Page 115 of Heartstruck at Dawn
“Hey guys,” I said, walking up to Aaron, Caleb, and David. “Is it okay if I ride with Lily and Joel? Nathan’s not coming. He’s flying to London right now. And I don’t want to arrive at the event all by myself.”
“Of course, Miss Murphy,” Aaron replied. “No problem. We’ll follow you.”
I walked up to Lily and Joel’s car, and Caleb opened the door for me. “You look great, by the way,” he said with a wink. “We’ll see you there.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, and he left the door open for Lily and Joel to come in once Lily returned. A driver sat behind the wheel.
“Good afternoon, miss. My name is Cooper. I’ll be driving you today.” I recognized him. I’d seen him a few times before.
I was about to reply when William sat next to me, shut the door, and said, “Cooper, go.Now.”
“WILLIAM!What the hell are you doing?” I shouted. Cooper sped off as instructed, and I quickly buckled my seat belt. I looked over my shoulder and saw Aaron, Caleb, and David jumping into the SUV.
William seemed to have stepped into a comedy show because he wouldn’t stop laughing.
“This isn’t funny,” I said to him, frustration spewing out of every syllable. “Cooper,slowdown. Let them catch up with us.”
Cooper was young and reckless. He grinned, seemingly excited about the car chase. I just hoped he was equally focused on the road ahead of him.
William’s laugh faded out. He scanned my face, my lips, my hair, my clothes and unbuckled my seat belt. “You’ll get your clothes wrinkled. We’re only a few blocks away.” He was right. I was more scared of Ilaria than I was of crashing without a seat belt on.
His gaze was still fixed on me. “I’m flattered,” he said, tucking my hair behind my ear, grazing my cheek as he pulled his hand back.
“Why?” I asked, my eyes wide and impatient for a reply.
“It’s endearing,” he began to say, “that you’d do something like that just to piss me off.” He waved a haphazard hand toward my hair, then looked at his knees with a smile. “You know I loved your long hair.” He clicked his tongue. “But how can I be bothered by it when the reason you did it is so obvious.”
“I donated my hair. That’s why I did it.”
He laughed and brought his hand to my hair, touching it again.
“I wouldn’t mess with my hair if I were you,” I said, slightly flinching away. I didn’t need William touching me right now. Or ever. “Ilaria might materialize herself and scold you for it.”
“It’s cute. I like your hair either way.” He rested his hands on his knees.
Stop staring at me!I was nervous enough as it was.
“Whoa.” I tried grabbing the handlebar when Cooper made a sharp right turn, but I missed it. I slid over to William’s side. My hand ended up on his thigh, and his hands conveniently on my waist. “Sorry.” I frowned and bolted to my seat after gaining back my balance. “And don’t you dare laugh.” William was amused and then some.
“Relax”—he brushed the flaps of his jacket—“it’s not a big deal. You act like we haven’t touched each other before.”
Cooper cleared his throat and straightened in his seat. I shook my head, mostly to myself for being so stupid and getting caught up in this type of situation again, where I exist merely for William’s entertainment.
I looked over my shoulder and saw our SUV trapped behind a car that got stuck at a red light.
“Cooper,pleaseslow down.” His erratic style of driving was getting on my nerves. But he only answered to William, and he didn’t care about my security detail getting trapped in traffic, of course.
“I know how you wished they didn’t have to follow you around. Besides, we’re almost there.” William took a small aluminum box of cinnamon Altoids out of his inner coat pocket. “And—there they are,” he said, looking out through the back window.
I turned around again, and the SUV had now caught up with us. David was behind the wheel, and the SUV’s license plate was almost touching our car. They were that close.
Cooper couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. He seemed to be utterly enjoying the car chase. “Altoid?” William offered with an air of nonchalance. “It always helps soothe the nerves.”
So that’s the secret to his delicious cinnamon breath?
“Thanks,” I said, putting my hand out.If it helps soothe the nerves.
“Anyway … I’m so glad you decided to ditch Nathan,” he said, throwing a couple of mints on his tongue.
