but now I only hope I can live up to deserving you."

I lift his hand and kiss the back of his knuckles. "You've gone way past that, Jameson Wilde. I'll see you soon."

twenty-seven

. . .

Indi

There are more annoying reporters outside Kinsley's house. This time I get to drive by them rather than walk a bike past. I park as close to the house as possible and hurry inside. Kinsley is stretched out on the couch with some kind of facial masque covering her face. Her eyes open behind the holes. "Did you see them?" she asks.

"I don't know what they think they're going to achieve waiting to talk to me? Must be a slow news summer. But I've got some good news. Rio is back home."

Kinsley sits up. The masque is still stuck to her face. "What happened?"

"It's a long story, and I'll tell you after I go sit with Rio. Jameson has to get the legalities worked out."

Kinsley peels the masque off and walks over to the window. She stands off to the side, to avoid being seen.

"I'm really sorry about this, Kiki. Maybe I should get a motel room until they get bored of me. I'm sure Nev isn't going to appreciate them hanging around."

"No, she won't mind. I'm sure they'll get bored soon. Your boy, Landon, has gone kind of silent on social media. People arespeculating that he's languishing with a broken heart and pining over his pretty small-town girl."

"I hope you're kidding," I say.

"Nope. That's what they're calling you. It's a whole big thing online. You should read some of the stuff?—"

I'm shaking my head before she finishes. "What Landon's fans don't understand is that he's handsome but also shallow. He's definitely not the heroic type like he plays in movies. And there's no way he's languishing with a broken heart. More likely he's busy tangled in bedsheets and leaned between a woman's thighs."

I eat a quick snack from the refrigerator. Kinsley isn't entirely sure if she'll need her car, but I'm just as happy to ride the bike to Jameson's house. I pedal fast down the driveway and have a near collision with a man and his camera. He takes a few pictures as I hunch down over the handlebars and hurry down the street. Behind me, I hear a few car doors open and shut. I turn down one of the side alleys to make my getaway. This is starting to get annoying. I may even have to call Landon to tell him he needs to do something about it. A new girlfriend would probably do the trick. Genie is probably still forbidding him from broadcasting to the world that he's in a relationship. She's the most controlling person on the planet.

Jameson opens the door as I ride up. I'm winded from the fast ride.

"I could have picked you up," he says.

I stop and take a second to catch my breath. "Clearly, I need the exercise." Jameson is wearing a suit and tie. There's something extremely erotic about seeing a man who is pure badass polished up in a suit and tie. "Wowza, Mr. Wilde, you clean up nicely."

"Thanks, Jones. Trying to make a good impression on the lawyer."

"Do you think there'll be a problem?" I ask.

"Not with the stuff I have on my phone." He pulls me into his arms. "Thanks to a certain, very sexy private investigator."

Music is blasting through the house. "By the way, you and Rio will be doing some dancing. She wants to celebrate with you. There's a pizza in the oven. Maybe this time it'll get eaten." He kisses me on the lips, then leans closer to whisper in my ear. "God, you taste good." His words and warm breath on my neck send a shiver through me.

"Dad is Indi here?" Rio calls through the drumbeats.

"You better get in there to get the party started. Hopefully I won't be too long." He hasn't let go of my hand yet. He pulls me back for one more kiss. "Indi—" he says but doesn't finish. His gaze is so filled with emotion it makes my chest tighten. "I'll see you soon."

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