Page 68 of Mr. Dangerous

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Naomi

As I pulledinto the circle in front of the house, I thought that it was time to book it out of Delaneyland. God, what I would give to never have to drive up this deceptively beautiful landscape again. There was the drive itself, with the roses blooming under the weeping willow trees, somehow half-wild and perfectly manicured all at once, and then the house itself, with its welcoming lights shining out of the mansionwindows.

Rob, after all, had not one but two able-bodied drivers living in his house with him now. His grandmother might not care to drive, but she seemed perfectly able; anyone who could walk in those heels had to be in good health. And Liam, since he flew jets for a living, had to be adequate at driving a stickshift.

I cleared my throat as the passenger doors opened. "Can I talk to you for aminute?"

Rob hesitated, his hand on the door. "Sure, ofcourse."

His grandmother gave him the faintest, knowing look as she passed his open door, and then she headed for the house. Liam slammed his own door shut and followed her in a hurry. He leaned in close to her, murmuring something, and shelaughed.

I felt my cheeks flush, but I sat there with my hands still on the steering wheel and the car running. The AC was blasting icy-cold air that prickled my skin, but I'd wanted the passengers in the back to becomfortable.

"Are you going to turn off the car?" he asked, getting back inbesideme.

"No, I need to park it in thegarage."

"Don't worry about it," he said. "It's late. You should get home if youwantto."

"I will," I said. "So you don't need me now,right?"

"What?" His eyebrowsarched.

"You don't need me. You have Liam to drive you, you have yourgrandmother--"

"She can't drive me anywhere butcrazy."

"Why not?" I shook my head, refusing to be derailed by a conversation about the Delaney family dynamic. "Whatever! You have Liam. You don'tneedme."

"I do," he said, "And we finally get to talk. Okay? Can we go for adrive?"

"They'll think it's weird," I said, nodding to thehouse.

"I have a last minute errand I forgot. I desperately need to stop by astore."

"A store? Any store? I thought I got to go home,finally."

"A store, any store, and would you hearmeout?"

"Sure, Rob.” I knew my tone came out sounding rude, but I was also turning the wheel, pulling out of the circle down the long lane. I was embarrassingly obedient no matter how snippy I sounded. "Tell me about how it was really a compliment to tell medon't fall in lovepost-coitus. Tell me about how that wasn'tshitty."

"I'm not saying it wasn't, but that's not a good reason to stop being mydriver."

I would have thrown my hands up in the air if I weren't responsible for the steering wheel; as it was, my fingers jerked up in a movement of exasperatedbemusement.

"Your driver? You don't need a driver. You like having me around for some twistedreason."

"It's not twisted. I enjoy yourcompany."

I glanced at him sideways, feeling irritated and pleased allatonce.

"You like mine too,”hesaid.

“You’re an arrogant ass and I don't understand you," I said, shakingmyhead.

Heshrugged.

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