only—free champagne. I’ll fix you up with a friend of mine to send a message to Mr. Beautiful Nightmare loud and clear that your legs are not open for his business. Watch how fast he finds a new flavor of the week.”
Glad she was easily persuaded into going with me through my slight manipulation, I grinned at her. “You’re fixing me up?”
“I would never do you wrong, girl. He’s a hottie. Trust me.”
DURING OUR WALK through the parking lot on the way to her car, we were alerted by the roaring engine of a black car. The car pulled in front of us, halting our navigation through the lot. The passenger side door swung open, revealing Elias in the driver’s seat. His dimples appeared deeply implanted in the center of his cheeks when he grinned at me.
Skylar muttered a few choice words under her breath and yanked my arm to make me keep walking.
Recoiling from her, I shook my head. I bent down with my hands on my thighs to regard Elias from the passenger side. Despite the sudden onset of shivers, I fought hard to appear coolheaded. “I’m not sure why you are so persistent. I know there are prettier girls who would like your attention.”
He immediately got out of the car and came over to me. “Ley?” He opened the passenger door a little wider. His seductive smile was no longer there. “I would like your attention. Stop the games and get in the car.”
“Asshole,” Skylar spat. “He thinks it’s his right to just shorten your name and boss you around.”
“What was that, Sky ?” Glowering at Skylar, Elias raised his brows and stepped toward her. “I don’t think you’d like for me to embarrass you in front of your new friend with the truth I’m sure you conveniently forgot to tell her while you were very busy spreading lies about me.”
Skylar suddenly had an issue holding Elias’s stare.
Elias’s piercing gaze settled on my face. “Better now?”
My attention darted between the two of them. Their cryptic exchange reinforced the notion they had personal dealings in the past. The exact extent of their relationship would surely be unwrapped someday.
Skylar quietly bade me goodbye and headed to her car alone.
“Okay,” I said to Elias as I watched Skylar walk away.
“Were you unable to get your car repaired?” Elias asked, driving a little more carefully than he did the first time I’d gotten into his car.
Concerned about how he knew, I eyed him through the corner of my eye. “How did you know about my car?”
“I have an opportunity that might solve your problem,” he intoned, ignoring my question with very little effort. “My brother put one of his cars on the market. If you’re interested, it’s yours.”
“You have a brother?” The skepticism in my voice was for reason. I had no knowledge of him having another brother—especially not one living in the same town. It was either a well-guarded secret, or a lie.
“Whenever you’d like to take a look at the car, we’ll go together.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I'm sure I couldn’t afford it.”
Appearing troubled with my answer, he squinted at me, glancing between me and the traffic ahead. “I haven’t told you the price.”
“Is it reasonable?”
“He’ll cut you deal. In the meantime, I can take you to and from work. If you reject my help again, I might feel inclined to give you whiplash, and my actions might cause an accident. Think on it carefully, Hanley. I’m not someone who threatens without following through.”
I looked around skeptically at the stream of lights, brightening up the interior of car during the dark of night. The street lights waved back and forth across my lap, entrancing me.
“I’m offering.” The statement wasn’t open and definitely impeded my ability to make a decision. It was clear there was only one way my answer could go—his way. “Take the offer. Are you always this difficult? Or is this due to the lies Skylar filled your head with?” He audibly sighed.
Glad she was easily persuaded into going with me through my slight manipulation, I grinned at her. “You’re fixing me up?”
“I would never do you wrong, girl. He’s a hottie. Trust me.”
DURING OUR WALK through the parking lot on the way to her car, we were alerted by the roaring engine of a black car. The car pulled in front of us, halting our navigation through the lot. The passenger side door swung open, revealing Elias in the driver’s seat. His dimples appeared deeply implanted in the center of his cheeks when he grinned at me.
Skylar muttered a few choice words under her breath and yanked my arm to make me keep walking.
Recoiling from her, I shook my head. I bent down with my hands on my thighs to regard Elias from the passenger side. Despite the sudden onset of shivers, I fought hard to appear coolheaded. “I’m not sure why you are so persistent. I know there are prettier girls who would like your attention.”
He immediately got out of the car and came over to me. “Ley?” He opened the passenger door a little wider. His seductive smile was no longer there. “I would like your attention. Stop the games and get in the car.”
“Asshole,” Skylar spat. “He thinks it’s his right to just shorten your name and boss you around.”
“What was that, Sky ?” Glowering at Skylar, Elias raised his brows and stepped toward her. “I don’t think you’d like for me to embarrass you in front of your new friend with the truth I’m sure you conveniently forgot to tell her while you were very busy spreading lies about me.”
Skylar suddenly had an issue holding Elias’s stare.
Elias’s piercing gaze settled on my face. “Better now?”
My attention darted between the two of them. Their cryptic exchange reinforced the notion they had personal dealings in the past. The exact extent of their relationship would surely be unwrapped someday.
Skylar quietly bade me goodbye and headed to her car alone.
“Okay,” I said to Elias as I watched Skylar walk away.
“Were you unable to get your car repaired?” Elias asked, driving a little more carefully than he did the first time I’d gotten into his car.
Concerned about how he knew, I eyed him through the corner of my eye. “How did you know about my car?”
“I have an opportunity that might solve your problem,” he intoned, ignoring my question with very little effort. “My brother put one of his cars on the market. If you’re interested, it’s yours.”
“You have a brother?” The skepticism in my voice was for reason. I had no knowledge of him having another brother—especially not one living in the same town. It was either a well-guarded secret, or a lie.
“Whenever you’d like to take a look at the car, we’ll go together.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I'm sure I couldn’t afford it.”
Appearing troubled with my answer, he squinted at me, glancing between me and the traffic ahead. “I haven’t told you the price.”
“Is it reasonable?”
“He’ll cut you deal. In the meantime, I can take you to and from work. If you reject my help again, I might feel inclined to give you whiplash, and my actions might cause an accident. Think on it carefully, Hanley. I’m not someone who threatens without following through.”
I looked around skeptically at the stream of lights, brightening up the interior of car during the dark of night. The street lights waved back and forth across my lap, entrancing me.
“I’m offering.” The statement wasn’t open and definitely impeded my ability to make a decision. It was clear there was only one way my answer could go—his way. “Take the offer. Are you always this difficult? Or is this due to the lies Skylar filled your head with?” He audibly sighed.
Similar Books
