Chapter 22 #3
I keep my expression neutral, returning his smile with polite professionalism. “No, I think that’s everything.”
He raises a hand to the approaching waiter, handing over his card with an effortless flick of his wrist. The waiter nods and disappears, while Mike turns back to me, smile still firmly in place.
“Thanks for fitting me in.” He tacks on a wink that lands somewhere between smug and patronizing. “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate. But, don’t skip out on Skye. It's stunning. Feel free to reach out if you need any other recommendations.”
Oh, I bet you have all sorts of recommendations, don’t you, Mike?
His tone is smooth, but there’s a quiet arrogance behind it that’s hard to ignore.
The waiter returns with his card, and he tucks it away, shifting his focus back to me.
“I don’t want to rush you,” his voice is all easy charm, “but my car just pulled up. Would you like a ride back?”
It’s subtle, but I see the flash of heat in his expression before he masks it with another polished smile. Wow. Car service and smoldering eyes. Somebody's really pulling out the red-carpet treatment. Next thing you know he'll be offering a prenup.
“No. Thank you, though. My driver is almost here.”
He stands, buttoning his jacket with fluid ease. “Well, we’ll be in touch, Miss Taylor, that I assure you.”
He hesitates, then adds, “Would you like me to wait with you until your driver arrives?”
I'm sure he's just trying to be polite, but the last thing I need is to add another complicated man into the mix.
I keep my expression neutral, lifting my phone. “I'm sure that’s him now. Thanks again, though.”
He nods, extending a hand. I reach out to shake it, but instead of the quick, professional exchange, his grip is firm and lingers just a beat too long.
And there it is.
I hold my ground, keeping my posture relaxed, but I don’t miss the way his fingers tighten slightly before he finally lets go.
Yeah. Definitely not taking that ride.
“It was a pleasure,” he chuckles.
I nod, withdrawing my hand as smoothly as possible, then watch as he finally turns and heads for the door.
The moment it swings shut behind him, I exhale the tension from my shoulders. I track his movement, watching as he slides into a sleek, black car. Tail lights glow red against the pavement as he pulls away, disappearing down the street.
I settle back against the bench, looking at the message that popped up a minute ago.
Kane: Four minutes away.
Sliding my phone into my bag, I stand and step out into the cool evening air. A shiver rolls down my spine as the breeze snakes around me. The faint, unmistakable feeling of being watched creeps back in.
I scan the quiet street, looking over parked cars and dim shop windows. Everything looks normal, but the feeling lingers, prickling at the back of my neck.
The light drizzle turns into a misting rain, and it feels nice to just be outside. I slide my hands into my pockets, grabbing the stones I brought along. Normally, their warmth is steady, but tonight, they feel different.
I take a slow breath, forcing myself to focus on the fact that Kane is coming. He’ll be here any second. Nothing to stress about. Just an overactive imagination and a long day playing tricks on me.
Still, my muscles stay coiled and restless. I pull my jacket tighter scanning the road. My phone buzzes again, and I look down.
Kane: Here.
His sleek Range Rover rolls up moments later, barely slowing before he steps out. When his eyes lock onto mine, tension coils around him like second skin.
I reach for the door handle, but his sharp look stops me cold.
“Don’t touch that door.” His voice is firm, leaving no room for argument.
In one fluid motion, he swings it open, stepping aside just enough to let me in. His face gives nothing away, but there’s an urgency in the way he moves.
Sliding into the passenger seat, I glance over as he shuts the door behind me, then moves around to the driver's side.
The second he’s in, his eyes are on me. “What happened?” His tone is level, but it’s laced with restraint.
The look on his face catches me off guard, he looks ready to dismantle something with his bare hands if I give him a reason to. And when I still don't answer, he starts to drive out of the parking lot.
“Nothing happened.” I lift a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. “I just didn’t feel like hanging around waiting for a ride with him. My phone was being weird, and I couldn’t find a driver.”
I pause, then smile. “Though, I think you’ve got some competition in the tour guide business. He offered to show me around.”
Kane doesn’t take the bait. He doesn’t even look at me. But his grip on the steering wheel tightens.
“Competition, huh?” His voice dips, low and edged with something darker. “I doubt he could keep up.”
I bite back a laugh, but I don’t let him off the hook that easily. “Maybe I should see if his castle is better than yours,” I tease, stealing a quick glance at him.
His jaw clenches, and I swear the air in the car shifts. Oh my God. He’s jealous.
“He was harmless,” I add, though I can’t help but enjoy this a little more. “It wasn’t as terrible as I thought it’d be. He even offered to take me home, but you said to text you if I needed anything, so I figured it would be safer… considering I know you better.”
I trail off, suddenly hyperaware of my own rambling.
Heat creeps up my neck, and I resist the urge to bury my face in my hands. If I keep talking, he’s going to need his car detailed from all the word vomit I’m getting everywhere.
Silence stretches between us.
When he finally looks over, his expression is unreadable, but his dark eyes hold something intense. Like he’s wrestling with a thought he refuses to say out loud.
He watches me for a beat too long for someone who’s driving, and I swear my heart skips under the weight of his stare. Then, he shifts his attention back to the road, flexing his hands against the wheel.
The corner of his mouth lifts slightly, and it somehow feels both teasing and dangerous. “Good choice.”
I roll my eyes but don’t bother fighting the smile tugging at my lips.
“I guess you’re lucky I was in the area then.”
My curiosity flares. What exactly were you doing in the area, Kane? But before I can ask, my phone starts ringing.
I swipe to answer, bracing for impact.
“Hey,” I say, holding back a sigh. “Yeah, I'm okay. Uber was being weird, so I'm with Kane.”
The moment I say his name, Rachel’s rapid-fire questions come in hot. I pull the phone away from my ear, wincing at her volume.
“Yes, we’re still going. And, no, I'm not talking about that right now. Bye.”
I hang up before she can argue, putting my phone back on my lap.
When I look at Kane, he's watching me again, but something flashes across his face. Before I can place it, he shifts his gaze back to the road, but the question lingers between us.
“Wait,” I blurt, the words slipping out. “What were you doing in the area? Hot date?”
The second it’s out, I want to take it back. A date? In the middle of the afternoon? Really?
He raises an eyebrow. “I was working.”
Well, okay then. Not exactly the intriguing mystery I was hoping for.
I chuckle, playing it off with a casual shrug. “Hey, you never know. Some people keep interesting schedules.”
I let the conversation settle for a moment before glancing at him again, curiosity still pulling at the edges of my thoughts. Everything about Kane feels deliberate and intentional, so I want to know what he's thinking.
Today, he’s in a fitted black T-shirt, and the fabric clings to the defined lines of his chest and arms like it was made for him.
The tattoo winds up his forearm, and the ink catches the light in a way that makes it writhe, like it's alive. There's an energy about it that doesn't belong on someone this put together.
I force myself to look away, hoping he didn't catch me staring.
But even as I turn my focus back to the road, my thoughts linger on the contradictions he seems to embody.
His clothes, his presence, his voice. Everything about him screams power and control. He's either someone who has money or wants to look like he does.
Either way, he pulls it off effortlessly.
Yet for all his polish, there’s an edge to him. A rawness. Like he’s spent just as much time in the dark. And I can’t decide which version of him intrigues me more.
God help me, my eyes dip lower, just a quick, totally harmless glance.
Big mistake.
Suddenly, my mouth is bone-dry, my thoughts absolutely not on anything good.
Licking my lips, I whip my head around and look out the window, pretending I’m very, very interested in the rain-speckled glass.
But the heat simmering between my legs betrays me, making it impossible to ignore the way my body reacts to him.
Taking a steady breath, I try to focus on the passing landscape, but my curiosity has a mind of its own. Against my better judgement, I sneak another glance.
Bigger mistake.
I shift in my seat, cheeks heating as I pray the car suddenly develops ejector seats. Kane looks over, catching me not looking. The corner of his mouth lifts, like he sees exactly where my thoughts just went.
“Something on your mind, Princess?”
I clear my throat, gripping my phone like it’s going to save me. “Just enjoying the scenery.” I keep my tone light, forcing my gaze back to the window, where I absolutely do not look at him again.
He chuckles, a deep, low sound that sends a fresh wave of heat through me. “I see that.”
I roll my eyes, determined to wrestle my brain back into something resembling submission.
One thing is obvious, Kane doesn’t look like a man who spends his days working outside. There's also no suit or tie, but there’s still something polished about him. He’s sharp and put together, but not in a way that screams desk job.
“What do you do for work?”