Hunter shrugged.
And it was surely the right one.
Watching as he stepped out into the night, Lily dragged a shaking hand up to her hair, staring around the room and blinking at the normality of it. Surely somehow the windows should be broken, tables and chairs should upended, that there should be some evidence of the seismic shift that that had just taken place.
What the hell had happened there? Lily tried to fathom, her breathing still coming out short and uneven, her heart still thumping loudly in her chest, every sense on high alert as if she’d just chased out an intruder. He’d offered her a jacket, for heaven’s sake, yet she felt as if they’d kissed, more than kissed…She felt as if he’d seen inside her, felt inside her.
Flicking off the lights and stepping out into the pelting rain, Lily was actually grateful for the sting of the wind and rain, the cool change incredibly welcome after such a scorching encounter. Locking up behind her, Lily made a mad dash across the car park, her suit clinging to her drenched body, her French roll uncoiling as she unlocked the car door and, shivering, jumped inside, dreaming of a bubble bath up to her neck to soothe away the tension of the day…
It wasn’t over yet!
The day that had started so badly with a phone call from her mortgage broker went from seriously bad to downright disastrous as her engine spluttered noisily, emanating a huge grating sound that seemed to get louder with each and every frantic turn of her key. A mechanic Lily wasn’t—truth be known she didn’t even know where the catch was to lift the bonnet—but even to Lily’s untrained ears the sound was perilous enough to tell her that the only journey her car was taking tonight was on the back of the vehicle rescue truck.
The passenger door opening momentarily panicked her—she’d thought the car park was empty and Lily wasn’t sure if it was the force of the rain and wind that caused her to catch her breath or the gorgeous but somewhat intimidating sight of Hunter climbing in beside her.
‘Most people knock on the window,’ Lily reprimanded.
‘I’m not like most people. ‘Problem?’ he added, stating the obvious for the second time since he’d climbed in the car beside her, because he really wasn’t like most people.
He disturbed her.
Spun her into a state of heightened nervousness, though not for her safety. An excellent judge of character, there was nothing in his personality that made Lily feel that her safety was compromised, her nervousness, her state of hyper-vigilance when he was around entirely due to the dangerous feelings he evoked.
‘Do you know anything about cars?’
‘I like silver ones.’ He gave a dry smile as Lily gritted her teeth. ‘I suppose I could do the macho thing and ask you to pop the bonnet and stand there staring for a few thoughtful moments—are you wearing stockings?’
‘What?’ Lily did a double-take. ‘What on earth has that got to do with anything?’
‘I saw it on a film, I think…’ He frowned for a moment. ‘Or did I read it? Anyway, it’s entirely irrelevant because I’d have no idea what to do even if you were wearing them—I haven’t a clue about cars.’
‘Well, thanks for your help.’ Lily gave a tight smile.
‘I haven’t given you any help yet,’ he pointed out. ‘Why don’t I give you a lift home? You can sort out the car in the morning.’
‘I’ll be fine,’ Lily said, reaching for her mobile phone. ‘I’ll ring the rescue service.’
‘They could be a while. Cars will be breaking down and skidding into each other all over the place tonight.’
‘Then it’s just as well I’m a patient person.’ Despite her curt refusal of his offer, Hunter made no move to go. In fact, he didn’t even shift himself as Lily was forced to lean over him and delve into her rather messy glove box and retrieve her car manual. He sat drumming his fingers on his leg as Lily rang the number and after an impossibly lengthy time of being placed on hold she gave in and punched in the number for a taxi.
‘No luck?’ Hunter asked needlessly, having listened to her rather exasperated one-sided conversation.
‘I’ve been placed in the queue.’
Which meant she was there for the duration. Staring out into the dark night, the rain lashing at her windscreen and no prospect of escape for the next couple of hours at best, Lily decided that if he offered again she’d let him take her home. After all, she’d been worried about him driving—this way she could make sure that he was OK and give him a quick coffee before he headed off to his house.
Happy with her decision, she waited expectantly, a frown forming on her face as Hunter opened the passenger door.
‘Well, good luck,’ he said. ‘I hope you’re not waiting too long.’
Damn! Lily cursed in her mind as he swung his legs out, yet still she was sure he was testing her, sure that he would offer again.
But clearly he wasn’t into games. Even as the thought formed she was privy to the rather gorgeous sight of him, lean and long-legged, briskly walking across to his car, and Lily knew if she didn’t do something she’d be stuck her for ages, knew that he’d left it to her to make the next move.
A man like Hunter didn’t need to offer his services twice.
Even as she threw her keys and phone in her bag and opened the car door, even as she locked her vehicle and dashed across to his sleek silver car, Lily knew the decision she’d made, though on the surface it appeared rational, was perhaps the most dangerous, illogical thing she’d done in her life. Thumbing a lift on the freeway would possibly be more sensible—better the devil you didn’t know perhaps. Yet she wanted to do this and was curiously elated that fate had intervened and her brief dalliance with this unforgettable man wasn’t yet over.
His headlights came on, illuminating her in the darkness, and for a second Lily froze, blinking into them, drenched and exposed. She could envision the glint of the triumphant smile that was surely gracing that surly, beautiful mouth. This was a man who liked to be in control.
Unlike Hunter, who’d so boldly climbed into her vehicle, Lily went to tap on his window, but already he’d opened it, staring up as if he’d been expecting her, his hair damp and flopping over his forehead, music wafting out of the car’s stereo, his hands loosely holding the leather-covered steering-wheel. Never had a car looked more inviting or more dangerous.
‘That lift you offered.’ Her teeth were chattering and it had nothing to do with the temperature. Despite the pelting rain, the night was still warm, the shiver running through her having everything to do with his eyes lazily drifting over her before finally deigning to meet hers. ‘If you still don’t mind…’ Still he stared, not saying anything, forcing her to ask him outright. ‘I’d love a lift home.’
‘Sure.’ With the tiniest motion of his head he gestured to the passenger side and Lily dashed around, her heart in her mouth as she opened the door and climbed in, feeling the soft leather on her damp legs, the warmth of his car stifling, the music too loud, his erotic scent stronger in the stuffy, luxurious confines, every sense bombarded with confusing messages as she momentarily entered the world of this intriguing man.
Конец
