40. Among the Fields
Among the Fields
“This is so freaking scary.” Kate gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles.
Lucien drummed his fingers on his knee beside her. “A confession of fear from you? Damn.” He wrung his hands together. “I should have thought of this before.”
There was nothing but open fields to her left and right, with high grasses swaying in the wind. So, why was she shaking like a leaf on that very wind?
Her driving instructor continued. “What a way to inflict mental torture, remind me when we butt heads next time.”
“Might be sooner than you think,” she muttered under her breath. Picturing the way his grin would already be spreading wide. Kate whirled around to face him, fixing him with a stare. “Is this the way it’s gonna be?”
She watched as Lucien sank deeper into his cream-colored seat, indeed grinning like a wolf who had just seen a lamb stroll by. “Oh yes, it is.”
Kate gripped the wheel even tighter, visualizing how she would wipe that smug smile off his face in their next training. Yes, at least that made breathing a tad easier.
Two could play his game.
She forced her voice down, mimicking his mocking tone. “Seeing as you’re the passenger, with no access.” She pointed to the pedals near her feet. “To these.” Kate leaned closer to him, holding his amused stare. “You have a mighty big mouth on you.” She smiled sweetly. “What if I crash your car?”
“Then you crashed the car.”
He stated it so matter-of-factly, she felt her eyebrows raise. “And I’m supposed to believe you wouldn’t care?”
“It’s a Volvo XC90, you’ll have a hard time getting so much as a scratch on this one. Besides.” He waved a hand to encompass the open fields. “Nothing much for you to hit around here.” He leaned back into her, whispering. “That’s kinda why I chose this spot.”
Her stomach twisted in on itself, nerves coursing through it. Add to that his deep rumble, and she was knee-deep in shit.
Gods, she was going to throw up.
She leaned against the car window with her temple, welcoming the cold against her flushed face as she asked. “So you wouldn’t mind a scratch on it? Dents? A bumper falling off?”
He gave a half shrug. “Nothing money can’t replace.”
So much for antagonizing him.
She frowned at him. “You never flaunt your money.”
“How do you figure?”
“No fancy watches, no expensive brand clothes as far as I can see. You’re not exactly living your paycheck.”
Lucien shifted, holding her gaze. “What, exactly, is my paycheck?”
Right. She could only guess. At least two houses, one car, from what she could see, depending on what his garage hid from sight.
“Guessing from the sanctuary being sponsored by one person only, it must be quite a lot.”
A slow nod. “Indeed, but that’s money well spent. You’re on point though, but.” He purposefully lowered his voice again, watching closely as it made her squirm in her seat. “You’re deflecting. So carry on.”
Fuck. Mission not accomplished.
A loud groan left her lips at the thought of turning on the ignition. “Why are you like this?”
Lucien smirked. “You know what, you’re right. Let’s instead talk about the cute vibes you’re giving off sitting behind the wheel of this black monster. Let’s.”
Cute?! Heat crept up her cheeks at the backhanded compliment. “Okay, okay, okay. Let us refocus on the task at hand.”
Slinking deeper into the depths of his black monster, Lucien muttered lowly. “That’s what I thought.”
***
The car rocked them forward again, for the tenth time, to be exact.
Kate hadn’t gained an inch on the road yet, and it was driving her mad.
“Okay,” she whispered to herself. “Press the clutch down, add the gas.” Mirroring her words with her feet.
She made the engine roar. “Okay, definitely too much.”
She didn’t so much as dare a glance at the person next to her, her cheeks were red from shame.
Kate was sure that if she fished out a dictionary and looked up the word patience, Lucien’s name would pop up next to it.
He’d explained it to her without a hint of amusement or frustration.
The same tone of voice, small encouragements.
Only her feet wouldn’t do what her mind told them to do.
And his patience made the whole thing that much worse.
This time, she wouldn’t be able to back up her big mouth. And it hurt like hell to admit it.
Just one more. You got this, come on.
“Clutch, gas, just a little, no more.” With another jumble, the car fell silent once more.
She rested her head on the steering wheel. “Oh my fucking God. What is wrong with me?!”
Without warning, warm fingers pressed down on her sweat-slick right hand. Kate didn’t struggle as he gently but firmly guided it back onto the stick shift. Not letting go, he murmured. “Take a deep breath, relax your shoulders.”
She followed suit, easing the tension in her shoulders for an inch. If only now her mind wouldn’t keep short-circuiting at the way his fingers traced circles over her hand. “Good, now try again.”
She huffed, glancing out the window.
It didn’t go unnoticed. “We’re not continuing this trip until you’ve got the car rolling without a hint of a hitch.”
It triggered her to release an uneasy laugh. “Is that a threat?”
“Nope.” His hand squeezed hers encouragingly. “Just a promise.”
She attempted to shoot him one of her well-known glares, she’d hoped for ice daggers. Instead, a pained expression took over. He really needed to stop touching her this way before she did something stupid.
Never again, remember? He might be kind to you now, but did you ever hear him say the hunt is off? She nearly drew her hand back, but settled on cussing him out. “Insufferable asshole.”
Another squeeze. “I heard that.”
“Good,” was all she could mutter. Still his touch didn’t move away.
“Clutch.” He murmured.
“Okay, but—,”
“No buts.”
Kate pressed the clutch all the way down.
“Good, now gas it, lady. But… slowlyyy.”
She pushed down on the gas tentatively, squinting one eye shut, knowing what would definitely happen.
The car inched forward and Lucien’s hand clenched over hers. “Okay! Wait, at this point, feel the car? It wants to roll forward. A bit more gas. Yes, that’s it. Now release the clutch.”
Biting into her lip, she allowed the clutch to rise, slow as a slug.
“Hmmhmm.” Trusting his guidance, the car started rolling forward.
A squeal of joy split the tense silence. “Oh my God, I did it, I did it.” She couldn’t help the harsh slap she aimed at his arm.
His answering chuckle sent butterflies through her. “Sure you did. Now press the clutch and brake. Middle pedal, please.”
Kate corrected her near mistake of pressing the gas and successfully stopped the car.
A soft smile lit up his green eyes while he put the gear in neutral. “Yes, yes, you did it. Why is this slap my reward?”
Kate cackled, overjoyed with her win. “Don’t act like a wuss! You can take it.”
But then something hit her. That word, reward. Maybe he did deserve something more than a harsh slap.
In her joy, she reached over, bending over to plant a quick kiss on his cheek.
Shock set in on Lucien’s face.
She pursed her lips. What in the world did I just do?
Before she could say sorry, he recovered. Fingers returning to drum against his thigh as he said. “Sweet.” He tilted his head and threw her a wink. “Way better for a well-deserved reward.”
Relieved, she laughed, something that slipped from her more and more often these days.
“Okay, miss, you’ve got this. Let’s try again.”
Filled with newfound hope, she put the car in first gear. Electricity coursed through her every nerve as she attempted again. Only for the car to stutter, the engine falling silent once more.
Lucien leaned back in his seat. “Yep, we’re gonna be here for a while longer.”
But Kate didn’t mind, not this time around. Maybe a part of her, nestled deep down, hoped that he would lace his fingers with hers again. Even if it complicated an already impossible situation.
She rolled her shoulders around, directing two words to that mental voice, warning her.
Carpe diem.