Page 32 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

"I find you incredibly refreshing."

"Why, thank you, Tyler. But you didn't answer my question."

"You're a fucking ten, Hails."

I didn't dare turn my head toward him. I didn't want to see whether or not he was smiling and joking around with me. I wanted to believe he really did think I was attractive. And the way he had said it affected me in an embarrassing way. I pressed my thighs together.

"Not that it matters," he said. "Since you only think I'm a seven."

I didn't need to look at him to know that he was smiling now. It was strange how quickly you could feel like you really knew someone even after only a few days. I wanted to tell him that I was lying. Because Tyler Stevens was a fucking twelve.

The rain started to fall faster. I turned on the windshield wipers. The storm had come out of nowhere. It had been sunny five minutes ago.

"Do you want to switch with me? I don't mind driving."

"No, I got this." I leaned forward slightly. It was like someone was throwing buckets of water on our windshield.

"Really, I can..."

"I got this, Tyler. Don't you trust me?"

He laughed. "Not really."

I hit his arm and made sure not to wrap my fingers around his perfect biceps. "I just opened up to you about my biggest fears. Don't be an ass."

"My biggest fear currently is that you're going to drive us off the side of the road."

"I'm a good driver!" I leaned forward in my seat even more. It was almost impossible to see. But I refused to back down. All I could hear was the rain splattering against the car, making the whole thing shudder.

"Seriously, Hails, pull over. We can just wait out the storm. This is crazy." He put his hands on the dashboard and leaned forward to get a better look out the windshield.

And of course I stared at him. Because it was impossible for me to not stare. My eyes just loved gravitating toward him when he wasn't looking, when I couldn't be caught.

That's when the car slid. I slammed my foot on the break but nothing happened. Oh my God.

"Hit the break!" he yelled.

"I'm trying!" I tried to pump the breaks with my foot, but the car continued to swerve.

Tyler reached down and pulled the emergency break and the car started to slow just in time for it to collide with something.

My body jolted forward, pressed hard against the seatbelt, and then jolted back. It felt like my heart was beating out of my chest. I had almost killed us.

"Are you okay?"

Crap. Fuck. Shit. God, what had I just done?

"Hails, are you okay?" He touched my cheek and turned my face toward his.

The concern in his eyes was almost palpable. And just for a second, I didn't feel like I

had just royally fucked up. I felt safe. With his hand on me, I felt so content.

"I'm okay," I whispered.

He immediately dropped his hand from my cheek and opened up the door, stepping out into the torrential downpour.

"Tyler!" I yelled but he had already slammed the door.

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