Page 77 of Speak of the Devil

“We were attraction,” she says as if she knew it all along.

“I want to hold your hand because it’s the familiar, the only olive branch I have to give while driving. I just thought if we touched, we had that connection, that we could build from there this time.”

Her chest rises and falls with each breath she takes. Her lips are still parted as if she needs the air in her lungs quicker.

“I’m trying for you, babe.” The name fell from my tongue before I could stop it, but I won’t take it back.

I’ll give it a few more seconds.One. Two. Three. Four—she slips her hand into mine and pulls the bond to her lap as if she’s the guardian of our connection. Without looking at me or our hands, she raises her chin. “You are trying.” She takes a deep breath as if she can finally breathe freely again. Looking at me, she says, “And I don’t think you make the effort for anyone.”

She’d be right, but that’s also why I’ve never been in a real relationship. Cat feels right; she’s something steady that I can rely on. I can trust her. Maybe not with my Ferrari, but with my life and that ramshackled organ beating in my chest. So yeah, I’ll make the effort for her. She’s worth it.

The particles of anger exposed in the sunlight streaming through the windshield dissipate from the air.

“Anything interesting on the agenda?”

“Yoga on a paddleboard. Will you be joining me for that?” She pulls the paper back out and continues, “Veryadventurous, by the way.” Every time her fingers squeeze my hand a little tighter, hope renews, motivating me more than ever. “You surf, so I suspect you have good balance.”

“It’s great.”

She laughs, or maybe it was a scoff. I definitely catch an eye roll, though. “I had no doubt. I look forward to you showing off your skills in the morning.” Tapping the paper, she adds, “At eight thirty a.m.” She cocks her head to the side, pursing her lips. “Have you ever seen that hour before?”

It feels good to laugh with her. “Glad your humor is still intact.” Chuckling, I reply, “Early mornings aren’t typically my thing anymore, but for a good set of waves, I’ll show up before the sun rises.” I tip my head and glance over at her. “As for yoga, I’ll stick to paddleboarding while you enjoy doing your routine.”

“Disappointing, Faris. And here I thought you were trying to impress me.”

I balk, leaning back in my seat, still holding her hand like the lifeline she is for me. “There would be nothing impressive about me doing yoga. Trust me on that.”

“I think that’s the first time you’ve ever admitted you can’t do something.”

Her pretty smile tightens my chest and instantly elicits mine to the surface. Though my lips morph into a smirk. “I’m well aware of my strengths and weaknesses and stick to what I do best.”

“According to you, there’s not much that doesn’t make the best list,” she teases, pulling our joined hands to her chest. I’m not sure she notices, but I do. It’s fucking amazing to be held like we’ve moved beyond the bad of the past and are firmly seated in the good of the future. I can even feel her heart beating beneath the surface.

A breath catches her by surprise as if she’d been holding it prior, and she lowers our hands to her lap again. I go out on a limb of the olive branch I offered and bring our hands to my chest so she can feel how hard my heart beats for her.

She doesn’t pull back or away. Thank God. She’s looking into my eyes when I have a second to look over at her. “Shane?”

“Yes,” I reply, matching her quieter tone.

Whispering, she asks, “Do you mind if we go slow?”

I bring our hands to my mouth and kiss the top of hers. I shouldn’t savor the feel of her soft skin or inhale the lightly fragrant scent of her hand, but I’d be a fool not to. Is this moving too fast?Judging by how my heart beats wildly in my chest, it might be. So I take a breath and look back into her beautiful brown eyes and promise to put her needs before mine. “I’ll go slow. I’ll do anything for you.”

It’s not only the physical that she means. It’s the issues we need to work through. They don’t have to be resolved in this car ride. The little moments we share give me the patience to sort it out in due time, like she needs.

She nods and then appears relieved by the release of a breath. Resting her head back, she says, “It’s pretty here. Different from what I expected.”

“What did you expect?” I round a bend that always signifies we’re close.

“I thought it would be pine trees everywhere and their needles on the ground.”

“There are pines, but there are also aspens and sumacs, and some coastal oaks around the lake.”

With her gaze directed out her window, she says, “I’m going to like it here.”

Every approval feels like a reward. When her guard is down, it’s a victory. But it wouldn’t be us if I didn’t seize the opportunity and give her a wink. “Even though you’re here against your will?”

“If I didn’t want to be here, I would have signed the papers, not rode along with you or helped you load the car.” The admission is dropped, causing my face to split into a ridiculousgrin. She’s left me speechless, which is an impressive feat unto itself. “Don’t act so shocked.”

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