Page 17 of Stardusted
“Come on. I’ll take you home.”
Hinges squeaked, jerking me from my spiral. I yanked my head up as Sky opened my door the rest of the way. He stooped a little to peer in, raising his brows when I didn’t move.
I kept my butt firmly planted, though, and my protest came out hoarse. “No, really?—”
“I’m not leaving you out here alone in the middle of the night with a dead car,” he cut in firmly. “If you’re not going to let me call someone, I’m taking you home. Do you have someone who can get you back here in the morning? Maybe give you a jump?”
The brusque tone startled me enough that I blinked. My grip on my dead phone tightened in reflex.
But then I caved a little, considering it. Because what other option did I have?
“My brother,” I said, licking my lips. “He’s a mechanic. I’ll call him in the morning. I don’t have class until later, so—” I realized I was rambling and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I can figure it out.”
“Okay.” Sky tapped the car’s roof before stepping back. “Come on, then. Grab your stuff and make sure to lock it up.”
An order. A gentle one, sure, but an order. When he turned back toward his SUV, I frowned after him.
This version of Sky was…unexpected.
Bossy. Take-charge. A little commanding. Not what I was used to seeing behind the bar. He’d always seemed so…laid-back. Reserved.
I narrowed my eyes, watching his lanky form waver against the SUV’s lights. He opened the driver’s side door and leaned in. It was too dark to see what he was doing.
Kelly had once theorized he was snobby, but I found that hard to believe. He’d always been polite and pleasant enough. I’d always been more inclined to say shy.Aloof, maybe, but he’d certainly seemed nice enough.
This serious, authoritative version of him was…different. It had my nerves ratcheting up even higher. It was a reminder I didn’t reallyknow himknow him.
Despite all the hypothetical conversations we’d had in my head.
I jumped when he slammed his car door and headed back toward me. He drew near enough for me to make out the faint line between his dark brows, maybe because I was still sitting behind the wheel.
I chewed my lip. Going with Sky made the most sense. Even if I imagined it’d be the most awkward ten-minute drive of my life.
Suppressing a sigh, I grabbed my dead cell, purse, and apron. After one last scan of the car to make sure I hadn’t left anything important behind, I pressed down the manual lock and climbed out. Ahead of me, Sky bent over the hood, scribbling something on a piece of paper. I watched, puzzled, as he walked around me and slid it onto the dashboard.
“A note, in case a cop or a Good Samaritan stops by,” he said, catching my confused look. The thud when he shut the driver’s door echoed. “You lock it?”
I nodded, and he turned away. With one last glance at Faith, I trailed after him. Wind swirled through the rustling cornstalks and tugged at my hair. Gravel crunched softly beneath my shoes. My pulse still hadn’t quite evened out.
The night was so still. So quiet. Deceptively quiet, considering how hazardous it’d been so far.
I tore my attention from the deserted stretch of road when we reached the SUV. Sky surprised me by opening the passenger door. For me. I blushed for absolutely no good reason and climbed in. When he closed it again, I was alone in the car.
The interior smelled like him. Spice and leather and something cool and fresh. A low, sultry beat whispered from the speakers, and I took in the gleaming chrome, buttery leather seats, and touchscreen dash.
It was all…nice. Pretty nice for your average bartender’s paycheck.
Did Sky come from money? Or was he just that good at mixing Old Fashioneds?
Maybe he moonlighted as a male stripper.
A second later, I started guiltily when he opened his door and slid behind the wheel. I cleared my throat and looked out the window, trying to pretend like I wasn’t just imagining him shirtless and gyrating to a Ginuwine song.
He was quiet as he settled into the driver’s seat. With him in it, the SUV’s interior suddenly felt much tinier. I shivered and not entirely from the cool fall night.
He noticed. “Cold?” His smooth voice wrapped around me like velvet.
“I think it’s just the adrenaline.” My teeth promptly clicked together, proving me a liar.
