6

Chloe appeared at my side before I could say another word to him, her hand finding my elbow with a grip that said she'd let me have my moment but now it was over.

"We've got a problem," she murmured close to my ear, her voice low enough that only I could hear. “Car won't start. Something with the battery, I think. I've been trying to call the technician but his line isn't going through.”

I blinked at her, the fog in my brain struggling to shift from Dante to the problem at hand. “What?”

“Car. Won't. Start.” She jerked her head toward the street where Mira was already standing by the hood, looking at her phone with growing impatience while Lily slept against her shoulder. "I'll have to go get him."

Dante cleared his throat. “I can drop you off.”

I turned back to face him, my heart stuttering at how close he'd moved without me noticing. “No. That's—no. Thank you, but we're fine. We'll just call a taxi.”

“Eva.” I should probably ask him to stop calling my name like that. “You have a sleeping child, and a dead car. Let me help.”

“Uh…really , it's okay. We live far away from here" I said quickly. "Like, really far, Waterfront road. It's out of your way.”

“I'm going that way.”

Okay, um…

I stared at him, searching for any sign that he was lying just to be nice, to be the kind of man who helped damsels in distress but his grey eyes gave nothing away.

“Weren't you here for something?" I pressed, desperate. “I believe you have work to do, please don't let me inconvenience you.”

“Yeah, but I'm done and I was about to leave when I saw you.” He said it simply.

Chloe suddenly pinched my bare arm, I flinched and winced slightly but immediately masked it with a cough. She scooted closer. “Let the man have his way, you can share you location to me,” she hissed, and I knew without looking that she was giving me the just accept the ride before I kill you look she'd perfected over five years of friendship.

I opened my mouth to refuse again, because my pride was a stubborn, stupid thing that had gotten me into trouble more times than I could count. But Mira was shifting Lily's weight, looking exhausted, afraid the girl would cook if she left her in the car and the sun was beating down, and I was so tired I could feel it in my bones.

“uh…okay, I'll have to trouble you. Thank you.”

He nodded, already turning toward the road. We crossed and got to a sleek black Jeep that looked like it cost more than my entire apartment building, parked a few feet away from Chloe's car. He nodded at a man inside who quickly got out and immediately walked away without a word. 

I'm assuming that's his driver.

Dante opened the back door, and gestured for Mira to climb in with Lily.

Mira, who had been watching the whole exchange with the eyes of someone who made her living off gossip, gave me a look that promised many questions later. But she slid into the backseat without comment, settling Lily on the seat to lie comfortably.

 “I'll be leaving now.” Chloe called behind me, about to get into a taxi, call me when you get home.” She pulled out her phone, entering the car with a grin that was entirely too amused.

I stood there for a long moment, watching the taxi drive off, before I accepted my fate and climbed into the passenger seat.

The interior of the Jeep smelled like leather and a clean, woodsy scent that I recognized from the bar. I kept my eyes fixed on the dashboard, my hands folded in my lap, and tried very hard not to think about any of that.

Mira leaned forward as we drove into the road. “Um…you can drop me at Grounds on Fourth. I have a meeting with someone.”

Dante nodded and relaxed into his seat. The chair meant for his perfect build.

The coffee shop appeared sooner than I wanted, a small building with a green awning that Mira frequented enough to have her order memorized. We pulled to the curb, and she climbed out carefully, easing Lily onto the seat.

She leaned through the window, her eyes meeting mine. "Call me later."

~

We finally pulled up outside my building, and I felt like I'd been holding my breath for the past twenty minutes.

"This is me," I said, unnecessarily. "Thank you for the ride."

He cut the engine, turned slightly to me. “Hmm.”

“You should come in,” the words tumbled out before I could stop them. “For coffee. I mean.”

Please say no.

This was basic courtesy, I didn't want to appear rude in front of him but please!! say no.

He held my gaze for a long moment, and goodness, for a second I had the strangest feeling that he could hear exactly what I was thinking.

“Maybe another time.” He said finally, and the relief that flooded through me was so intense I almost laughed.

Almost.

Instead, I let out a long sigh of relief, a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.

His lips suddenly twitched. “Does Ms. Bishop not want me in for coffee?”

Shit! 

I froze, my face burning. “Oh my goodness—”

I might as well just combust.

“I'm sorry, I’m really tired and just offeed because I didn't—” 

He cut me off with a small nod, before pressing a button from his side to open my door. 

Is he mad?...

I slowly alighted, afraid to piss him off further. But his door also opened and he climbed down, opening the back door.

Dante leaned into the back seat and I watched as he unbuckled Lily from the backseat with surprising gentleness and carried her up the steps to our apartment, waiting while I fumbled with the keys, and then through the door into our small living room. He laid her on the couch and adjusted the blanket he found on the couch.

When he straightened up, we were close enough that I could see the faint shadow of stubble along his jaw, and the small scar above his collar.

I quickly cleared my throat, taking a few steps back. “Uh…thank you.” 

He nodded once and turned to leave, I followed behind until we got to the doorway and he declined me seeing him off. 

I let out a breath the moment he got into his car and shut the door. The second he drove off, a familiar car turned onto the block. I squinted against the sunlight to see the plate number, and felt my blood turn to ice as I recognized the number.

Jace.