with stone cold features. “Get on the bike.”
I cross my arms, returning the glare, “No.”
“Get on the bike, Tori.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you right now.”
“Get on the fucking bike!” I jump, shocked at the sound of his booming voice. How dare he fucking yell at me? I open my mouth to protest, but he beats me to it.
“Yes, I yelled at you, but do me a favor and get on the bike before I lose my shit completely.”
I maneuver around him, giving him a wide berth before finally planting my ass on the back of his bike. Arguing with him, right around the corner from the restaurant, isn’t the best idea because I still have an image to uphold. He hands me the helmet and barely gives me enough time to fasten it before he’s taking off. I grab onto him tight and hold on for dear life using the time on the bike to clear my mind and calm down. The last thing I need is to be angry right now. Anger only makes me say and do things I’ll no doubt regret later. The moment the bike comes to a stop in front of my building, I jump off, wasting no time to gain distance from Nathan. I fumble with the strap of the helmet and toss it to him when I finally get it off.
“You had no right to pull me away from my meeting back there. You made me look like an idiot.”
“Because having dinner with a known criminal isn’t idiotic enough?”
I take a step forward getting right in his face. “Don’t you dare call me an idiot, Captain Caveman.”
“I didn’t call you an idiot, genius.”
“Nice.”
“I’m sorry, but I care about you. I don’t want to see you get hurt because you’re dealing with the wrong people. What happens to you if he’s not satisfied with his wife’s care? You cannot trust a man like that.”
“You don’t get to decide that for me. How did you know where I was, anyway?”
“I didn’t. That’s one of my favorite restaurants, and I was picking up an order.”
“Oh.”
“Tori.”
“Don’t call me that,” I whisper. He smiles at me and it reaches me everywhere, right to the heart of me, and I can’t help but to wish that his smile belonged to me. That I could command it to rise, like the sun does daily, and beam down on me, lighting me up from the inside out. I have to remind myself that I’m currently mad at him.
“Okay, Tori,” he says with a chuckle.
I lower my face to try to hide the hint of a smile tugging at my lips, but he’s not having it. He reaches over to me, placing his thumb and forefinger under my chin to lift my head until our gazes meet.
“You shouldn’t hide your smile. It’s a pretty smile,” he says, releasing my face.
I say nothing in response. I can’t formulate words, can’t manage a simple thank-you, because my mind is stuck. I’m stuck on his words. A simple touch from him makes me feel so much. I’m not sure what to do or say now; do I say good night here or ask him to come inside? He makes the decision for me, placing his hand on the small of my back, sending shivers throughout my already cold body. He nudges me gently, forcing my body to move. We enter the building and I muddle through my purse for my keys as we reach the door to my apartment.
“Do you need help?”
I shake my head, unable to regain composure enough to speak. I finally find the keys and start searching for the right one.
“Open the door, Tori,” he commands softly.
I feel his breath on the back of my neck, making my whole body flush with something I can’t explain. My hand feels shaky as I try to insert the key in the lock; he must notice it because he covers my hand with his, guiding the key in and turning it until the lock clicks open. His hand stays on mine as I turn the key back and pull it out. He takes them from me, turns the knob, and pushes the door open. I can feel the push from the hand still resting on the small of my back as I enter my darkened apartment. I hear the keys hit the entryway table and the door shut behind me. Taking a deep breath, I reach over to the light switch, needing to illuminate