Chapter 7

Seven

SARA

Okay,so I wasn’t actually slugged with a sledgehammer, but I might as well have been. Mr. Iced Double walked toward me and I nearly fainted when I saw him. I came-to as a spike of adrenaline surged from my gut, trying to shoot my heart out of my chest. The sight of him would’ve knocked me off my feet were it not for the roots sprouting from my feet. Anchored to the ground, I stood solid as an oak tree.

He came closer, and spotting the hood open, glanced over my shoulder.

Afraid any sudden sound or movement would startle me awake from my dream, I held my breath.

“Car trouble?” he asked, his lips curled to one side.

I slowly released the air trapped in my lungs. “Um…” was all that came out. The English language might as well have been a lost ancient tongue. Befuddled and unable to speak, I simply nodded yes.

“Want me to look under the hood for you?”

Blood rushed to the surface of my skin as other thoughts not related to my car flipped through my mind. I ran a nervous hand through my hair, shaking the thoughts out of my head before he could notice.

Get it together, Sara.

I cleared my throat. “Oh, you mean the hood of my car?”

The confused expression on his face said it all.

Dumbass, what other hood is there?

“I…mean…you can’t…I mean…” I rambled. As I stared at his weary eyes, I sucked in a deep breath and gathered my thoughts. “What I mean is, you can’t look under the hood because the asshole who parked this SUV apparently thinks he owns the streets or something.”

His eyebrows pinched into a tight knot. “Asshole, huh?” Iced Double took something out of his pocket, clicked it, and the Range Rover unlocked.

My cheeks turned to hot coals.

Shit. Asshole-Jersey-Driver.

He walked over to the curb, examined his parking job, and placing his hands on his waist, he confirmed my accusation with a chuckle. “I guess I did park like an asshole.”

“Look, I didn’t mean to call you an—”

He narrowed his eyes. “—hey, you’re the coffee girl from today.”

Wait. Did he recognize me?

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I played stupid.

“We’ve been running into each other lately.” He waited for a response. “You almost fell earlier…I caught you…” He slowly tilted his head, his eyes bright with the hope he’d jogged my memory.

The mini-me inside my head did back flips and cartwheels. He remembered me.He remembered me. The words echoed in my mind. Thankfully, I knew how to keep my inside voice, inside.

He dropped his gaze, disappointment washing over his eyes. “I’m sorry. I thought you might have recognized me. Now I feel like an idiot.”

Great, he thinks I’m an ice queen.

In reality, my beating muscle was on overdrive, pumping boiling blood through my veins. I struggled to stay composed, sweat beading down my back. I needed to break out of the iceberg containing my volcano or the night would end in an epic fail of monumental proportions. “Oh, wait. You’re the guy from today? Yeah, I think I remember now. Sorry I didn’t recognize you.”

Liar.

“Oh.” He forced a tight grin, further confirming his disappointment.

“And…here we are running into each other again,” I said with a smile, trying to make him feel better. “Or are you stalking me or something, coffee guy?”

Light returned to his eyes, accompanied by that curling lip. “I don’t think so, coffee girl. I think you’re the stalker.”

My eyes widened as I stared in horror.

His smile stretched wider. “Relax, I’m joking. It’s a pleasant coincidence though.”

I looked away, trying not to turn into a melted puddle of goo. He walked to the front of the Rover and in that velvety voice of his, he said, “Let me move the car up so we can take a look at what’s happening under there.”

Iced Double was positively stunning in his black, button-down shirt, which he left untucked and slightly folded at the wrists. His dark designer boot-cut jeans sat just below the waist. He finished off his outfit with black leather, tapered-toe boots.

Stepping out of the car, he did a short jog back to my Jeep. He lifted the hood higher and handed me a small silver flashlight he pulled from his back pocket. Olive Eyes folded his sleeves higher, exposing his chorded forearms. They were dusted in fine, dark hair. I couldn’t stop staring at his big masculine hands. He tucked his head under the hood and I handed him the flashlight. My hand gently skimmed over his skin, excitement surging through my body.

He poked around the machinery. I didn’t know what he was doing, but there was something sexy about watching him work under the hood of my car. After a few moments, he popped his head back up. “It’s your battery.”

“So, what now?”

“I can jump you.”

My saliva caught in my throat and I swallowed hard—down the wrong pipe. “Jump me?” I coughed.

Is there anything he can say that won’t cause my mind to head dive into the effing gutter?

“You all right?” he asked, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes as I continued to spurt out little coughs.

I forced the frog out of my throat with a fist pump to my chest, blinking away wetness and taking a deep breath. “I’m good.”

“I’ll get my jumper cables. Just turn the ignition when I tell you.”

As he turned toward the trunk of his car, I waved a hand at the Jeep. “Um, actually, I locked myself out.”

He cupped the back of his neck with his broad hand and sliced his head to the side. “You’re not having much of an evening.”

“Nope.”

He hiked an eyebrow. “You know, I could give you a ride to your place if you want. I mean, if you have a spare key at home I can bring you back and jump you then.”

Shit. There goes my mind again.

“I don’t know…” I wavered.

“Look, I know you don’t know me, but I promise I’m not some serial killer.”

“Isn’t that exactly what a serial killer might say?”

“Probably, but I promise you I’m not. I can’t leave you here alone. It’s not safe. Really. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I read about you in the paper tomorrow.”

“That’s morbid.”

“I’m serious. I’m not about to leave you here all damsel-in-distress.” He placed a hand over his heart. “That wouldn’t be too gallant of me now, would it?” His luscious lips thinned into a straight line that curled upward at the ends. The luring smile infected his eyes as well, and before I knew it, I was lost in those dark-green, reflective pools.

Darn. He’s good.

I cocked an eyebrow. “So, I’m a damsel in distress?”

“Are you coming or am I gonna have to come over there and sling you across my shoulder?”

I raised my palms and stopped him from coming forward. “Hold your horse, Mr. Knight in Shining Armor. We just met.” The girl safety sign zipped around my head, but I quickly swatted it down and walked toward his car. He jogged over to the passenger side, and as he leaned in to open the door, I caught a scent tendril of his cologne. Oh, he smelled so scrumptious. I was gripped by the sudden urge to press my nose against his neck and inhale him.

Stop it. Just get in the car and focus on getting yourself home and safe.

The Range Rover’s interior was upholstered in exquisite jet-black leather and wood veneers. It spewed power and masculinity.

Iced Double stepped into the driver seat and buckled up. “Where to?”

“Um, Upper East Side, please.”

As he started up the engine, I turned toward him. “So, what’s your name?”

“Tom.”

“I’m Sara.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Sara. What’re you doing alone downtown at this hour?”

“I…ah…met up with some coworkers for drinks…we…were…celebrating my coworker’s promotion.”

Did I mention I’m also a terrible liar?

“I see.” He looked briefly at me then went back to driving. “And your friends let you walk to your car alone?”

“I’m a big girl, I don’t need a chaperone. It’s not like I’ve never driven alone at night. I know the city pretty well.”

“When you drive an older car, you run the risk of breaking down.”

“Hey, not everyone can afford to drive a fancy-shmancy car like you, you know,” I said smiling at him, sweeping a hand over the dashboard.

He grinned. “Shmancy even a word?”

“Your car is very nice.”

“I know,” he reaffirmed as his grin hooked at the corner of his lips.

Tom was so blindingly beautiful, my retinas stung. I sat there looking at him, and I could not believe I was in Mr. Iced Double’s car. Driving to my apartment.

How’s this for not having a plan?

My gaze traveled from his perfectly sculpted face chiseled with a strong jaw and high cheekbones, to his broad hands and the tip of his long fingers. I could not take my eyes off him as he turned the steering wheel. The air grew stuffy and I rolled down a window.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Just need a little air, that’s all.”

He rolled his down as well, and as the cool air brushed through the interior, I was swathed in more trails of his scent. My eyelids gently glided down over my eyes, allowing me to focus on his aroma. The warming tingle traveling up my nose descended into my belly, filling me with searing heat. I opened my eyes, and as we approached my apartment, I broke the sweet silence. “Make a right at the light then half way down the block you’ll see my building.”

“You got it.” He slowed down as he pulled up to the front.

I unbuckled my seatbelt before the Rover came to a full stop and stepped out quickly. “I won’t be long.”

“I will be right here.”

The amused look on his face took my breath away.

I scurried inside so fast I barely noticed who was at the desk. The elevator moved through molasses as it ascended to the fifth floor, but as soon as the doors opened, I took off my heels and bolted for the apartment and frantically knocked, praying Jen was home.

Cellphone to her ear, Jen dug her bloodshot gaze into me as she opened the door. “Oh, my God, she’s here. I’ll call you back, bye.” She hung up, grabbed me by the arm, and pulled me inside, then in one breath bombarded me with questions. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been worried sick. Why haven’t you picked up your phone? I’ve been calling you like ten thousand times.” Her hands flared and flapped. All I saw was a blur.

“Jen, I’m sorry. I can explain, but right now I’m in a rush.” I ran to my room and looked through my drawers.

Jen followed and stood at my doorway with her arms crossed. “Sara, what the hell is going on? Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been the last couple of hours?”

“I told you, I’m sorry. I will explain everything later, but right now I need you to help me look for my spare key, please.”

“Spare key to what?”

“My Jeep.”

“Your Jeep? Can you please tell me what is going on?”

“Where the heck is it?” I said to myself as I emptied out my drawers. I scanned my jewelry box—nothing. “It’s gotta be somewhere around here.”

“Sara, stop. I swear, if you don’t tell me what is going on right now…” Her hands were clenched at her sides, and her feet dug into my carpet.

I stopped and clamped my gaze on her. “Jen, it’s coffee guy. He’s downstairs waiting for me.” Then I walked out past her and headed into the kitchen.

Jen followed. “High-powered-executive-Mister-Iced-Double is downstairs?” She ran to the window and peeked below onto the street.

I nodded. “The Jeep broke down and I locked myself out with all my stuff still inside, including my phone. That’s why I haven’t answered. Tom drove me here to get my spare and he’s going to drive me back.”

She darted a look at me. “Tom?”

“His real name,” I said as I continued to rummage through the kitchen.

“It’s in the utility drawer,” she replied quickly. “You know, I’ve been hysterically crying. Why couldn’t you tell me you were out with this guy? Not to mention you told me you were not dating anyone. Especially him.”

“Jen, I’m sorry. I…this night is a big blur.” I found the key and ran back to my room to put on a pair of flats. When I returned to the kitchen, I stopped to gather my thoughts, but when I saw Jen, my heart broke. Her usual bouncy curls clung to her face, oily and flat. The sparkle in her clear-blue-ocean eyes was overcast with stormy clouds ready to burst. She’d had a miserable night and it was my fault. I walked over and gave her a bear hug.

She returned the embrace and whispered, “I thought something happened to you. You didn’t say where you were going and it’s not like you to disappear.”

I released her and wiped her soggy eyes. “I haven’t really been myself lately. I promise I will tell you everything when I get back, okay?”

She closed her eyes and hugged me once more. “Be careful and don’t be gone too long.” It was a plea.

“I promise.” I kissed her on the cheek before heading out the door.

* * *

Out of breath, I jumped back into his car. “Okay, got it. Thank you so much, you’re a life saver.”

Tom leaned forward over the steering wheel and looked up at my building from underneath the windshield. “So, who’s the shmancy one now?”

“I just live here. My girlfriend is the one who actually owns the place.”

His eyes widened. “Oh? I…didn’t know you…were…I mean…that you had a girlfriend.” All teasing was gone from his voice.

As I buckled my seatbelt, what he said finally dawned on me. “Oh, Jen’s not my girlfriend, she’s my best friend, and we’re only roommates.”

“Well, that’s good news.”

My breath stilled. “Is it?”

He leaned in closer, and mere inches from my face, stared me dead in the eyes with a smoldering look that fused me to his leather seat. “Yes, it most certainly is, Sara.” He breathed the words onto my skin, summoning goosebumps to the surface. The sound of his breathy voice combined with the luring smile of those moist and flushed lips was so hot I could have spontaneously combusted. Our eyes remained tied to one another, the inhale and exhale of our lungs synchronized until the air around us felt humid. My mouth watered as I continued to stare at him then—

The obnoxious honk of a speeding cabby trying to dodge our idling car startled us. We both blinked hard as if awakening from a deep dream, killing our almost-kiss, possibly saving me from death by breathy voice.