Time Will Tell (Maybe #3)(34)

“You look happy.”

“I am happy. I can’t remember the last time I went on a road trip,” I tell him, doing a little happy dance that consists of a lot of fist pumping.

Xander’s laugh travels throughout the car. “You realise it’s mainly bush we’re driving through?”

I roll my eyes and reach out to cup his jaw. “I don’t care. It’s going to be fun.”

“Let’s hope there are no kangaroos on the roads,” he murmurs.

“As long as there’s daylight, we should be fine.”

“As long as I don’t get distracted by those damn shorts, we’ll be fine,” he replies, starting the car and turning down the road.

I look down at my shorts. “What’s with these shorts? Zach made similar comments when I wore them to the clubhouse.”

I watch as Xander squeezes the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. “You wore those to the clubhouse? Fuck, no wonder half the men are in love with you.”

I roll my eyes at him. “That’s an exaggeration. I think they just liked my skills in the kitchen.”

“I’ve sampled your skills in the kitchen,” he replies in a low tone, reaching his hand out and resting it on my thigh.

“I know you have,” I reply, grinning, “but you haven’t sampled my skills in a car, yet.”

His head snaps to me. “Are you trying to get us killed?”

I shake my head. “No, but I believe there are a few stops on the way where we could park for a little while.”

I stare at his handsome profile as he laughs. “I’ve created a monster.”

“You have no idea.”

I want him in the worst way, always. I can’t get enough. I’m addicted to him. I feel like I’ve changed as a person for the better, like I’ve come out of my shell and started living life more, instead of just reading about it.

“I like that you can be open with me, say whatever crosses your mind,” he says, squeezing my thigh.

“I trust you,” I tell him, “so I feel comfortable around you.”

He takes my hand in his and brings it to his mouth, kissing my knuckles. “I’ll never break that trust, Trillian. It’s a gift.”

I sigh contentedly. “And that’s why I trust you.”

He rests our intertwined hands on his thigh. “I can’t wait for you to meet everyone. Summer is going to love you.”

I hope so.

“Can we stop for some beef jerky?” I ask Xander, turning my body and leaning my head on his shoulder.

He chuckles. “We can stop for anything you want.”

He’s so good to me.

“Let me know when you get tired so I can drive,” I tell him, not expecting him to drive the whole ten hours by himself.

“Let me know if you want to stop at a hotel on the way. We don’t have to do the whole drive in one go,” he says.

“I can manage, you don’t have to baby me,” I tell him, turning the volume up when an Ed Sheeran song starts to play on the radio.

“I’m not babying you,” he replies, grinning. “I just want you to be comfortable.”

He’s spoiling me.

And I’m getting used to it.

*****

“Why didn’t you wake me?” I ask as we pull into his driveway. “You let me sleep the whole way while you drove!”

“Don’t be angry. You looked so cute sleeping. So peaceful. I couldn’t wake you. Besides, I wasn’t tired, I’m fine. It wouldn’t be very manly of me to let you drive while I sleep in the car.”

I open my mouth and then close it. “You’re so damn stubborn sometimes!”

“Come on,” he says. “You can yell at me more once we get inside the house.”

His voice sounds amused.

Amused!

Opening the car door, I slide out and stretch. We stopped about four times, for toilet and food breaks. I got my beef jerky, and I loved it. Now, what I really want is a hot shower and a decent meal. Xander carries our bags then sets them at the front door while he pulls out his keys. The house is an older one, but nice and well maintained. Xander opens the door for me and I step inside before him, glancing around the house eagerly. It’s modern inside. I love it. It isn’t cluttered at all. Instead, it’s spacious and tastefully decorated.

“It’s beautiful,” I tell him, turning to face him. He smiles, putting our bags on the floor, and then stands in front of me with a playful expression on his face.

“You’re beautiful. Do you want to have a shower? I’ll order in some food for tonight. Then tomorrow we can go grocery shopping. Summer’s been keeping the house clean and checking in. I’m not sure just how stocked the fridge is, though.”

I nod. “Sounds good. Are you going to join me in the shower?”

He lowers his head and kisses my mouth, just the barest of touches. “I’ll join you. Come on, I’ll give you a quick tour of the house.”

He shows me the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and living area. Walking me back to the first bathroom, he leads me inside and starts to strip off my clothes—first my t-shirt and shorts and then my bra and panties. I turn the shower on and look back at him to see his eyes lingering on my body.