He nodded.
“So, what are you?” She wanted to understand the mystery that was Ethan. If she knew, maybe she wouldn’t respond to him so strongly. It had to be the process of solving a puzzle that was intriguing her, not the puzzle itself.
He glanced over. She almost tugged on the hem of her skirt. Wearing the feminine clothing had seemed to make perfect sense earlier, when her primary objective was to lose the PIs her family had sicced on her. They’d never seen her in anything but power suits—with trousers, of course.
She hated how the skirt left her legs three-quarters bare and the baby tee clung to her torso. She couldn’t have felt more exposed if she’d been sitting next to Ethan in her underwear.
His lips twitc
hed in a suppressed smile as though he knew how much his presence unbalanced her. “What am I? I’m the guy who’s picking you up from the airport.”
“You’re not a driver,” she said, deciding to focus on anything but her discomfiture. The drive would end soon enough, then she could change into something that would shield her better. “You’re also not Natalie’s friend because I would’ve heard about you. So I’ll ask again: what are you?”
He chuckled. “I was the best man at her wedding.”
Which probably made him the groom’s best friend. Since Natalie’s husband, Alex Damon, was one of the richest men in the world, Ethan must also be a member of the same upper echelon. Maybe “fucking loaded” hadn’t been an exaggeration. “Have the best man’s duties expanded to include picking up the bride’s friends from the airport weeks after the ceremony?”
“I owed her one.” His tone said the topic was finished. “And you?”
“I don’t owe her anything.”
He laughed. It was still the warm and rich sound she remembered. A dangerously seductive one too. It was part of the reason she’d succumbed to his charm.
“So what did you owe her?” she asked.
His eyes narrowed slightly, though the corners of his lips quirked. “I almost cost her her husband.”
“Wow.” This was totally unexpected. “Does Alex play for both teams?”
“Ah, no. It was a business thing. I told Alex she was involved in some corporate espionage, which he didn’t take kindly. We were certain—well, I was certain—that she was working for the enemy.”
Kerri gasped. “That’s ridiculous.”
He shrugged. “A monumental screw-up on my part, and I don’t screw up often.”
“Let me guess. She forgave you for everything until she decided she wanted you to do something for her.”
“Something like that.” He made a quick left turn. “Do you still play the violin?” he asked suddenly.
“No, I quit years ago. No time once I got into investment banking.”
“Natalie mentioned something about that. VP, right?”
“Actually…” She sighed. Well, she’d have to admit her unemployed status sooner or later. “I’m a bum at the moment. Between jobs.”
“A bum?” He gave her a quick once-over, head to toes. “I’m sure you could find work if you wanted.”
Her face warmed, and whatever thoughts she’d held in her mind evaporated. She couldn’t believe she was acting like a silly teenager with the captain of the football team. She was twenty-eight, far too old and sensible for these kinds of feelings. If anybody other than Ethan had made the comment, she might have rolled her eyes or arched an eyebrow in silent reprimand.
But everything out of Ethan’s mouth sounded like bedroom talk. Maybe it wasn’t the words but the way he spoke, the way he looked at her, the way his voice hit her senses like the finest whiskey.
Damn, she needed to be more careful. It wasn’t just the girly clothing making her feel vulnerable and susceptible. A ski suit wouldn’t have negated the effect he had on her.
“Virginia isn’t the first choice destination for most bums,” he mused. “California beaches tend to be higher on the list.”
“A beach bum?” She forced a light tone. Regardless of the effect he had on her, this was just banter. “Too bad I don’t swim or surf.”
“Seriously? You never learned?”