Page 43 of King of Envy

Ayana faltered. “I haven’t, but that’s not true. You made that up.”

I cocked an eyebrow as if to say,Maybe, but do youreallywant to chance it?

“You—” A nearby shout interrupted her. Someone’s umbrella had lost its battle with the wind and flipped inside out. The umbrella wielder was soaked and, in an unfortunate coincidence, wearing all white.

Ayana eyed them with trepidation. “Fine,” she said. “You can drive me home, but only if you let me ask you three questions during the ride. You have to answer—truthfully.”

I almost smiled. No one else would’ve dared bargain with me so brazenly.

I’m doing you a favor, yet you’re the one making demands?

“Yep.” She gave an elegant shrug. “It makes no difference to me. If you don’t want to answer, I’ll just take my chances with the giant, rain-summoned rats.”

My almost smile morphed into an almost laugh.

I offered my jacket again in silent agreement. She took it, her mouth curving.

“What about you?” she asked. “If you duck, we’ll both fit under the jacket.”

The jacket wasn’t large enough to cover both of us.

It’s just water. I’ll be fine.

I led her away from the safety of the scaffolding and toward my office’s garage. I rarely drove in the city, but I’d taken my car that day in hopes of searching some of the garages myself after work. That would have to wait.

A passing bus trundled through a large puddle and sent a spray of water our way. I instinctively turned my body to shield her while she grabbed my arm with her free hand. I flinched, and she withdrew with haste.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to?—”

Don’t worry about it.I picked up my pace, my heart pounding, but even the rain couldn’t wash away the impression of her touch.

We reached my car without further incident. I unlocked the doors, and Ayana lowered the jacket from her head as she slid into the passenger seat.

I turned on the seat warmers while she took in the all-black Italian leather, state-of-the-art dashboard, and custom details.

“Very Batman-esque,” she said.

Sounds like an insult.

“Only if you take it as one.” She sank deeper into her seat with a sigh. “You’re right. This is better than Uber.”

I’m always right.

“Always humble too,” she said dryly. She gave me her address, and I put it in the GPS for appearance’s sake. I already knew where she lived.

We rode in silence out of the garage and onto the street.

It was my first time being truly alone with Ayana since we were forced to share a hotel room three weeks ago. Even then, I could shut a door between us or escape to the gym.

Here, there was no reprieve. No doors, no passersby, no phone calls to distract us from each other’s presence.

There was only the scent of her perfume and the warm inquisitiveness of her stare.

It was an exquisite hell of my own making.

“First question,” Ayana said when we arrived at a red light. “What’s your family like? I told you about mine, but I don’t know anything about yours.”

Family.

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