6. Daisy the Death Trap
daisy the death trap
. . .
Davian
Sadie was being far more agreeable now compared to when she first pointed a gun at my chest.
But when she waved the weapon and motioned me toward the door, I signaled for her to wait and called to the back, “Bruno?”
The shop owner stuck his head through the doorway like he’d been plastered against it just waiting for a call, and he let out a breath when his eyes fell on Sadie. My eyebrow rose. Had he expected me to shoot the poor girl in front of his store’s full wall of windows?
…Eh , couldn’t really blame him. I’d done worse.
His wary gaze bounced from me to the girl. “Everything okay out here?”
“All good.” I adjusted the cuff of my dress shirt beneath my jacket. “We’re leaving now.”
“I’m really sorry about the whole gun thing—and for making all this mess,” Sadie told Bruno with a wince. She crouched and quickly collected the scattered flyers into a pile. “I guess we won’t need these anymore, since Davian is helping me. Do you have room for them in your recycling bin?”
Bruno was too busy staring at me in shock to acknowledge her. “You’re helping Sadie with the dog?”
“Don’t act so surprised,” I said dryly, despite having never done anything like this before. I nodded at the gun she’d been fiddling with. “She made a compelling argument.”
Bruno shifted like he wasn’t sure whether to let it go or charge at me with an ice cream scooper, but he settled for questioning the girl again. “Would you like a cone for the road?”
Sadie stood up with the stack of flyers and seemed to seriously consider it before shaking her head. “Thanks, but I’m too worried to eat.”
“It might lift your spirits?” he pushed, and my fingers twitched. She’d already said no.
But when Sadie bit down on her lip again, I bit my tongue. That was another surprise. Davian Reed letting a woman run things?
Unheard of.
But Sadie was already making moon eyes at the ice cream display.
“You’re right. Maybe just one small sample of butterscotch wouldn’t hurt?” she asked with a sheepish smile.
She was too damn cute for her own good.
The big man smiled from ear to ear and dipped a tiny spoon into one of the big containers before passing it over the counter, trading her for the stack of flyers. “Good luck. I hope you get Bear back safely.”
“Me too. I’ll see you later, Bruno. Thanks for the sample!”
Bruno nodded and cleared his throat. “Mr. Reed?—”
“We’ll talk later,” I said, cutting off whatever he wanted to say with a sharp look. If he warned me not to hurt this girl again, I might end up grabbing the gun from Sadie and showing her just how afraid of me she should be. “And send me the plans you have for the space next door. I’ll look over them.”
I ushered Sadie out the door while she downed the ice cream with a pleased hum.
Vince was waiting halfway down the block when we stepped outside, and I grumbled under my breath. How was I supposed to explain to him I was willingly being taken hostage? He’d probably call my old man and say I’d lost it.
“Everything’s fine. I’m just going for a little ride with Sadie here.” I winked, touching my hand to the small of her back. My fingers itched to reach lower to the swell of her ass.
“A ride?” Vince stared at me like he didn’t recognize me, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure I did either. I wasn’t usually one to think with my dick.
His gaze strayed to Sadie—who was fumbling with the gun and trying to conceal it in her pink overalls—before narrowing on me. “Boss?”
“Why don’t you head back to the compound?” I suggested. “We shouldn’t be long.”
Sadie mumbled something under her breath about women’s clothing and lack of pockets. She wasn’t even paying attention to us.
Vince’s lips thinned. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I’m deadly serious. Trust me.”
While I stopped walking when we reached Vince, Sadie kept going. She veered away from us and power-walked over to a yellow Volkswagen Beetle parked at the curb without seeming to care if I—her hostage—was following her or not. I shared a mystified look with Vince before jogging after her.
The closer I got, the more her ride looked like a death trap than a car.
Where were the rims? The bumper? I’d bet good money the paint had faded years ago.
“Why don’t I drive?” I asked. In all honesty, I was ready to insist we take the bus if she was so against riding in my car. Anything but this trash can on wheels. “You have to hold the gun on me, and it isn’t safe to drive with one hand.”
Sadie chewed on her lip again—it was a miracle there was anything left to chew on at this point. “I don’t know… Daisy doesn’t really like other people touching her. She’s picky like that.”
“Daisy?”
Her look made it clear she thought I was slow, then she nodded at her car.
I stared at the beat-up piece of junk. “You named your car Daisy ?”
“Why not? It’s a cute name for a cute car.” She patted the top of the car like an old friend. The metal groaned under her touch, and my eye twitched. Sadie frowned. “But I guess you have a point. I really should keep my focus on you, just in case.”
That was fine by me.
I opened the passenger door for her before she could change her mind, and she gave me a surprised smile before ducking inside. Shutting the door after her, I questioned my own sanity while circling the car to the driver’s side.
The driver’s seat was practically kissing the steering wheel. Even after I cranked it all the way back, the space was a tight squeeze. Sadie laughed softly when my thighs brushed the bottom of the wheel, and I wanted to hear her make that sound again.
Yup, I was in trouble.
“Sorry.” She yanked on her seat belt, trying to buckle it one-handed. “I forgot how tall you are. Daisy’s more short-people friendly.”
“I can see that.” I fastened my belt while she fumbled with hers. “Here. Let me.”
I took the seat belt from her and easily buckled it in before pulling the belt tight. Her chest rose as she sucked in a breath, and I couldn’t help but notice how good she looked strapped in.
Then a blush spread across her cheeks, sending all my blood south.
“Thanks,” Sadie whispered as I pulled back.
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
She rolled her eyes before looking out the window. “I’m not your sweetheart.”
I grinned and started up the car. “My mistake.”