Alexander looked at me and smirked. “If you’re gonna touch me like that, at least buy me dinner first,” he teased.
An embarrassed flushed spread throughout my body, and I red at Richard and then at Ava for their scheming. It was their fault that I was in this situation. But neither of them were looking at me. Richard was focusing on the road, and Ava was studying her nails. I knew that they weren’t making eye contact with me on purpose so that they could give Alexander alone time with me.
Gai was looking at us with a worried expression that I wished I could ask her about. Aiden was staring at me with his brow furrowed, but when I made eye contact with him, his cheeks turned red, and he spun back around.
His reaction just made me even more embarrassed. I tried to sit up straight, but Alexander leaned his mouth down to whisper in my ear.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I’m not letting you escape that easily. Maybe you fell because your equilibrium is off kilter. It will probably be safest if you just rest against me so you don’t fall again.” He slid his warm hand slowly down my arm, and I shivered. “Wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry?”
For a moment, I leaned closer to him, but then I remembered howplicated everything was between us and that there were four other people in the car who could easily look back and see our close embrace.
I broke free of his arms as my embarrassment increased. I cleared my throat and smoothed my shirt, trying my best to seem nonchnt, but I
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was well aware that I wasn’t pulling it off.
Once I was sitting upright, I looked forward to see if everyone’s eyes were on me like it felt like they were. Ava was watching us with wide, excited eyes. My teeth gritted at the fact that she had a front row seat to the scenario that she had concocted with Richard.
Gai was facing forward, seemingly not paying attention to us, but I could see that her neck was red. Why did she seem so upset today? Maybe it had nothing to do with Alexander or me.
Richard was trying to hide hisughter, but I could see that his shoulders were shaking as he watched us.
Aiden had a sullen expression and was sinking low into his seat.
For the rest of the ride, I silently cursed Ava and Richard and fantasized ways that I could get them back.
Thankfully, as we passed by dense forests, horses, and cows grazing in green fields and tall mountains, Alexander stayed on his side of the car and remained quiet.
I crossed my arms and leaned my head against the cool ss of the window, grateful for the silence, giving me a chance to be alone with my thoughts.
The next thing I knew, someone was gently shaking my shoulder.
My eyes opened as I sat up and looked around disoriented.
“You fell asleep,” Alexander exined, his warm hand still on my shoulder. “We’re here.”
I looked out the window and saw arge red farmhouse that was located under the biggest mountain that I’d ever seen. When I stepped out onto the vibrant green grass, the front door opened, revealing a
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middle–aged man who had the same bright blue eyes and white blonde hair as Kelly.
He smiled and shook my hand. “Adam Walker, Ma’am,” he drawled in an ent. “Pleased to meet ya.”
After introductions were made, we headed for the house. When Adam was already inside, Alexander turned to Richard and Gai.
“You two, stand guard outside,” he ordered in a quiet voice.
Ava nced at her brother. “Stay with them.”
“But-”
Ava cut off Aiden with a sharp look. “No arguing.”
Ava. Alexander, and I followed Kelly’s uncle into the house.
I figured that we were going to stop to talk in Adam’srge, open kitchen. There was even a pitcher of ice cold lemonade on the table with a tray of cookies beside it that I figured he hadid out for us.
But Adam kept walking. He led us up a rickety set of wooden stairs. We had to go single file since the space was so narrow.
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