Chapter 10 #2
I train my eyes on the towering buildings slipping past. Parts of this city can be dull to look at, and at a glance, the financial district might be included.
A sea of sandy, grimy white, or grey brick, but I know that all you have to do is look up.
That’s where the history is, not at street level where businesses have buffed and polished entrances, but skyward where you get flashes of colonnades or exquisitely carved stone.
Sunny and I spent so many days wandering around the city when she first moved here that my neck ached when my head hit the pillow at night.
I feel that ache now, but this time it’s from poor sleep and quite frankly, worry.
I had a call with my fancy new attorney this morning, and I’ve been given an arraignment date.
I’m told that the court systems are so backed up that getting a date in this quickly means some serious strings were pulled by the state’s attorney.
My lawyer says the actual trial date isn’t likely to be for a couple of years, but I’m terrified to hear what the formal charges are against me.
“What are you thinking?”
“About whether I want sausage or chicken for dinner,” I lie, slowly guiding my sight back to him and finding that he is staring at me intently with that X-ray vision again.
“That’s not true.”
I raise one eyebrow slowly. “Unless you’ve developed some top-secret mind reading technology I don’t know about, there is no way you could possibly know what I’m thinking.”
“I am very good at reading people, Peppercorn. I’ll admit, you’re trickier than most, but…” He tilts his head a fraction and a lock of dark hair slides over his tan forehead.
I can’t quite decide if it’s brown or black. In the confines of the car, surrounded by black leather, it seems to gobble up the light into a deep inky noir. It’s longer on top, tapered down the sides and back, with a slight curl that I’m sure has wrapped around many women’s fingers.
“And what is it you think you read about me?” My skin prickles with a strange, skittering sensation.
The car turns a corner and a flash of muted sunlight hits those sparkling eyes, throwing hidden flecks of deep emerald green into stark relief against warm brown. Like the veins of a rare, buffed chrysoprase.
I prod him further when he doesn’t answer immediately. “Do you need to stop and get tea leaves?”
“Someone hurt you.” His words are softly spoken, and contain no malice.
Shock floods my system, making me hyper aware of every flicker of muscle in my face.
Holy shit, he really is good at reading people and that thought is mildly terrifying considering I’ve spent the last five years of my life wearing a mask.
“Let me guess, I also have two sugars in my coffee and I like to dance butt naked at the full moon?” I force every ounce of sarcasm I have into my brush off, but he only stares.
“You’re also not as tough as you would have people believe.” He turns his wide torso in my direction, my gaze licking and dancing across thick muscles.
Adrenaline sparks and chases down my arms, a small siren of warning sounding the alarm inside my brain. I open my mouth to tell him that he’s wrong, but he holds one broad finger up at me.
“I’m not finished.” The arrogant smirk and easy demeanor in which he silences me sends my temper into the stratosphere. “And no matter how much you try and hide it, I see the way you look at me when you think I’m not paying attention.”
My jaw swings somewhere in hell at the sheer cheek of him, blood rushing to my ears. I gather myself as quickly as possible, noting the glint of enjoyment in his sparkling eyes at my obvious outrage.
“And do you want to know what I think about you, Chase?”
A slow and predatory smile blooms on his handsome features, his visage nothing but a picture of relaxed masculinity. “Do I ever.”
I suck in a sharp, woodsy-smoke scented breath, which does nothing to cool the burning irritation crushing my lungs. “I think you believe you are God’s gift to womankind and because of that, you simply can’t comprehend that not every woman finds you attractive.”
His decadent lips curve further, something flashing across dark irises. It only fuels the words spilling out of my mouth.
“You’re just like every other entitled, rich asshole who thinks that thing between your legs means the world exists to please you.
Well, I’ve got news for you, buddy. I am not something for you to play with to amuse yourself and I will not let you suck me into this game.
I am here to help you with the investigation, and that is it. ”
I run out of air and can’t seem to kick my brain back into gear enough to replace it. Somehow, I’ve leaned in closer and have my finger pointed in his face. I force myself to slowly recoil to my corner.
I expect him to look pissed. What I don’t expect is for him to look like all his Christmases just came at once. “Good.” He grins, unclipping his seatbelt as the car grinds to a halt.
I blink, utterly stunned. Good? I wait for the other shoe to drop, for the inevitable reprimand I’m about to receive.
Or maybe he’s about to turf me out onto the street and leave me here instead.
Except…we’re not on the street anymore. He gets out of the car and I follow his progress as best I can, berating myself for doing the one thing I promised myself I wouldn’t. Let him get under my skin.
He pulls open my door and offers me his hand. “Now you’re being honest. Let’s keep it that way.”