“Really?” I question, my eyes going wide as my hope slowly begins to resurface.
“Yeah, Jade. I can see how much you want this. You’ve set your boundaries and as much as I hate that I can’t help you with this, I respect that. So, I’m going to do everything else in my power to make this happen for you.”
His words send my heart racing with warmth and as my blood circulates throughout my body, that warmth spreads until I’m completely overwhelmed by his love.
I reach across the table and find his hand already waiting. He gives it a gentle squeeze and just like that, I fall a little bit harder. Maybe Drix was onto something. Maybe I’m already there. The thought of completely giving myself to someone again scares the shit out of me but more and more, I'm starting to trust that he’s not going to break me.
We finish our dinner and before we know it, we’re standing out the front of the restaurant, waiting for the valet to return his Veneno.
“Let me get this straight,” I say, folding into his side. “You’ll let random valets drive your car, but you won’t let me even breathe near the steering wheel?”
Colton presses his lips into a tight line and I see the string of responses flying through his mind while he tries to decipher the right thing to say. “Well, umm … fuck,” he cringes. “I guess you’re right.”
“Damn straight I am.”
“Do you want to drive home?”
My eyes bug out of my head. I was expecting a lot of things out of this conversation but certainly not that. “Are you insane?” I shriek, stepping away from him only so I can stare at him properly. “I can’t drive that. What if I … I don’t know, what if I break it?”
“Are you planning on breaking it?”
“No,” I scoff. “I’m an incredible driver.”
His Veneno appears from around the corner and as it inches toward us, Colton raises a brow as his lips lift into a wicked grin, the challenge clear in his eyes. “Then what are you so scared about?”
My mouth drops. “Scared? I’m not scared.”
“Good,” he says as the Veneno stops right in front of us. The valet pours out of it with a satisfied smile on his face while Colton walks around and holds the driver’s door open for me. “What are you waiting for?”
Fuck yes.
I fly toward him, making sure to brush a kiss over his unsuspecting lips as I pass. I drop down into the Veneno and instantly adjust the seat while feeling the purring rumble of the smooth engine beneath me.
This is going to be good.
“Hurry up and get your ass in or I’m taking off without you,” I warn, watching him step back only to start salivating over the way the automatic suicide doors begin to close.
Colton makes his way around to the passenger side and I find myself smirking at the sight. He isn’t the kind of guy to sit shotgun. He likes to be in control so not sitting behind the steering wheel is a big gesture and I appreciate it more than he could possibly know.
Once he’s in, I prepare to get myself going when my phone chimes from my bag. I start digging through and laugh as I find a text from Mom.
Mom - I know what you two did. Ask Hendrix to come over in the morning. I need to have a little chat with the two of you.
Oh, shit.
Ocean - I don’t know what you’re talking about …
Mom - You’re a rotten liar but I can’t deny that I’m having a fabulous time.
Mom - Thank you. Love you. I hope you’re feeling better.
Ocean - Don’t worry about me. I’m miraculously feeling much better!
Mom - I should have known!
With that, I slip my phone back into my bag and dump it on Colton’s lap before finally hitting the gas and sending us roaring down the street.
Every nerve inside my body wakes and I feel more alive than ever before. I press harder on the gas and it’s as though the car reads my every thought. It was made for me. The way it reacts to my touch, my feel. It’s everything a car should be and judging by the way Colton watches me with a dark sparkle in his eye, he’s enjoying the ride almost as much as I am.
I'm in heaven.
“Was that your mom checking in?” he questions as I take a corner so damn smooth that I almost come in my pants.
“Yeah,” I laugh. “She figured out that we set her up and was demanding a private audience with me and Drix in the morning. I have a feeling we’re about to get our asses handed to us, but it’s so worth it. She said she’s having a fabulous time.”
Colton laughs. “Do you think she’ll actually hit it off with Roman? I haven’t dealt with him too much but he’s an alright guy.”
“I hope so. From what I’ve heard he’s been infatuated by her since the gatsby party and she deserves a man who’s going to put her up on a pedestal as if the sun shines out of her ass. I want her to be happy.”
“You know,” he says, thoughtful. “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so selfless before.”
“Who? My mom?”
“No, moron,” he laughs. “You. You would do absolutely anything to make your mother happy. I love that about you.”
My eyes flick toward him before slowly scanning back to the dark road ahead. “There’s that word again.”
I don’t see his smirk but from his tone, I know it’s there. “Uh-huh,” he grumbles, not speaking any further on the topic. “But speaking of people getting together. I think Spencer is seeing someone.”
“What?” I grunt, flicking my gaze back to him again to see him deep in thought. “Why do you say that? Did he mention someone?”
He presses his lips into a tight line and softly shakes his head. “No, not exactly but he’s been MIA this week and when I asked him about it, he was really shady. Judging from the past, he’s only ever like that when there’s a girl.”
“No shit, really?”
“Yeah, I’m going to get him drunk after the business dinner tomorrow night. He tends to get a bit loose when he’s had too much to drink.”
A smile tears across my face at the thought of getting Spencer fucked up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like that, he’s always so put together. He’s like Colton in that way, in fact, while we’re at it, I might encourage Colton to let loose as well. Now that would be a fun night.
I store my plan away for safekeeping and find myself glancing at him again. “What kind of business dinner is it that has Spencer coming over?”
“It’s all the partners. It’s some stupid tradition that my father put in place. Every few months or so, all the partners come together with their families and share a meal.”
I raise a brow. “All the partners?” I question. “That’s Charlie’s dad and Milo’s, right? So, they’ll be there?”
He nods. “Along with the rest of their families.”
“So, what you’re saying is that Charlie won’t be able to avoid us tomorrow night?”
A grin tears across Colton’s face. “Why the hell do you think I didn’t cancel that shit? I’m not exactly known as the guy to enjoy business dinners.”
I roll my eyes but find myself laughing. “The level of bullshit you’d happily sit through just to get the tiniest thing in return astounds me.”