Chapter 5 #2
He seems taken aback by my mood. “Uh, I just wanted to see if you needed a lift home,” he stutters.
“Oh, yes, please,” I say sweetly.
He looks at me completely and utterly confused. “You do? You want a lift home? With me?” He frowns, his pointer finger nestled between his solid pecs.
I think I’ve broken him.
“Is Vinny here?” I ask.
“Yes, he’s around the back,” he admits.
“Around the back.” I nod, surprised that he went to so much trouble to scope the place out. And why around the back? Was he preparing for me to run?
I take the last step, standing tall as I look up at him through my lashes. “I think I will go with Vinny today. If you don’t mind?”
His jaw tightens. He doesn’t argue, but I can tell he doesn’t like my answer. “I’ll walk you out,” he grumbles, letting me go first as he follows closely behind as I walk down the narrow hall.
I’m almost at the door when I feel his hands snake around my waist, his warm fingers flexing against the exposed flesh between my leggings and crop top.
He turns me, pinning me against the door, his knee pressing roughly at the apex of my thighs.
My clit throbs as he looks down at me, gently bringing his forehead to rest against mine.
His hands skim me, waist to hips, holding me in place, and all I can think is how good he feels pushed up against me.
“Keep this up, Nina. I have nothing.” He rolls his hips, his erection prodding my stomach. “Fucking nothing, better to do,” he grits out, brushing his lips from my ear to my neck. He plants one soft kiss on the smooth skin, his nose trailing over the spot before he pulls away from me.
I stand flustered, chest heaving, and desperately craving his touch as he pulls open the door and leaves me without looking back. I let my head drop back to the wall, trying to ease the arousal coursing through me.
Taking a deep breath, I push off the wall and find Vinny waiting right outside, the Audi parked and ready for me.
I give him half a smile, mortified at the thought of him seeing us but knowing it wouldn’t have been possible. “Hi, Vinny.”
“Nina, nice to see you again so soon,” he says as I skirt past him and climb into the car.
I wait for him to get seated in the driver’s seat then say, “I’m sorry, you must have far more important things to do than drive me around the city.”
“I don’t do what’s important to me; I do what’s important to Mr Lowell.” He winks.
“You’re his driver?” I ask with a frown.
He has a funny look on his face as if what I am saying is amusing. “Yes. I’m his driver,” he confirms.
“How long have you worked for him?” I decide to get as much out of him as I can whilst I have the chance.
“Sixteen years now,” he says proudly, eyeing me in the mirror again. I want to ask so many questions.
I need to pick the right ones.
“Sixteen years? That’s a long time.” I study him as he drives. I wouldn’t have put Vinny at much past fifty, so he had to be young when he started.
“I was thirty-eight, straight out of the forces when his father hired me,” he says, confirming my suspicions.
“Do you always drive his—” I pause, looking for the right word. “Female friends.”
I definitely wouldn’t call Mase my friend.
“No, you’re the only female friend I’ve been asked to drive.” He says with a grin.
Hmm, interesting. Could Mason feel bad about calling me a prostitute, and be palming me off on his driver?
Or is he actually interested?
“He normally drives them himself?” I ask, and god, I sound pathetic.
“Maybe you should ask him yourself?” he says. I take the hint, not asking any more questions for the rest of the journey.
Vinny turns in his seat once we arrive at my building, passing me a card. “My number if you need a lift ever. Mr Lowell would be grateful if you’d call me when travelling alone.”
I roll my eyes, slipping the card into my bag with the rest of my junk. I don’t need my own personal taxi! Who even has that much money that they can just send a driver on demand? “Thank you again for the lift,” I say, climbing from the car and then waving him off.
I’m halfway down Oxford street, admiring my phone’s shining new screen, which I haven’t been able to use since Megan smashed it, and I’m shocked at how much I’ve missed it. Scrolling through my messages on the lock screen, I close my eyes, cursing my friends under my breath.
The messages are mostly from Lucy and Megan. They knew I was picking it up, and they’ve sent me a load of dirty messages. The latest one reading, ‘You left your vibrator in the shower again’. It’s the first message on the list, and there’s no way the repair guy wouldn’t have seen it.
I scroll down the list.
‘Ben called, he’s got the Syph! Better get checked hun’ I laugh out loud, unable to control myself. Those bitches. I will kill them!
Swiping across the screen, I see I have six missed calls, all from Joey. I really should check he is okay. I decide to call him back, and he answers on the second ring.
“Nina! Hi, I’ve been calling. Are you okay?” he rushes out, sounding genuinely worried.
My step falters with his tone, his concern throwing me off. “Hi Joey, I’m fine. I smashed my phone screen, and I’ve just picked it up from the repair shop.”
“Ah, yeah. That makes sense. Do you want to meet for a coffee? I am working just up the road from your studio today.”
“I’m actually heading home, Joey. Sorry,” I lie and instantly feel bad. I start to backpedal. “Maybe tomorrow?” Oh god, stop talking, Nina. I put my hand on my head as I try and worm my way through the conversation. I might as well have met him today. Get it over and done with.
“Yes! Tomorrow is fine. I will meet you at the studio. What time?”
“That’s okay. I’ll meet you at the café. Is The Elm okay? Let’s say, at twelve o’clock?”
It’s close enough for me to get back after and I’d rather go somewhere I know, in case I need to make a quick exit.
“Sounds good Nina, I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
“You too, Joey. See you tomorrow!” I hang up, regretting calling him in the first place. He is obviously okay.
I want to launch my phone at the ground because of my inability to say no. I restrain myself, though, glaring down at my reflection on my shiny new screen.
It’s late when I finish my last lesson. Henry left an hour ago, locking up the gym behind him. I had one of my under fourteens in for a one-to-one session this evening. It’s a great little money booster for me with bills to pay, but more importantly, it shows me their passion for dancing.
The studio lights illuminate the room as darkness blankets the vast world outside. It’s my favourite time of day to be here and the only time I allow myself to switch off fully.
Making my way over to the speaker, I plug in my phone and find the song I want.
Alessia Cara pours from the speakers moments later, singing about being beautiful just the way you are.
I close my eyes and let the music take over my soul, dancing around the studio as I get lost in the only form of therapy my body knows.
It’s nine p.m. when I finally flick off the lights to the studio.
I bolt down the stairs and across the gym to the main door like a wimp, afraid of the dark.
Pulling open the door, I glance around to make sure no one is waiting in the shadows to mug me.
My dramatics are warranted based on London’s crime rates these days.
My stomach dips when I spot the Audi waiting at the curb, the fear I felt moments ago chased away by a warmth that spreads through my chest.
Vinny gets out of the driver’s seat and moves to open the passenger door for me, dipping his head to the side in question.
I smile, turning to lock the door.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting long?” I ask, stepping past him and sliding into the seat.
“Not long at all,” he says, shutting the door and rounding the car. I know Vinny is lying. He has no idea when I’m coming or going; I don’t have set times.
I am going to have to put a stop to this.
“You’re too nice, Vinny. You should tell him to piss off.” My lip twitches. “It’s fun, you know, making him angry.”
“You have no idea, Miss Anderson,” he chuckles, the corner of his mouth tipping up like mine.
I relax into the seat, my body going lax as I finally allow myself to stop. It’s been the longest day, and I really am glad for the lift.
“No Mason this evening?” I remark.
Vinny’s brows pull in, his lips forming a thin line. “No. I’m afraid he got caught up at the office and couldn’t get away.”
I frown, checking the time on the dash. “It’s nine o’clock. Does he always work this late?”
“When necessary,” he mutters, not giving me any more than that. Clearly, he doesn’t want to tell me, and that’s fine.
“I appreciate you being here, Vinny. I’m not sure my poor feet would’ve managed much more tonight.”
His features soften a little, his shoulders relaxing. “It’s my pleasure, Nina, although it would help me if you could call when you’re nearly ready to leave. Mason will send me whether you like it or not,” he says.
I roll my eyes as I smile. This is all well and good, but why? Why is he insistent on having me driven around? “Well, now I feel bad. How long were you waiting today?”
“Only a couple of hours,” he chuckles.
“A couple of hours! Vinny, that is ridiculous! Why didn’t you come in and check how long I’d be?”
“That’s what—”
He’s cut off by his ringing phone. Reaching forward, he taps the car’s touchscreen, answering on the first ring.
“Anything?” Mason snaps, his voice echoing through the entire car.
I give Vinny a wink to let him know I’ve got this. “Hello Mr Lowell, how are you this evening?” I purr playfully. Vinny shakes his head as he looks out the window, but I can see his smile as I try to hold back my giggles.
“Good, you’ve got her. I’m ready when you’re finished there,” he responds, then hangs up.
I sit back in shock.
Is this prick for real?
“He’s had quite the day, don’t take it personally,” Vinny tries to explain.
I unbuckle my belt, leaning forward in my seat. I tap on the screen pulling up the recent call list and then press on Mason’s name.
He answers on the second ring.
“What?” he huffs.
I shake my head, blinking in surprise. “You didn’t say please,” I say, looking at Vinny. His eyes are wide as he stares straight ahead.
I shrink back a little.
“Excuse me?” Mason shoots back.
Crap. I have to follow through. I can’t back down now.
“You didn’t say please when you asked Vinny to pick you up.
Some manners wouldn’t hurt, you know, and if having someone drive me home is such an inconvenience to you, don’t do it.
” I keep my voice steady, making sure I get my point across.
At no point have I asked Mason to go out of his way for me.
I sit back in my seat, and the car goes dead fucking silent, no one saying a word for what feels like forever.
I’m waiting for him to flip.
Or hang up.
Vinny lifts his hand to end the call.
“I will see you soon, Vinny, thank you,” he replies.
My head flicks around to Vinny in shock, his face mirroring mine.
“Mason?” I murmur with a slight teasing in my tone.
“Yes, Nina,” he sighs, addressing me for the first time.
My dimple creases my cheek. “Thank you for the lift home. I didn’t want to walk alone this late. I really do hope you have a better evening,” I say softly.
I end the call, sitting back in the seat as I process the last few minutes in my head.
Maybe I should have sat back and said nothing, but manners are free, and his are lacking.
“Put your seat belt back on, Nina,” Vinny tells me, his voice quiet.
The rest of the ride home is made in silence.