Page 143 of The Silent Note

I proceed to reject both Zane’s chauffeur offer and the date.

And then he makes it clear that if I choose to stay in the hotel room with him, he’ll find other ways to distract me. Ways that include my clothes landing on the floor and my fingers wrapping around the headboard, holding on for dear life.

I decide to heed his warning and now I’m in the passenger seat of Dutch’s car, fully dressed and heading to Redwood.

“You should let me out here,” I mumble, staring despondently out the window at the striking blue sky.

Zane keeps driving.

I frown at him. “You can’t take me all the way to Redwood, Zane. Everyone will talk if they see me climbing out of your car.”

“They saw you climbing out of my car yesterday. Jinx even posted a video.”

My heart seizes. “Oh my gosh. I meant to check that.”

“You sure you want to see it?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“It’s a bit… graphic.”

I gasp and grab my phone. When I see the footage, I breathe out in relief. Someone did film the car, and the windows are definitely fogged from all the steam happening inside. But because other trucks are driving by at warp speed, the car’s rocking movements doesn’t seem all that damning. If anyone brings up this video, I can easily deflect the conversation.

“What’s the verdict?” Zane asks with a grin.

“This isn’t too bad. When you said ‘graphic’, I thought there was footage of us…” I stammer, “you know.”

“What?” He smirks.

“You know, Zane.”

“Spell it out, tiger.”

“Doing it?”

One corner of Zane’s lips curves up.

My cheeks are on fire. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“I can’t. You’re cute.”

“I’m older than you.”

“Mm-hm.”

“By six years.”

“Yup.”

“You can’t call me cute.”

“It’s what you are.” He flicks the indicator. “Sometimes, I forget you’re pretty much a virgin.”

I bristle. “I’m not a virgin.”

“I said you’repretty muchone. Your body doesn’t lie, tiger.” He glances at me, looking roguishly handsome with the sun splaying behind him and his blue eyes sparkling. He got even less sleep than I did yesterday, but one would never tell. His skin is still smooth and supple. Not a hint of a dark circle under his eyes. Oh, the gift of youth.

“There’s nothing wrong with being inexperienced,” I answer earnestly.