Not Just Friends (Hot in the City #3) - T. Gephart Page 0,37

cab.”

“You’re not getting a cab.” The argument over before it was started, his gaze searing me.

So much for it not being weird.

“Well then, we should go.”

Neither of us moved, our bodies inches away from each other as the sexual tension hung in the air.

“Leighton?”

I hoped calling him that would help but it didn’t. He was Jared, and Jared was looking at me like he wanted to eat me with a spoon.

He sucked in a breath, nodding his head with an unspoken resolve. “Yeah, we should go.”

At least that’s what his mouth said, but his eyes were saying something different.

We took the elevator, the enclosed space making it worse. There were still no ground rules for what we were doing, so for all I knew pushing him up against the wall and kissing the hell out of him would be perfectly okay. As long as we stayed friends, right?

“Uh hm,” I cleared my throat, feeling hot despite wearing a dress that didn’t cover much. I was going to freeze outside for sure, but I welcomed that feeling over the inferno currently radiating in my core.

The elevator pinged, the doors flying open as we reached the bottom. Jared’s arm-braced the door, holding it open as I went ahead. I could feel the weight of his stare. His eyes on me as I walked slightly ahead, his strides only taking a step or two before he was right beside me.

“The car is parked a street away, why don’t you wait here, and I’ll pull up in front.” His voice was rough around the edges, as he stopped in front of the glass door.

It should’ve been a question but it wasn’t, his feet rooted in place as he turned to face me. “It’s cold out.”

He wasn’t telling me something I didn’t already know. I’d meant to grab a jacket or coat on my way out but stumbled on the Jekyll/Hyde transformation in my living room. There was only so much I could recover before leaving, and insuring I didn’t freeze to death had rated low. Probably since I was running so hot, I was actually looking forward to it. Clearly I had issues and didn’t want to advertise that.

“I’m fine, I’ll warm up in the car,” I responded with hopefully enough sass he’d assume I was being difficult. I had a habit of not liking being told what to do so it fit the narrative, and I’d rather him believe that than know I had issues.

He looked like he wanted to argue, not opening the door despite his hand on the handle. His eyes flicked down to my dress giving it a final inspection before pushing open the glass and allowing me to walk through.

I could feel the tension in his body, evident his muscles were tight even underneath the Tee. He hadn’t worn a jacket either, his toned arms flexing as they pressed against the door.

It gave me a twisted kind of pleasure to know I wasn’t the only one suffering, wondering if that was going to be the theme for the night. At least once we got to Diablo I’d be too busy to notice, industry night Mondays almost as crazy as my Saturday nights.

My heels hit the sidewalk, clicking on the concrete as he directed us to where he was parked. It wasn’t close, the air hitting my skin like a slap and making me shiver as I walked.

He glanced over, his mouth opening like he was going to comment and then thought better of it. Good, talking would show my teeth chattering, and I didn’t want to confirm he was right—that I’d be cold—even if I was freezing.

Doing my best not to shiver the entire way, we made it to his silver Mustang before frostbite set in. Just as well too, because losing a toe or an arm would have totally ruined the esthetic of the dress. He hit the fob, the locks clicking open and I had to literally stop myself from throwing my body into the car. He shook his head as he walked around to the driver’s side, pretending not to notice as I huffed into my hands and tried to warm up. Hey, he could judge all he wanted, I said I didn’t need a coat, and I’d made it without complaining, hadn’t I?

Being inside the car definitely took care of one issue. He had the ignition on and the heat blasting simulating a tropical day in Hawaii before we’d even pulled away from the curb.