* * *
“You’re not going to be able to walk back,” Adam said.
She glanced at her foot still elevated on the chair. Breakfast was over, and her heart started thumping against her chest the way it did just before panic set in. She needed more time. She hadn’t found out anything personal about Adam yet, other than he was filthy rich and truly had mad first aid skills. Her foot was feeling much better, wrapped tightly, but she hadn’t tried to get up yet. Adam had carried her to her seat on the shaded veranda.
She knew her flip-flops would flop. She couldn’t walk in them in the sand, not with the bandage on her foot.
“I don’t have a choice.”
Adam cocked his head to the side, and his lips twisted. “I have a car, you know.”
She began shaking her head. “I can’t impose on your day any more. I’ll get back on my own.”
She pulled her legs down and scooted her chair back as she rose. “You’ve already done en—” Searing jabs pricked at the ball of her foot. She clenched her teeth and keeled to the right, taking pressure off the wound. She grabbed for the table, and Adam was beside her instantly, his big hands bracing her shoulders.
“Whoa. See, I didn’t think you could walk.”
“I, uh.” Her shoulders fell. “Maybe you’re right.”
And for the third time today, she was lifted up in Adam’s strong arms. He’d excused himself while Mary was cooking breakfast and taken a quick shower and now his scent wafted to her nose—a strong, clean, entirely too sexy smell that floated all around her.
“This is getting to be a habit,” she said softly.
He made a quick adjustment, tucking her gently in again, and gave her a glance. “It’s necessary.”
“And you always do what’s necessary?”
“I try to.”
He began walking, then stopped and bent his body so she could grab her turquoise flip-flops off the kitchen counter. “Got them?”
“I got them.”
“Hang on.”
She was. Clinging to him and enjoying the ride.
Adam carried Mia down a long corridor heading to the garage. After traveling about twenty steps, the hallway opened to a giant circular room and a streamlined convertible Rolls-Royce popped into her line of vision. The car, a work of art in itself, was parked showroom-style in the center of the round room. She’d never seen such luxury before and was suddenly stunningly aware of the vast differences between Adam Chase and Mia D’Angelo.
She took her eyes off the car and scanned the room. A gallery of framed artwork hung on the surrounding walls and her gaze stopped on a brilliant mosaic mural that encompassed about one-third of the gallery. Her mouth hung open in awe. She pressed her lips together tightly and hoped her gawking wasn’t noticed.
“Adam, you have your own bat cave?”
His lips twitched. He surveyed the room thoughtfully. “No one’s ever described it quite like that before,” he said.
“How many people have seen this?”
“Not many.”
“Ah, so it is your bat cave. You keep it a secret.”
“I had this idea when I was designing the house and it wouldn’t leave me alone. I had to see it through.”
Score one for his perseverance.
“I don’t know much about great works of art, but this gallery is amazing. Are you an art junkie?” she asked.
“More like I appreciate beauty. In all forms.” His eyes touched over her face, admiring, measuring and thoughtful. Heat prickled at the back of her neck. If he was paying her a compliment, she wouldn’t acknowledge it verbally. She couldn’t help it if having a gorgeous man hold her in her arms and whisper sweet words in her ear made her bead up with sweat. But she wasn’t here to flirt, fawn or fantasize. She needed to finesse answers out of him. Period.
He stepped onto the platform that housed the car and opened the passenger door of the Rolls-Royce. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you home.”
“In this? How? I mean, the car’s a part of your gallery. And in case you haven’t noticed, there’s no garage door anywhere.” She double-checked her surroundings. No, she wasn’t mistaken. But just in case the bat cave had secret walls, she asked, “Is there?”
“No, no garage door, but an elevator.”
Again her gaze circled the room. “Where?”
“We’re standing on it. Now let me get you into the car.”
Buttery leather seats cushioned her bottom as he lowered her into the Rolls, his beautiful Nordic face inches from her. The scent of him surrounded her in a halo of arousing aroma. Her breath hitched, she hoped silently. Mia, stop drooling.
“Can you manage the seat belt?” he asked.
Her foot was all bandaged up, not her hands, but still a fleeting thought touched her mind of Adam gently tucking her into the seat belt. “Of course.”
He backed away and came around to the other end of the car and climbed in. “Ready?”
“For?”
“Don’t be alarmed. We’re going to start moving down.”
He pressed a few buttons, and noises that sounded like a plane’s landing gear opening up, filled the room. Mia had a faint notion that they were going to take off somehow. But then the platform began a slow and easy descent as the main floor of Adam’s house began to disappear. Grandma Tess would call it an “E” ticket ride.
She looked up and the ceiling was closing again, kind of like the Superdome. Adam’s gallery had a replacement floor. If he designed this, he was certainly an architectural and mechanical genius.
Score one more for Adam Chase.
Smooth as glass, they landed in a garage on the street level. More noises erupted, she imagined to secure the car elevator onto the ground floor. Inside the spacious garage, three other cars were parked. “Were these cars out of gas?” she asked.
A chuckle rumbled from his throat. “I thought this would be fastest and easier for you. And to be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve taken the Rolls out.”
She liked honesty, but surely he wasn’t trying to impress her? He’d already done that the second he’d strode out of the ocean and come to her aid.
A
