#Junkie (GearShark #1)(51)

“Oh my God!” Joey gasped and fell back.

I stole a glance to the side. She was plastered against her seat with a hand pressed against her chest. Dark curls spilled around her very pale face, and her eyes were wide as saucers.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Took about ten years off my life, Drew!” she fussed. “Guess I didn’t need them anyway.”

I couldn’t help it. Her smartass acceptance of my almost deadly behavior made me smile. “Something tells me you got plenty of years left on that engine.”

Her smile was fast. “You know it.”

I held out my fist between the seats, and she pounded hers against it.

“Thanks for being my navigator tonight.”

“We make a pretty good team,” she replied.

“Hells yeah.” If there was one thing I learned with absolute clarity tonight, it was Joey Gamble was a woman I’d drive with any day of the week. She was definitely someone I’d want on my team.

She settled back against the seat, and I became aware of Trent’s distance. He was no longer leaning up between the seats. His oversized palm was no longer taking over the side of my seat. I glanced in the rearview mirror, and our eyes collided.

He was sitting in the center of the bench seat, a pinched, sour look on his face.

Just before he looked away, I thought I saw a shade of bleakness move through his gaze and, along with it, a flicker of hurt.

The rest of the ride passed in silence. I kept a white-knuckled grip on the wheel and forced my focus to remain on the present, on the road.

We made it to the hotel Joey was staying at about thirty minutes later. The Mustang slid to a stop right under the awning near the entrance.

“I’ll walk you up,” I said and unbuckled the belt.

“That’s not necessary.” She waved me back.

I didn’t listen. There was no way in hell I wasn’t going to at least see her to her door after everything that happened tonight. I’d already been enough of a dick; I didn’t need to make it worse.

Besides, I couldn’t be sure some of Lorhaven’s goonies wouldn’t be staking the lobby out, just waiting for a chance to get her alone.

I left the engine running but leaned back in the driver’s door and into the dim backseat. “I’ll be right back.”

Trent didn’t say anything even though I waited for him to.

Joey was on one of the top floors, and I insisted on riding the elevator up with her and making sure she got inside. The ride up was silent but charged, and I assumed it was because she was pissed I insisted on escorting her.

But when she opened the door to her room and motioned me in first without a hint of any hostility, I started to wonder if I was imagining things.

Fuck, this entire night was jacked up.

I walked through her entire suite, checking the place out. I was more thorough than I really needed to be. Clearly, she was safe here. This was the best hotel in the town and the security was top notch. Ron Gamble wouldn’t allow his daughter to stay anywhere less.

I needed the few minutes of quiet checking her bedroom and bath afforded me. I needed the air. I needed the minute to try and pull myself together, because I felt like I was coming apart.

I’d never felt so twisted up inside. And at the same time, so pissed.

I didn’t know how to handle it.

Usually, I’d get in the car and drive, but I’d been driving all night, and I felt worse now than I had before.

“All’s clear,” I told her, stepping back into the small sitting room.

“Thanks for checking,” she said as she kicked off her boots.

“Hey,” I said, stepping up close. “I’m sorry about tonight. Putting you in danger was the last thing I wanted to do.”

She tipped her head back and looked up, a sardonic grin twisting her lips. “Would it make you feel better if I told you I had fun?”

I laughed. “I like you.”

Her teeth flashed with a wide smile. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

“You know you like me.” I teased.

“You’re the first guy in a long time who isn’t afraid to actually spend time with me. Most guys are so scared of my father I get treated like china.”

“Your father’s the one who told me to drive with you.” I pointed out.

She laughed. “I’m pretty sure tonight wasn’t what he had in mind.”

I grimaced. “Maybe we could keep that little adventure between us,” I whispered conspiratorially.

“It’s a shame,” she mused and turned away.

I caught her arm, my brow furrowing. “What is?”

She glanced down to where my hand held her and back up. Her eyes softened a little. “That you’re already taken.”

“Taken?” I felt my nose wrinkle. “I’m not taken.”

She looked a little sad. “Oh, but you are.”

“Honey,” I drawled. “I’m as single as a dollar bill.”

“With lines like that, it’s no wonder.” She laughed and tried to pull away.

I pulled her back, this time a little harder than before. She stumbled against my chest.

“I don’t see any other girls hanging around. Do you?” I rumbled.

Both her palms slid up my chest and stopped just below my collarbone. “Girls? No.”