"Hey!" he laughs, grabbing the top of the steering wheel. "Pay attention or I'll drive."
The car evens back out as I feel every ounce of blood rush to my face. "Sorry."
"You feeling okay today?" he grins. "You're flushed."
"I'm fine."
"Yes, you are," he whistles. "I keep thinking about last night."
"I wanted to talk to you about that, actually," I gulp.
Glancing at him over my shoulder, there's a look of surprise on his face.
"I don't know what came over me," I start.
"I know what came over me. All over me, actually . . ."
"Damn it, Ford," I blush. "Stop."
"Fine. I'm sorry. Continue."
He's not sorry. Not a bit. The smirk set deep in his cheeks tells the truth.
Sighing, I take a left towards the salon.
"Look, El. I'm not sure what you're thinking, but I'm not sorry about what happened," he says. "If you want me to say it was a mistake or apologize for something-"
"No," I say hurriedly. "I, um, I don't want you to apologize. I just didn't expect that to happen, and I'm not sure what kind of signal it puts out."
I can tell he's grinning as he shifts in the seat so he's facing me. "What kind of signal it puts out?"
"Yeah."
"Sexy as hell? Does that work?"
I don't look at him. If I do and see his eyes on me like I think they are, I might pull over and ravage him on the side of the road.
"If you're insinuating that I think it meant anything more than you wanting something I could give you in that moment, I don't," he says, all teasing gone from his tone. "I'll be honest and say I hope it means that you're opening up to the idea of maybe spending some time with me."
"Seems like a slippery slope."
"I'll have you know I'm passing a huge innuendo with that one," he laughs.
"You have a one-track mind today," I grin.
"That's your fault."
I sense movement to my right. Out of the corner of my eye, I see his arm reaching forward just before his palm lands on the bare skin of my thigh.
Goosebumps ripple from the spot, like a stone thrown on a lake. With every wave, my body comes alive.
Much to both my relief and regret, he doesn't move his hand.
"To clarify, my mind is always two-track with you," he almost whispers. "That's how I know you're special."
As if the universe is finally giving me a break, I pull to the curb of a salon nestled in the back of a strip mall. A gorgeous blonde girl is standing in the front with an oversized pink bag and purple tips to her hair.
"Is that Sienna?" I ask.
He removes his hand from my leg, the skin instantly feeling cold. I turn the air conditioner down.
He rolls down his window and waves at his sister. Her face lights up and she half-runs to the car.
"Thank you," she says as she climbs in the back. "I'm going to kill Cam."
"Where'd she go?" Ford asks.
Sienna just rolls her eyes in response. "Thanks for coming to get me, Ellie," she says. "It's nice to officially meet you. Cam has said you're a pretzel in the yoga studio."
"Things I'd like to know," Ford murmurs before Sienna shoots him a look.
Ignoring him, I pull back onto the road. "I've only practiced for a couple of years now. I'm not nearly as good as your sister."
"I think she's getting lots of practice in contortion these days," Sienna laughs, watching Ford for a reaction. He glares at her.
I have no idea what I'm missing, but I laugh too. "Sounds like she's getting a workout."
"Trust me when I say if you saw the apparatus, you'd be wishing-"
Ford silences her with one pointed look.
"Sorry," Sienna grins, slipping back into the seat. "Oh! Take a right here!"
I do as instructed, and in a few minutes, we are sitting outside a cute little white house with black shutters.
"Who lives here?" Ford asks.
"A friend of mine," she says, leaning up and kissing him on the cheek. "No worries."
"Should I accompany you to the door?"
This time it's her that silences him with a look.
"Fine. Behave yourself," he mutters. "And if you don't hear from Cam, call me."
"She's fine. No, she's more than fine," Sienna laughs, ignoring the look from her brother. "Thanks again for coming to get me, Ellie. I really appreciate it."
"It was nice meeting you," I reply.
"Same here."
With a final bright smile, she's up the stairs of the little house. I pull away before Ford can try to catch a glimpse of the person inside. This frustrates him, but he doesn't mention it.