His stony demeanor finally cracked and I wished it hadn’t, because the full-watt smile, the one that made his eyes crinkle up at the corners, was more than my hazy brain could handle. He was gorgeous, there was no doubt about that, and despite whatever drug was in my system, my body knew what she liked.
“You do that and I’ll do the same.” Then he extended a long muscular arm, his hand with long strong fingers less than a foot from my body. I sucked in a gasp and looked up at him. “I’m Virgil. Figured if I introduce myself then we’re not strangers.”
Oh sweet Jesus, don’t let him be charming too.
Virgil seemed like a really bad decision, and I was looking for reasons that was a bad thing. “If Virgil is really your name.”
He barked out another laugh and kept his hand in the air until I took it and gave it a shake. “Maisie, but you already know that.”
“I do. Come on Maisie from Texas, let’s get you home.” He nodded for me to follow him and I did, leaving just a little distance so I could watch the powerful stride of his legs and the tight curve of his ass in those jeans. We walked out into the night and the slap of cold air on my face helped me wake up a bit. Before I slid into his fancy sports car, I sent a prayer up that this wouldn’t be my last car ride.
Ever.
Chapter Five
Virgil
Damn this girl was more woman than I expected and it had nothing to do with her tight little body, though that helped, especially all the legs on display in that denim skirt with the fringe. She wore a gauzy looking blouse that showed off just a sliver of midsection and those goddamn cowboy boots were gonna be the death of me.
“Where to, Maisie from Texas?”
“Mayhem. I hope that’s not too far. We live on Braddock Circle.”
“I know just where that is. Is there someone you need to call and let them know you’re safe?” I felt bad lying to her about being drunk, but it was the best possible outcome, especially since I didn’t know anything about this girl. Or her people.
She shrugged and gazed out the window, thick dark hair blowing in the desert breeze. “Nah, I’ll be home soon enough.”
“You sure? It’s been a few hours and—”
“My phone is dead, okay?” Her words came out a little annoyed and I frowned. “Sorry. Just…sorry,” she said.
And now I felt like an even bigger asshole. She had to be feeling unsettled by losing time and not knowing what happened to her during that time. I’d seen and heard enough to know that much. “Don’t be. You were out of it, but no one touched you or anything, if that’s got you worried.”
“It doesn’t but thank you for telling me that. And thank you for rescuing me tonight. Anything could have happened to me.” She shook her head, still trying to understand her night. “I still have sixty bucks in cash which means I only had a couple of drinks.”
“Booze hits people in different ways on different days.” Some days the booze turned my old man into the funniest most charming guy who ever walked the Earth, but most days he was meaner than a junkyard dog with a hangnail.
“I don’t drink to excess. Ever.” She shook her head again, still trying to piece together how she ended up here and as much as I wanted her to have peace, I needed her to forget.
“Your license says it’s your birthday. Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks,” she sighed and leaned back into the seat. “You don’t strike me as a Porsche kind of guy,” she said after a few more minutes of silence.
“Yeah? What kind of guy do I seem like?” I’d bet big money she would say a pickup truck because that was just too easy.
“Honestly, you look like the type who likes to tear it up off-road with lots of mud and bumps, but this is Glitz so I’d have to say something big and luxurious. A Tesla or even an Audi if you’re stuck in the last decade.”
A girl who looked like she did and knew cars? I had to be dreaming. “Something wrong with an Audi?”
“Other than the fact that it’s not electric? Nothing at all.” Her smugness on the topic told me the one thing I hadn’t figured out for myself.
“You’re a college girl.” It wasn’t a question. I knew that self-righteous tone. I’d heard it well before I learned the hard way to stay away from girls who were on a four-year visa to Glitz.
“I am,” she said with a heavy sigh. “Almost a college graduate if you can believe that.”
“Aren’t most people excited about finishing college and getting out in the real world?” Maybe she was one of those rich girls who was being forced to get a job or a husband. That still happened didn’t it?