Page 21 of Peaches

“She’s a beauty. That’s for damn sure,” he loudly implies over the roar of the engine as he revs the throttle a few times. I look at him as he glances over his shoulder and pulls out of our parking spot before shifting gears and then proceeding to drive us out into the evening.

“How do you ever get used to owning something like this?” I ask once we’ve vacated the garage and he starts to weave us through traffic.

Shift.

Second gear.

Shift.

Third.

Smooth. Fast. Fluid.

God, I was totally right, as my pupils dilate, and I can’t force myself to bring my stare away from his large hands and the way he works the gear shift. Kinda the way I imagine he’d work his…

“It’s a possession, Grace. Nothing more.”

“Possession? This car costs more than my life is worth. It’s more than just a piece of property. It’s…”

“Not even worth one-millionth of what you’re worth!”

My eyes shoot up and find his staring at me as we cruise slowly towards a red light. The low purr of the engine coming to a stop is the only noise as my breathing quickens and I hold his stare. I search his eyes for any lies, any small fact that he may totally be joking, but all I see is the certainty that he means each and every word he just said, and a small piece of my heart chips away, immediately claimed by him in that small but powerful second.

“You just met me, Mr. Beckett…,” I stutter slightly as my nerves take wings like butterflies in my stomach, flying all the way up through my chest and making me take notice of my suddenly soaring heart.

“Brett.”

Well, that’s a whole lot less awkward than Romeo.

“How would you know what I’m worth?” I quickly cut him off.

“Worth isn’t something you know. It’s something you feel, Peaches. And to me, you feel,” he whispers, as he reaches over and confidently places his hand on my upper thigh. His palm starts to raise as the light in front of us turns green and both cars behind him start to honk in annoyance. I look over, pulling my gaze from his warm palm on my thigh, and catch his stare - honest, sincere and wait as his grin deepens. “Priceless!”

My mouth hangs open as he gives me a devilish smile and shifts smoothly into first gear again before looking straight ahead and continuing us on our way. I’m speechless as his phone rings in his pocket and I look over at the dash to see two words displayed on the caller ID.

The General.

It’s obvious he notices too because he lets out a groan, hits reject on the steering wheel, and starts weaving in and out of traffic like we are attempting to win the Monaco Grand Prix. I don’t ask as the call goes to voice mail and we drive a little bit further in silence. When the silence becomes deafening, he clicks on the radio and my ears are immediately assaulted with the sounds of Eminem’s “The Way I Am.”

“Is this the part of the night that’s supposed to pump me up for what I’m about to walk into, or something?” I shout, the music slightly annoying if I must say so and getting a little on my nerves. I mean, I’m not an Eminem hater, per say, but I’d rather not be violated by him right now.

He turns down the music once it gets to the second verse and I notice a small amount of his annoyance is gone.

“You don’t like rap?”

“I mean, I listen to it sometimes. Like if I ever want to relive my early twenties and pretend I’m,‘clubbing with my homies.’”

He laughs and I can’t help but smile because that is a whole lot better than his anger that was sitting with us a few minutes ago.

Whatever the hell that was about.

“No Dr. Dre? No Tu Pac? No Nate Dogg, Busta Rhymes. Little Kim?”

I shrug and roll my eyes.

Little who?

“Tell me,how many licks would it take, Peaches?” His raspy voice sends bolts of heat straight to my core and I turn quickly to look at him. He grins as he drives, never once taking his eyes off the road and making me squirm in my seat.

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