Page 30 of Hard Lessons

I have to get out of the car.

Scream.

Get help.

Escape.

Serena looked around wildly as Paulo pulled into a deserted corner of the lot—deserted all except for one black-windowed Audi. A dribble of smoke came from a narrow gap in the driver’s window.

“Ah, there he is,” Paulo said.

Luca turned back to Serena. “You need to wear this. I don’t want us getting pulled over.” He drew the seatbelt over her, his knuckles brushing her right breast.

A shiver went through her chest and her belly clenched.

He clicked it secure, then looked into her eyes. “Are you scared?”

“No, I’m just really fucking angry with you.”

“I can understand that, really I can.” His jaw was tense. That was never a good sign. “It’s a feeling I’ve come to know well. Better than I ever wanted to in fact.”

She hesitated, not liking the undercurrents in his words. “Where are we going?”

“You said you needed a holiday. I’m taking you on one. You should be thanking me.”

“Fuck off, Luca.”

“Ah, I missed you.” He chuckled, a deep rumbling sound that came from deep in his chest—there was little humor in it though.

The BMW rolled to a stop. Paulo got out.

Luca took his place at the driver’s seat and fastened his safety belt.

“There’s food in that bag,” Paulo said. “Wasn’t sure if you’d be stopping on the way.”

“Nope, just going to get there.”

“Where?” Serena demanded. “Would someone tell me where the hell I’m going? Not that I want to go.”

Paulo looked at her. He licked his bottom lip. “You ever been to Scotland?”

Scotland. What the hell?“No. Why would I?”

“I hear it’s very beautiful,” Paulo went on. “Good for estranged lovers to heal a rift.”

“There is no rift healing going to happen and we’re not lov—”

The door slammed shut.

Serena was suddenly pressed back in her seat as Luca slipped the car into reverse and the wheels spun away from the parking space.

“I hope you get arrested again for that,” she snarled, trying to straighten as acceleration hampered her movements. “It would serve you right, you bastard.”

“Be nice, or I’ll gag that pretty mouth of yours.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me.”

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