Page 5 of Buy Me, Love
Someone behind me leans on their horn, and I hit the gas and brakes again to make this guy jump. Crazy is crazy, there is no half-way for me. And he’s right. This makes no sense. What was my big planhere?
“Well…” I feel my shoulders fall. If a stranger seems to know about you -specifics- one must be allowed some depth of skepticism to wade in, even if it only reaches yourankles.
I don’t have enough time to compose my thoughts before I feel his phone vibrate in the pocket of his suit jacket. Even if I tell this handsome stranger to stay away from me, can I keep the jacket? Oh, maybe I can ask to keep his car too. And yes, he is definitely the man I caught a sniff of back inside. My hormones are going crazy, and I clench my thighs together to try to suppress the ache. It doesn’t help, only makes it worse, and as his phone continues to vibrate, I reach into the pocket to fish itout.
When I see who’s calling, my heart skips a beat. I slide my finger across the glass to accept thecall.
“Dad?”
He lets out a sigh on the other end of theline.
“Kit,” he says, “let me talk to Maxwell,alright?”
Maxwell. Max-well. That’s a good name. My dad knows this guy? I put my nose to the crack in the carwindow.
“It’s my dad,” I say, slipping the phone through. Maxwell takes a few big strides over and takes the phone like I’m a prisoner slipping her meal tray back through the bars. I sink down into the seat and pull Maxwell’s jacket closer to my chin, knotting my fingers through it. He turns away and nods several times, speaking a few affirmatives to my father before turning back tome.
“He wants to talk to you now.” He slides the phone through again and I bring it to myear.
“Dad? You know thischaracter?”
“Yes.” He clears his throat. “His name is Maxwell Armstrong. We’ve worked together in the past. You…you can trust him, Kit. I promise, you can trust him no matterwhat.”
I suck in a big breath and let it fill my lungs. Playing cops and robbers was fun for a few minutes, but I think I might like trusting Maxwell even more. Now I’ll let my guard down a little, but I’ll still reserve the right to judge later, ifneeded.
“Dad,” I say, testing out how far I can go, “can we leave the vicinity?” I hold mybreath.
“Yes. Just make sure you stay withMaxwell.”
Yeah. I think I can managethat.
“No armed guards following usaround?”
“Fine.” His answer is terse butrelenting.
We end the call and I hit the button to unlock the doors. Without giving me a chance to get out, Maxwell opens the driver-side door and slips in, taking me by the waist and gliding me to the seat next to his, hitching my legs over the center console like I’m a just a light little feather. Oh boy. I settle in and I can still feel his fingers, their gentle pressure on my waist, his big hand under my knees. I wrap my arms around my stomach and peer up athim.
“Where are you taking me?” I wonder outloud.
“I told you I was getting you the fuck out of here,” he says, shifting gears and smiling over at me. “So we’re getting the fuck out ofhere.”
I risk a peek behind us. Sure enough, my security team is filing into their cars, and three black Cadillacs follow me and Maxwell as we start toward wherever the hell we’re going, but then, after a moment, they all part and pull over to either side of thestreet.
I smile and sink down, bringing his jacket up around my chin, again trying not to purr intoit.
Something tells me I’m in for a wildride.
4
Maxwell
This was a fucking crazy idea.
One her father isn’t happy about. Frankly, one I’m not very happy about,myself.
I’ve never been this close to her before. I’m starting to rethink my decision, as though I’d made a decision. But it wasn’t adecision.
I shift my gaze to drink her all up. I could describe her to a sketch artist down to the finest detail, but that’s not making me any more satisfied in looking away. Hell no. The way her chin has the tiniest dimple in it, the way her deep, warm blue eyes have flecks of honey in them. I could describe the way she likes to look out over the Hudson River when her official guards bring her to the park with a book and a veggie sandwich. I could describe how she likes to button her coats from the top-down instead of bottom-up.
