“Nope,” Gavin called. “What size are you, Lisa?”
“Six,” Lisa answered.
“Sit,” Gavin commanded, pointing to a bench as he released Emily’s waist.
With a curious look molding her face, Emily sat. “What am I, a dog?”
“Mmm, I bet if you were, you’d have a sexy bark.”
Smiling, Emily shook her head as Gavin knelt down and scanned a row of shoes underneath the bench. He plucked what appeared to be a size six Nike woman’s running shoe off the floor and propped Emily’s foot on his thigh. After slipping her foot into the sneaker and tying it, he repeated the process with the other.
Once finished, he looked up at her, his smile wide. “Comfortable?”
Emily crossed her arms. “What are you doing?”
“You didn’t answer my question. Are they comfortable?”
“Yes. They’re comfortable.”
“Good,” Gavin said, lacing his fingers in hers as he stood, pulling her up from the bench. “You ready?”
Emily slid her sweatshirt hood over her head. “To go running? Sure. Why not? I’ll need to burn off today’s calories anyway.”
“First: I’ll help you burn off those calories later. I’m the best workout you can get.” Emily rolled her eyes and giggled. “Second: we’re running and we’re running fast. But not with our feet.” Gavin stopped short at the garage door.
“Okay. Now you’re scaring me.”
Dipping his head, Gavin cupped the back of her neck and stared into her eyes. “Emily Cooper, the only thing you have to fear is how much I’m going to love you for the rest of your life. And… how many times I’m going to make those legs shake. But that’s beside the point. Never fear me, sweets. Understand?”
With a breezy smile, Emily lifted her hand in a salute. “Yes, sir, Mr. Blake. I completely and fully understand, sir.”
Amused and somewhat turned on, Gavin chuckled and swung open the door to the dark garage.
Before flipping on the lights, Emily could see the smile splitting his face, and she couldn’t help but sigh in contentment. God, she loved the charismatic energy he released. She knew it bled from his pores the moment she met him, and it captivated her. It gripped her, drew her in, anchoring around her heart.
A click…
Presto…
Lights…
When her eyes adjusted, Emily’s pulse quickened and her breath caught. Her gaze fell upon the most elegant vehicle she’d ever seen. White, sleek, and wrapped in a larger-than-life red bow, its sophisticated design was something she pictured Hollywood movie stars cruising in.
“Oh my God, Gavin. You didn’t,” she breathed, stepping down the stairs in a haze. Her eyes shifted between him and the car.
After walking down the stairs as well, Gavin wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I did. Do you like it?”
“Like it? I love it.” Sliding her hand along the magnificent contour of the hood, she moved around the extraordinary machine, her heart slamming in her chest. “What is it?”
“That would be a car, Emily.”
Pulling her gaze from the vehicle, she turned around, tilted her head, and laughed. “I know it’s a car. I mean, what kind is it? I’ve never seen one like this.”
Gavin chuckled, slid the hood from her head, and placed a kiss on her crown. “I knew what you meant.” He winked. “It’s a Maserati GranTurismo S, and we’re about to run it through the streets like two certified maniacs in love. I insist on speeding. Got it?” Stepping back, he tossed her the keys, and she caught them, a smile beaming from ear to ear.
Throwing her arms around his neck, Emily pushed up on her tiptoes and dragged Gavin down to her lips. She kissed him hard, pulling his body closer. “Yes. Got it. But you didn’t have to do this. I told you I didn’t need one. Are we driving it back to New York?”
“No, I’ll have a shipping company put it on a trailer and drive it across the country. And it’s too late to not buy it for you now. C’mon.” Grabbing her hand, he walked her to the driver’s side and opened the door. “She’s an automatic. I figured that was better for you since your sexy ass will be in the city. But she’s holding over 400 horsepower under her hood. I’m not kidding when I say you’re opening her the fuck up. Let’s see what she can do.”
Emily squealed, popped a kiss on his cheek, and slid behind the wheel. Smoothing her hands along the soft red leather interior, she watched Gavin hit the garage door opener on the wall. He pulled the bow off the car and rounded the vehicle to the passenger side.
Once he was nestled in his seat next to her, she looked at him. “Push button?”
With a grin, Gavin nodded. “You’re getting good at this.”
“Wiseass.” She giggled, tossing the keys to him. “Okay. We’re opening her up. Speed. Here we go.”
Emily pushed the button and the engine purred to life, its sound nearly nonexistent. A far cry from the cars she’d owned that threw up when she started them. As she backed out of the garage into the bright sun of the late afternoon, Gavin synched his cell to the car, pumping the stereo to near-deafening levels.
“Who is this?” she yelled over the smooth, sultry voice of a man singing about a girl who was his angel. The slow beat was eerily dark and sexy. She checked her mirrors before pulling into the street. “I like it.”
“Massive Attack. The song’s called ‘Angel,’” Gavin answered, staring at Emily as he wet his lips. “When you’re not with me, I’ve often… thought of you while listening to this, among other things.”