Alix opens the door and drops ungracefully into the seat. She’s definitely not like the other women I’ve had in my car. I know a lot of people, I go to a lot of events and my list of dates is anything but small, but they’re all exactly the same. Tall, slim and polite—beyond polite—but Alix… well, she doesn’t seem to care too much about etiquette. I want to find it endearing, but it’s quite annoying, actually.
“What vegetables do you like?” She asks, her eyes skimming over the interior.
“Potatoes,” I tell her.
Potatoes are a favorite of mine… along with broccoli and carrots. Not that that’s important information to learn. I slip my key into the ignition and my baby roars into life.
“Stiff, bland, and tasteless.” She mutters. “Go figure.”
I roll my eyes and work on ignoring her as I reverse out of my parking space.
Alix
I’m not going to lie. His car is beautiful. Then again, I didn’t expect anything less for a man like him. I’m unable to pull the quirk from my lips as a result of our conversation. It’s kind of thrilling bickering with him, and to be honest, I like the shade of pink that spreads over his smooth skin whenever I say something inappropriate.
Once we’re out of the underground parking lot and into the street, Jesse relaxes further into his seat and presses his foot harder against the gas. I sneak a peek at him sideways and admire the long ropes of muscle in his forearms. For a guy stuck in meetings all of the time, he sure is in great shape.
“Staring is rude.” He states with a smirk as his fingers tighten around the wheel.
“It’s only rude if you’re staring at someone because they have a visual impairment. You clearly do not, so my kind of staring isn’t rude, it’s complimentary.”
He glances at me. “You have a retort for just about anything, don’t you?”
“Only when my dignity is being questioned.” Okay. That’s a lie. I don’t have dignity, but I do have an opinion on just about everything. It’s probably why most people find me annoying.
With a sigh, he turns on the music and adjusts the volume loud enough for conversation to be drowned out. It’s not ear drum bursting, but it’s enough to stop me from yelling over the top of it.
When we arrive at my apartment, Jesse takes up the only available space with my number on it. I have three spaces for myself, but the neighbors have quickly realized I don’t have a car, and now use two of them for themselves. I don’t mind, I suppose. You know, other than the fact they didn’t even ask me.
Without a word, we exit the car. The Jag looks completely out of place here. I mean, I live in a nice area and everything is clean and well maintained, but it’s not that nice, that clean or that well maintained. Suddenly, I feel a slight pang of shame for bringing him here… like what I have won’t be to his standards. I shake the thoughts off. Not everyone can be millionaires and that’s not my fault. I head for the stairs.
“Stairs?” He asks, walking closely behind me.
“Yep, stairs. Not all of us can afford to live in penthouse suites with elevators from the private parking lot to the front door.”
My tone comes out snarkier than I mean, but I don’t apologize. It’s one thing to feel any kind of inadequacy when it comes to Jesse and his lifestyle, but to lose face in front of him is another thing entirely. I’m Alix. I am bitchy, sarcastic and in control. Hm, maybe I should get it printed on a shirt?
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he says, as I begin my climb to the sixth floor. “I was implying that stairwells and small women don’t sound like a safe combination—especially when you finish at the hours you do.”
Small women? Well, there’s a first for everything. I guess to a tall, wide machine like him I do seem quite small.
“Thanks for the concern,” I tell him. “But most of my shoes come with a crazy heel. I pity whoever tries to attack me while I’m wearing them.”
He blows air from his cheeks. “Alix the brave—stabbing hearts with shoes since two thousand fourteen.”
Abruptly, I whip around. “Two thousand eight—”
My ankle gives out from underneath me and I squeak as I lose my balance. Not wanting to crack my head open, I surge forward and wrap my arms around Jesse’s neck. His arms circle my waist and he pulls me tightly against him. His breath is hot and quick on my face, and I’m sure mine is on his too. I glance at his mouth, less than an inch from mine, and quickly all memories from the other night become clouded. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as I thought?