Page 112 of In Your Wildest Dreams
He’s holding back laughter in front of his shiny silver Mercedes G-Wagon.
“I’m not driving that.”
“Why not? It’s a nice vehicle.”
“Exactly.”
“You’ll be fine.” He forces the key fob into my hand. “It’s just a car.”
A very expensive car. It doesn’t feel as “him” as his truck, but it’s gorgeous and has AK53 on the plates. And did I mention it’s expensive?
“Come on. It’ll be totally painless.”
“I’m gonna throw up,” I say as he opens the driver’s door for me. It still smells like new.
“Don’t do that.” He kisses me. “I gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
He jogs back to his truck, calling over his shoulder, “Try not to crash it.”
“Ha ha,” I mutter to myself.
For the first few miles, I go so slow that if the police were following me, they’d probably pull me over for driving too far under the speed limit. Eventually, though, I start to relax. The roads are quiet and the sun is shining.
My phone rings, Ash’s face filling the screen. I accept the call and put it on speaker.
“Better be important, Kelly. I’m focusing here.”
His deep chuckle relaxes me a fraction more. “How’s the car?”
“Good, I guess. It’s your car.”
“I don’t drive it that often. I like my truck better.”
“Yeah, don’t think I didn’t notice the odometer has less than ten thousand miles.”
“Well then, do me a favor and enjoy it instead of driving it like a grandma.”
“How do you—” I glance up into the rearview mirror. Ash waves from behind the wheel of his truck. Maverick is in the passenger seat.
“I drove ten minutes in the opposite direction and still caught up to you. You won’t hurt it. And if you do, just don’t hurt yourself, okay? Mav says hey. Gotta go. See you tomorrow night.” He signals and exits toward the arena.
I don’t speed up that much, but I do decide to stop for coffee near my old apartment. I park the SUV and head inside.
I haven’t been back since I moved in with Everly and Grace, but I recognize the same baristas behind the counter. I order my coffee and a scone, then head back outside. I stop beside his SUV and snap a selfie. I send it to Ash, who hearts it immediately, then sends a pic of him with the team jet in the background. Show-off.
God, I like him. I run my finger along the screen. Like maybe love him like him.
“Bridget?”
I slide my phone into my back pocket before looking up. My stomach drops as Gabe comes stalking down the sidewalk. He tears his gaze away from me to stare at the car I’m standing next to. Oh shit. What are the odds he thinks I’m just posing here in front of a nice vehicle or that I won the lottery?
“Gabe,” I say curtly. The only way to flee is to get in the car, but that means stepping closer to him.
He whistles. “Nice ride. Screwing a professional hockey player has its perks.”
I say nothing but my heart races and hands tremble as he takes another step toward me. We might be on a public sidewalk, but we’re alone and I vowed never to be alone with this man again.
I crowd the SUV, staying as far from him as I can while I try to move around to the driver’s side, but Gabe sidesteps to block my path. “What are you doing messing around with that loser, anyway? He’s a talentless hack that should have been traded years ago.”
