Rise (Rise & Fall Duet #1) - Grahame Claire Page 0,27

Eric, it magnified by a thousand-fold when his voice was directed at me.

“Mr. Hollingsworth,” I said crisply. “Do you have a honey-bunny you come see every day at this building?”

Oh, Lexie. You have really stepped in it this time.

Eric was safely back in the van. I could gun it and disappear forever. Lincoln’s feet might be crushed in the process, but he’d heal. We could tell Cordelle Johnson we don’t deliver in this area any longer.

If I closed my eyes, was there a chance he’d evaporate?

His nostrils flared. “Have you delivered to Mrs. Johnson?”

“What’s a honey-bunny?”

How was I going to explain that one?

I’d answer the easy question first. “We’re looking for a parking spot.”

Lincoln slid the back door open. I twisted around to find him climbing inside.

“What are you doing?”

“Take the next right.” The order was dished out brusquely.

“We have deliveries to make. Don’t you have people you call to cart you around?” I snapped.

“Like a honey-bunny?” Eric asked.

If I wasn’t so irritated, I’d laugh. “Yes. Exactly like that.”

A car horn blared from behind.

“Take. The. Next. Right.”

I did get some small satisfaction I’d roused the unflappable Lincoln. I might not have been able to tell what was going on in his head before, but I had a clue now.

The car behind blew in a long sound as if someone had passed out with their head on the horn.

“See what you caused,” I said before squealing the tires as I zoomed forward.

I took the right turn too fast in hopes of tossing Lincoln about. Instead, boxes of dog food shifted and crashed. I dreaded to see the mess I’d made.

“Slow down. And turn here.”

I slammed on the brakes, narrowly missing the gate that blocked our path.

“Here.” Lincoln thrust a white credit card looking thing at me. “Wave it in front of the sensor.”

I did as instructed and the gate lifted. Once it was clear, I descended the ramp into the underground garage.

When I glanced in the rearview mirror, the gate was already closing. And it wasn’t one of those arm thingies anyone could get around. This was a floor to ceiling, no-escape metal one.

At the bottom of the ramp were ten parking spaces. One lone vehicle occupied the garage. Some sort of SUV I’d never seen before.

“Park there.” Lincoln motioned to the spot closest to the elevator.

I did as instructed, even though I wanted to disobey just to spite him.

“This is cool,” Eric said, already halfway out of the van by the time I turned it off.

“Honey-bunny won’t be too happy about this,” I muttered to myself as I jumped to the concrete floor.

My heels clicked when I rounded to the other side of the van. Lincoln was out, and Eric peered inside.

“Hey, sis. How do we know which one is Mrs. Johnson’s?”

Boxes were topsy-turvy in the back. My temper tantrum was going to cost us time, but hopefully none of our product.

“We’ll just have to dig it out. Like an Easter egg hunt,” I said with forced brightness.

“Fun!” Eric leaped into the back and began sorting boxes.

Heat warmed my back.

That crazy good scent filled my nose.

Warm breath hit my ear. “I don’t have a honey-bunny.”

I shivered and clutched a stray box I’d picked up. When I turned my head, a close-up view of a strong, stubbled jaw greeted me. I hadn’t been this close to a guy since high school. That was a long time ago, and Lincoln was no teenage boy. He was all man.

I didn't like the way my pulse picked up speed, completely out of my control. He elicited an excitement I’d never felt, that I shouldn’t feel. And as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t stop it.

“Maybe if you did, you wouldn’t be such an ass,” I whisper-hissed.

Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.

My phone vibrated against my thigh from the front pocket of my dress. I scrambled for it, accidentally brushing against him in my haste. It was a sensory overload. He was too close, and that touch sent a shot of lightning zipping through me.

I checked the caller ID and didn’t recognize the number. Being in business for ourselves meant no call went unanswered.

“Hello.” My voice was breathless, affected. I hated Lincoln heard what he’d caused.

“Hi, baby doll. Daddy’s out of jail and needs to see you. Now.”

Chapter Sixteen

Lincoln

Lexie stabbed the end button on her phone.

The color drained from her face, and she swayed on her heels.

I caught her elbow to steady her. She didn’t seem to notice.

“Who was that?” Eric glanced up but continued to sort