Page 142 of Make Me Trust Again
“I’m driving you home,” I say, not leaving room for argument as I take her to my car that’s a few spots down. Not that she doesn’t try to protest.
“But my truck…”
“Will be fine where it is for tonight,” I finish, pressing her against the passenger door.
She tilts her head back. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t have to, but it’s late, the road back home is dark, and you’ve had a few drinks.”
“I’m not drunk.”
Seriously, this woman.
She’s going to be the death of me.
“Do you always have to be so damn stubborn?” I ask with an exasperated sigh. Those blue irises widen slightly, her lips parting, but before she can say anything else, I continue, “I know you’re not drunk, and you can drive yourself just fine, but it’ll givemepeace of mind. I’d never forgive myself if something were to happen to you.”
My heart is beating wildly inside my ribcage as the truth slips out. Rose’s face softens at my words, and she nods slightly. “Okay, but I need to get to the Reading Nook by ten.”
Sucking in air, I slowly let it out, and pull her to me, my lips brushing against the top of her head. “I’ll get you there by ten.”
Rose’s fingers rest against my chest, her soft agreement sounding distant. “Okay.”
Taking a step back, I cup her cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before I open her door. Making sure she’s tucked in safely, I hold the back door open for Shadow, who gives me a side eye as she jumps inside. Soft music is playing on the radio as I start the car and roll down the window for Shadow before I pull out on the road.
Silence fills the cab of my truck as we drive through empty Bluebonnet streets all the way back home. Rose glances at meevery so often, her gaze feeling like a phantom touch. I curl my fingers around the steering wheel, my knuckles white as I try my best to keep my attention on the road while the tension crackles in the air around us, making it hard to breathe.
By the time I pull in front of my house, I’m ready to jump out. I open Shadow’s door, and she must feel my mood because she dashes away immediately.
I walk around the truck as Rose slips out and smiles at me. “Thank you for the ride. And letting us crash your boys’ night. Your friend seems really nice.”
A low, noncommittal grunt comes out of my lungs. Thorn’s a lot of things, but nice isn’t one of them.
“Do you see each other often?”
I grind my teeth, taking a step closer to her. “I don’t want to talk about Thorn.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ROSE
I don’t want to talk about Thorn.
My brows pull together as I watch Chase, trying to figure out the reason behind the sudden hostility. “Why not?” I tilt my head to the side, my heart beating wildly inside my chest. It makes no sense. Everything seemed fine only a moment ago. “I thought you…”
Chase places his hands on the car door, caging me in. My lips part as those flaming eyes zero in on me, making my stomach tighten as he grinds out, “Because I’m still pissed at him for putting his hands on you.”
“His hands…” I blink, completely confused. “What?—”
Lowering his head, Chase traces the tip of his nose over the line of my shoulder and up my neck, making my heart speed up, the pounding echoing in my eardrums as he whispers into my ear, “It drove me crazy the whole damn night.”
His warm breath tickles my skin, making me shudder. Goosebumps rise on my skin as my fingers fist his tee, eyes falling shut as I try to focus on his words.
“Made me want to snap a finger or two, so he would stop touching what’s mine.”
The last word is a low growl that reverberates between us. Heat rises up my neck, and my eyes snap open to find those hazel eyes observing me with that silent intensity of his. The claiming falling around me like a warm blanket on a cool night.
His.
