Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Huge.
They made her butt look huge.
There had to be some trick to that mirror in that store too, because she’d looked at least a whole size smaller.
And now she had a pair of jeans that she couldn’t wear and really couldn’t afford to replace.
“But you’re not driving your car in your condition,” he added.
Her condition?
What was he talking about?
Maybe he thinks you can’t drive because you can’t get your words out properly.
All right. She understood how he’d reached that conclusion. She’d have to convince him otherwise.
“I have a driver’s license.”
“That’s good. You’d be in a lot of trouble if you didn’t have one and you drove here.”
“With my father?” She guessed he wouldn’t be happy. Vince would likely use it as an excuse to arrest her.
“No, with me.”
Um. Okay.
What sort of trouble would she be in? She bit her lip against questioning him. Because she wasn’t sure that she really wanted to know.
And no, she did not just imagine him putting her over his knee. That was just a fantasy she had . . . something she thought about when she was spending some quality time with Richard.
It was not something that she actually wanted.
Right?
“Come on. I need to get out of here before those people start leaving.”
Oh. Good point. She did not need to see Vince again.
“But . . . my car!” She pointed at it as if that would help him understand what she was trying to say.
“Oh, you’re worried about leaving it here?”
She nodded in relief. He got it.
“Don’t be.” He tugged her toward a sleek looking black car. Was that a Dodge Viper?
Holy. Moly.
She’d always wanted to drive in a Viper. But it really didn’t fit into her lifestyle. Or her budget.
Which was why she had a really sensible station wagon. It wasn’t sexy. It wasn’t cute. It was incredibly boring and ugly if she was honest. But it was reliable, and she could fit a lot in it.
Especially if she put the backseat down.
But yeah, it was no Dodge Viper. She ran her hand down the side of it.
“Hot.”
“You like it?” Matthieu asked.
Maya nodded. Like? Like didn’t even come close.
“Come on. Get in.”
She turned to look at her station wagon. It should be safe here overnight. Theoretically.
But she didn’t trust Vince around anything she owned. And that station wagon was the key to her rescues. And her independence.
Plus, how would she get back here to pick it up? She had work tomorrow.
“Get in, Maya,” Matthieu told her, holding open the passenger side door.
Wow. He held doors open? He really was a gentleman. And she really, really wanted a ride in his car. But . . .
“Hey.” He reached out and placed his hand on the back of her neck again.
Maya closed her eyes, drawing in his warmth, his strength, his security.
It was an incredible feeling.
“I know we just met, but I’m here to take care of you. And maybe all bodyguards aren’t like me, perhaps I’m doing this wrong, but I’m not just protecting your body. I’m here to take care of you. That means if I see you’re not in a good state to drive because you’re exhausted and hungry and shaky, then I’m going to take care of things. Including you. Including your car.”
“People like you aren’t real.”
“I’m here, Maya. I’m very real.”
Lord help her.
It wouldn’t be a good idea to get used to the way he was treating her. Because if he was as amazing as he appeared to be . . . she might never be able to say goodbye to him.
Okay, you’re getting ahead of yourself.
This is a business arrangement. He is your bodyguard.
Not your boyfriend.
And even if he wasn’t your bodyguard there is no way that he’s in your league.
“So get in the car, Maya,” he told her.
All right. She shouldn’t trust him. But she really wanted to ride in his car.
Plus, everything was kind of looking fuzzy and she knew that was a sign that she shouldn’t be driving.
She slid into the passenger seat. Oh, she felt like she was melting into the leather seats.
Matthieu got into the driver’s side. “Seatbelt, Maya.”
Huh, what?
Oh, yeah.
She grabbed the seatbelt and tried to buckle it in. But for some reason her hand wasn’t working properly. Probably because she was trembling.
Shoot.
Matthieu’s hand went over hers and he buckled her in.
“Um, thanks.”
“When did you last eat?”
She ran her hand over her face. A low-grade headache was starting to develop. “I don’t know. I think I had coffee this morning.”
Surely she’d had coffee. She always had coffee. But she hadn’t been able to eat much lately, plus she also hadn’t gone shopping recently.
He shot her a look. “Right. You need to eat.”
Maya shook her head. “I’m fine.” Although, wait. Did she have to feed him? Because what did she even have at home? Maybe some rice and bread if she was lucky. A couple of potatoes. What the heck was she going to create with that?