He’d be all too happy to indulge her. And if it meant he got to spank that pert ass, well, that was just a bonus.
Chapter Ten
Why had she agreed to let him drive her home?
Because you were feeling weak. And damn turned on. Who could blame her? Gray was gorgeous, sexy, and protective. He was every girl’s fantasy man. And for some reason, he’d focussed his attention on her. She wasn’t sure why. She was nothing special. And, as Lyle had complained, boring as hell.
But he seemed to want her . . . if she could trust what he said.
Doubt filled her.
“You’re worrying too much,” he said as he drove his car through the streets of Dallas to her apartment. His car was just like him. Sleek, dark, and expensive.
“What sort of car is this?” she asked, running her hand over the inside of the door.
“A Maserati.”
A Maserati? Seriously? She didn’t know much about cars, but even she knew Maseratis were pricey. She snatched her hand back from the door. She’d probably leave some sort of mark, and it would take thousands of dollars to clean. That was just the sort of luck she had.
“You didn’t have to drive me home. I could have taken a cab.”
Now that they were away from the club, she was regretting her actions tonight. Especially what she’d revealed to Gray afterward. She seemed to recall talking about how gorgeous he was. And what a nice guy he was.
Jesus, Lacey.
He downshifted as he slowed to take a corner. Her heartbeat raced with a mix of nervousness and arousal.
“You really thought I’d let you take a cab home alone at night? I’m supposed to be watching over you, remember?”
“At the club. We’re not at the club anymore.”
“I’m still going to watch over you, Lacey. No more hiding from me, remember?”
“I’m not hiding.”
“No? You’re trying to shut me out.”
She bit back the denial, knowing it would be a lie.
“Good girl,” he told her.
“What?” She turned to him, startled.
“I could sense you wanted to protest, but we both know that would have been a lie, and I can’t stand lies. I had enough of those growing up. Just a little one, my mother would say, to spare someone’s feelings. But those little untruths can grow into big lies, and suddenly you don’t know what’s truth or deceit. I can deal with most things, but lying is one thing I can’t abide.”
She bit her lip. Technically, she hadn’t lied to him but she was hiding something. Something big.
“Is this your apartment building?”
Startled, she glanced out of the window. “Yep, this is where I live.”
“It’s a good neighborhood,” he commented.
“My best friend from college lives in Dallas. When I decided to move here, I researched all the safest neighborhoods’, then I asked Indie which one’s she thought were the best. We found this place. My apartment is at the back, on the fourth floor. People have to be buzzed into the building, and it has an alarm. It’s pretty safe here.”
She sensed him staring at her and turned. “So, thanks for the ride and um, everything.”
“I’m walking you up to your apartment.”