Not Just Friends (Hot in the City #3) - T. Gephart Page 0,35
really your biggest fan, right? Trying to sneak in didn’t win you any popularity contests. But if you are offering a ride, then I might just take you up on it. It will save me calling for one.”
If it made her feel better to think of me as her chauffeur, then I could live with that. Mack had apparently offered to do a similar thing with his woman. And if the mood he was in the day after was anything to go by, it had worked out for him. Not that it was the same thing, but when it came to being a decent guy, someone dependable who people turned to, he was pretty much the pinnacle. Shit, I probably respected the chief more than my own dad—and I loved the hell out of my pops—so that was saying something.
“Then it’s settled. Got everything you need?” I asked, waiting to see if she was ready to go.
She nodded, grabbing her handbag and phone. “Yep, all good.”
I followed her out the door, standing beside her as she locked up and then we continued down to the lobby. I’d expected her to take the elevator, but she walked the six flights of stairs in heels without breaking a sweat. Not that I was questioning her stamina, I’d seen firsthand just how in shape she was.
My Mustang was waiting downstairs where I’d left it a few hours earlier. I’d been lucky to find some off-street parking which was one of the benefits in finishing a shift early in the morning. Was fairly sure I wouldn’t be so fortunate when we got back, but that wasn’t stopping me from leaving the prized space.
“Don’t you think it would be more fuel efficient to drive something else?” She settled into the passenger seat and buckled up while watching me do the same. “Might be worth considering trading this in for a hybrid.”
If it had been anyone else, I’d have assumed she was serious. After all, I worked and lived within a few blocks, and other than visiting my family out on Long Island, I didn’t get the opportunity to stretch her legs very often. But I’d wanted a silver Mustang since watching Jolie and Cage trying to boost Elenore in Gone in 60 Seconds. Lusted over that car before I’d even discovered girls, that ’67 Shelby Cobra was my first real crush. And while my income didn’t allow me to have that baby, I went ahead and got the next best thing. A brand-new silver Shelby GT350—Elenore’s sexy, lower maintenance, younger sister, Elena.
“I’d sooner pimp my ass on a street corner for gas money than get rid of my car.” I hit the ignition, giving the dash a little rub. And considering what the repayments were, it wasn’t such a stretch. But there’d be a cold day in hell before I’d be driving a hybrid.
She laughed, knowing exactly how much I loved my car. “Just make sure you get a good price, don’t go under valuing your ass.”
“Thanks, I’ll be sure to call you in for the consult.” I smirked, the stupid comment about me prostituting myself making me irrationally turned on.
I was one sick puppy, that much was clear.
Without asking, she hit one of the presets on the stereo, changing the station. The inside of the car filled up with the smell of her perfume, my eyes finding their way to her side of the car more times than was necessary. She was oblivious of course, her head down scanning emails on her phone, while I tried to make sure I didn’t end up hitting a sidewalk or someone’s bumper.
Fuck, she was beautiful.
And even though I’d wanted her for a goddamn long time, now that I’d had her, that compulsion was getting harder to fight.
Like déjà vu, I pulled into the staff parking lot of her club and cut the engine. I had just undone my seat belt, ready to pop my door when her hand landed on my chest. “Look, I know you said you wanted to hang around, but I’m going to be fine inside. How about we compromise? You can watch me walk in, see I’m safe and sound and then you can go do whatever it is you need to do. I’ll be a couple of hours. Then if you still feel like you need to play bodyguard, you can pick me up later and we’ll have an early dinner. I assume you’re going to be our guest tonight?” Her beautiful