Cherry Creek - Dani Matthews Page 0,11

bus stops. I have no clue how I am going to get around town.

I’m feeling tense as Trace backs out of the parking space and begins to navigate the airport parking lot. My new life starts the minute I arrive at Khristos's place. I'm beyond wary, and in a way, I feel like I'm blindfolded. I can't foresee what's ahead of me. Nothing is familiar, and only time will tell whether this move is going to cause me more harm than good. It's the not knowing that grates on my nerves.

I never considered myself the controlling type. I'm level-headed and naturally calm. But now that I'm in this predicament, I am desperate for some kind of control. Instead, I feel vulnerable and blind.

“How was your flight?”

Trace's voice startles me slightly, causing me to glance at him. His attention is focused on the traffic before us, so I take a moment to study him. He has some hair tucked behind his right ear, allowing me full view of his handsome features. My eyes drop lower, and I see that his short-sleeved shirt is now tight around his bicep as he keeps a relaxed hold on the steering wheel. The man is pure masculine perfection.

Okay, this is getting downright exasperating. I tear my gaze from him and look out my window, my jaw clenching slightly. I'm practically salivating over him. Brad was my boyfriend for a year and I never, ever felt this way towards him. These feeling are new. I don't think I like them.

“You're not scared of me, are you?” Trace asks as he slants me a look.

His question has my head turning, my eyes darting to his. I find his attention is focused entirely on me, his gray eyes fixated on mine. I see concern in their depths. It's evident that it bothers him that I might fear him.

“I don't know you,” I declare. “Trust isn't blindly given. It's earned.”

“True,” he agrees as he turns his attention back to the road. “But just to clarify my intentions, I won't hurt you. The exact opposite, actually. I work for Khristos, which means I'm at your beck and call if you need anything.”

What I want are answers. Why am I here? Who is Khristos really? But getting those answers out of Trace would be impossible. Trace's loyalty is to Khristos.

Instead of dwelling on my predicament, I try to make conversation. Knowledge is power, right? “I've never heard of Cherry Creek,” I comment as I go back to staring out my window. All Khristos had told me is that it's a large town about thirty minutes west of Minneapolis.

“It's a nice town. Granted, it's not like the city, but it's got its perks. And anything it doesn't have, the cities will certainly have,” he assures.

“Where exactly does Khristos live? Is it in the more populated part of town? Does it even have a downtown district?” I ask with unconcealed interest.

“Khristos lives on the edge of town, so no, he doesn't live in the center of it. And yes, there is a downtown. It consists of several blocks of stores and restaurants and whatnot. As I said, it's not like the city, but I promise you won't be bored. There's plenty to do in Cherry Creek.”

I glance at him. “What does Khristos do for a living?”

“He owns a club in Minneapolis.”

“What kind of club?”

Trace turns his head and looks at me curiously, amusement lingering in his gaze. “What kind of club do you think he owns?”

My eyes narrow. “I hope it's the kind where the women keep their clothes on.”

Masculine laughter fills the interior of the SUV, and it causes tingles to trek up my spine. The feel of those stupid tingles has me cursing all over again in my head. What is up with this crazy attraction I feel towards him? Isn't there a way to shut it off? Or ignore it somehow?

“Yes, the women keep their clothes on,” he answers as his lip quirks slightly in the corner. His attention turns back to his driving. “It's a dance club.”

“Does he do anything else?” I press.

“I think you'd have to ask him. I don't have all the details, but I think he owns shares in a few other businesses.”

I kind of already figured Khristos is a businessman of some sort or else he comes from old money. The minute I'd seen him in his designer clothes and spied the watch on his wrist, I'd known he came from a world of wealth.