Chapter 3
Kassie
I don’t know what else to say to him.
The fact that he thought of me enough to buy me some road snacks to keep me happy, seems almost - kind.
I’m used to him teasing me, being mean, or even completely ignoring me, but kind? That’s an entirely new something.
“Why did you agree to give me a lift today?”
He glances my way, like he's surprised I asked. He looks back at the road, and takes another couple of seconds to answer me.
“Your brother asked me to.”
It sounds like a simple, and an easy answer, but it feels too simple somehow.
“Right.” I reply just as simply, leaning back in my seat, and closing my eyes again.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That wasn't nothing.”
“It really was.”
“Come on, Kassie, just spit it out.”
“It’s fine. There’s nothing to spit out.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I can hear Leesa laughing, and I snort.
“What’s so funny?” I can feel his gaze on the side of my face this time, and I wish he’d concentrate on the road ahead of us.
“Eyes on the road, McGuire.” He lets out a low chuckle.
“How did you know I was looking at you, your eyes are closed, Timms.”
I'm not about to explain to him that I can feel him when he enters the room. Sensing that he's watching me? That’s not exactly difficult.
“How could you not look at me? I'm amazing!” I go for deflection, and a laugh, which I am rewarded with.
His deep, rough laugh.
I like the sound too much. Way too much.
“Why are you going to the cabin early?” Before he can answer me, I keep talking. “And don’t tell me it’s because Max asked you to.”
“I told you, the caretaker had an accident, and Max asked me to help out.”
“Yeah, I forgot.”
“That’s one way of saying that you don’t listen to me.” He laughs, but there doesn’t seem to be any humour in it.
“I listen.” He snorts, but doesn’t say anything, which makes me feel like I need to defend myself. “I heard you say that Max asked you to help out.”
“OK, so why did you ask me then?”
“Because, idiot, I was trying to make conversation.”
“I thought you were sleeping.” I turn my head slightly so that I can look at him, and regret it immediately.
He’s smirking.
And I just know that his eyes are twinkling behind his aviators as well.
Damn it, why does he have to be so good looking?
“I can't sleep in the car.”
“Now that is a lie, and you know it! Sleepy Kass isn’t a myth that just I pulled out of the air, and you know it!”
“You know, it makes you a not very nice person when you're teasing someone about things out of their control,” I huff, sitting upright, because I'm not going to be able to nap now, he's got me too aggravated. “How long have we got to go?”
“We literally just got on the freeway, Kassie.” He shakes his head. I'm not sure whether he’s amused, or annoyed.
“All I hear is that we’ve still got two hours of sitting here in silence.”
“Doesn’t sound too silent to me,” he says, this time there's a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Well, I tried to sleep, but you kept yapping.”
“Me?”
“At least my hot chocolate is at the right temperature to drink now,” I say, taking a sip, and hoping I don’t burn my tongue. I cough, because it’s not quite as cool as I was hoping it would be, and Bennett lets out a very low chuckle at my expense. “Delicious.”
“You sure you didn't burn your tongue?”
“I'm fine,” I say, trying not to lisp, even a little, because the very tip of my tongue is feeling a bit fuzzy.
“Not even a little bit?” he asks, holding his hand up to show a tiny gap between his thumb, and forefinger.
“Shut up!”
This time, he throws his head back as far as he can before it hits the headrest of his seat, and laughs.
“Eyes on the road, McGuire,” I grumble, earning me another laugh.
I reach over to turn up the radio, hoping to drown him out, but the sound of his laughter is still echoing in my head.
So, to drown out all of the unwelcome noise, I rummage through my handbag, and pull out my phone, then pull up my reading app.
Unfortunately, I keep reading the same page for the next hour or so as we drive closer to the cabin, because the man next to me sings softly to every other song that comes on the radio.