Elite (Eagle Elite #1)(47)

“Crap-crap-crap!” I covered my face with my hands, and suddenly the car skidded to a stop.

I peeked through my fingers.

Nixon was coolly setting his gun back into the console and opening his window as he gave a rundown of what just happened to the security guard.

Shaking. I wasn’t sure I could move, let alone speak. Did I just beg Nixon to steal my virginity?

Horrified. I clapped my hands over my burning face all over again.

The car moved and we drove in silence.

Finally, we pulled to another stop and Nixon turned off the car.

I still refused to look at him or take my hands off my face. He was going to have to use the Jaws of Life on my hands. No chance in hell was I going to—

“Hey!” I shouted when he pulled my hands free of their grip.

I closed my eyes again. Maybe if I couldn’t see him, he couldn’t see me? You know, like when you play hide and seek when you’re little?

“Trace.” Nixon’s voice held little humor so I opened one eye then two. “Are you okay?”

“No.” I shivered. “I’m not okay! We could have died! Who were those people? Why did they have guns? Is it like this all the time when you’re out and about in public! What the hell, Nixon! I need answers!”

“As well as a volunteer…” Nixon chuckled.

“Come again?”

He burst out laughing. “Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“My answer.” He winked. “Just name the time and place. I’ll be there.”

Oh my gosh. He didn’t mean…

“It would be an honor.” He bit down on his lip and happily hit the steering wheel. “I mean, I would love to be the one guy going into uncharted territory and…”

“Shut up! Just shut up!” I clapped my hands over my ears, convinced they were so red they were going to literally fall from my head. “Oh my hell. I’m so embarrassed.”

“Hey, that was a real bonding experience back there,” Nixon whispered as he neared my face and then very gently removed each hand from my head and kissed the inside of my wrist. “And don’t worry… we’ll wait until you’re ready.”

“You’ll be waiting a long time…”

“It’s not like you didn’t,” he retorted, and before I could come up with a snappy reply his lips were crushing mine — devouring was more like it. Instinctively I wrapped my hands around his neck.

“Now is good too.” He groaned as I opened my mouth to him.

A knock jolted us away from one another.

I turned around and was immediately face to face with Grandpa.

An entire day early.

Pointing at me with a frown on his face.

And make that two of my most embarrassing moments in one night.





Chapter Twenty-one


Grandpa did not look pleased. In fact, if people’s stares could set clothes on fire… Nixon would be doing the stop, drop, and roll right about now.

We both faced him like teenagers who just got caught making out. Which, to be fair, was kind of true considering I was only eighteen. But still, I didn’t think of Nixon as being in college. Maybe it had something to do with him being so protective? Or adults being afraid of him? Or the gun? Yeah, the gun probably did it too. Grandpa would have a stroke if he knew the truth.

Not that I knew the truth either.

But I’m pretty sure it had to be bad. I mean, why else would people be chasing Nixon and pointing guns out of their cars? I was surprised how well I was handling everything, but at that moment my embarrassment was trumping my fear… which was probably a good thing.

“Hey, Gramps, you’re early.” I gave him an awkward hug and waited for the yelling to start.

He hugged me and then shot daggers at Nixon. “You.”

Uh oh. Grandpa didn’t know who Nixon was. He had no idea that cops called him Mr. Abandonato, and that women nearly fainted in his presence. He didn’t know this world, so he didn’t know that narrowing his eyes at Nixon was like a death wish.

“Me,” Nixon repeated. “Great to finally meet you, Mr. Rooks.”

“I didn’t catch your name.” Grandpa crossed his arms refusing to shake Nixon’s hand.

“Really? I could have sworn you knew it already.” Nixon was almost chest to chest with Grandpa now. Crap. They were going to kill each other. I tried to step between them, but the minute I moved, both of their arms shot out and pushed me gently out of the way.

Weird.

“I’m old.” Grandpa let out a hollow laugh. “Tell me again, what’s your name… son?”

Nixon’s jaw flexed. “Nixon Abandonato. But most people around here just call me sir.”

“You’re too young to be a sir.”

“And you’re too old to be protecting your granddaughter.”

“I’ve been protecting her my entire life.” Grandpa poked Nixon in the chest, but Nixon didn’t budge. “And last I checked I don’t take orders from a mere child.”

“Maybe it’s time to let someone else protect her.”

I raised my hand and cleared my throat. “Um, just FYI, I’m standing right here, and I have no idea why you guys are being such idiotic men right now, but I really want to go inside. I mean, I did almost just die back there.”