Saved by Love (Willow Valley Book 3)(10)

"I know," she managed to say, but the smile she gave him this time wasn't forced. For what must have been the hundredth time that day she marveled over how easy it was to lose herself in him. After she'd just reminded herself of all the reasons she shouldn't. "But you seem to have a pretty good read on me."

He led her to the passenger side door and opened it for her, then leaned down to look her in the eye after she got in. "Quite the contrary. You, Abigail Stewart, are a complete mystery."

She wrinkled her nose at his use of her full name, and he laughed as he shut her door. She watched him walk around the front of the car, her pulse kicking up as she took in his tall, muscular frame. When he sat down next to her and cranked the engine, the small car felt suddenly tiny.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked to distract herself from the way the muscles in his arms flexed as he maneuvered the gear shift. "I'm not all that mysterious."

"No?" He shot her a quick glance before turning out onto the road. "Then why do I have the feeling if I do this—" He slammed into the next gear and floored it, the force of the forward momentum pushing Abby back into her seat.

Her eyes widened in terror and she gripped her seat as he took a corner at an alarming speed, but what shocked her the most was that she heard herself laughing over the roar of the engine.

Ethan slowed down to a normal speed and looked over at her, a triumphant look on his face. "Yep, I knew it!"

"Are you out of your mind? What are you trying to do, get us both killed?" But the smile was still on her face. What was wrong with her? "You knew what?"

"You're a closet adrenaline junkie."

"I am not!"

"Hence my stance that you are a mystery. You come across all reserved and cautious, overly careful of anything that might have a hint of danger," he began, still smiling. He could tell that about her already? "But the way your eyes lit up when you talked about how you wanted to surf, then again just now when I took that corner—which, by the way, was perfectly safe in this baby—" he patted the steering wheel, "—you love a good adrenaline rush as much as the next person."

"You may be right about being cautious but I—"

"Do you like roller coasters?" he interrupted, looking at her way more than at the road.

"Eyes straight ahead, Speed Racer. And yes, I do, but that doesn't mean anything. Everyone likes roller coasters. They're perfectly safe. People check them all the time."

"Not true. I can assure you that plenty of people are terrified of them."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Maybe, but that's beside the point."

"The point is, you are full of contradictions, therefore a mystery." He laughed, and she let a smile steal across her face.

"If you say so."

He whipped the car around to a stop, and Abby was surprised to find that they were already back at the apartment.

"That didn't take long," she said as she grabbed her purse from the floor.

"That's because I may not have kept it under the limit." Ethan gave her a wink that should have been cheesy, but was just incredibly sexy coming from him. As he climbed from the car and made his way around to open her door, her stomach started acting as if she were actually on a roller coaster. Now what? Would he walk her to her door? Try to kiss her? And the most pressing question, did she want him to?

He opened her door and held out a hand to help her up. She half-expected him to pull her to him once she was standing, but he simply let go of her hand and shut the door.

"Thanks for the ride. I don't know about Lissa sometimes." She walked in the direction of the stairs, not surprised when he kept pace with her.

Ethan laughed. "Oh, I know all about Lissa. But seriously, have you met her mother? She comes by it honestly."

"Believe me, I know. The first time I met her, she got more of my life history out of me than anyone before or since." She stopped at the foot of the stairs. "I've got it from here."

"You sure?" He knitted his brows together. "I did say that I'd see you home safely."

"I think I'll be fine, but I do know where to find you." She smiled at him, but what she didn't say was that she felt much less safe with him accompanying her to her door than she did leaving him right where he was. The crazy way she'd been feeling all day, she was just as likely as not to invite him inside. And that was most definitely a bad idea.

"Just promise me one thing."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Depends."

"Don't completely write off a trip to the beach. I know your inner surfer is just dying to come out."

She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a finger and shook his head. "I know we just met, so it does sound kind of crazy. But humor me and think about it."

She nodded, then turned to make her way up the stairs. When she unlocked her door, she looked back and found him still at the bottom of the stairs watching her.

"Just holding up my end of the deal." He smiled that heart-stopping smile again. "Goodnight, Abby."

She stared at him, then broke the connection, fearing she'd get lost in those sea-green eyes. "Goodnight," she said, barely above a whisper.

Rushing inside, she shut the door and leaned against it. In a matter of one day, her entire world she'd been creating for herself was upended. She didn't have room for a guy in her life. Not until she figured herself out. But Ethan wasn't the kind of guy you could easily push out of your mind.