Read Online King 02 - Breathless by Tawdra Kandle - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tawdra Kandle
Ads: Link
school who had assiduously avoided dating situations until he met me. But it never got any easier or made me feel less inadequate.
“I guess it just happens sometimes,” I replied. What existed between Michael and me was private and privileged information. I knew that even our closest friends sometimes wondered about us, but they were kind and loyal enough not to ask—not aloud, anyway.
Lunch ended at last, and the rest of my afternoon was blissfully uneventful. Before leaving for home, I put the top down on the Mustang. I had discovered that one of my guilty pleasures and major stress releases was driving along the country roads, music playing and wind in my hair. Today I was certainly going to need just that.
I was settled in the driver’s seat, ready to throw the car into reverse when a shadow fell across me and I heard a voice.
“Wow. Now that’s a beauty.”
I jerked my head up in surprise. My mental guard dropped, and as I took in the tall, dark-haired boy standing on the passenger side of the car, I could hear him clearly.
Wow, again. The car is a classic, no doubt, but the driver is even hotter. Where has SHE been all day?
This was totally not what I needed. The day had been almost unbearably long and full of unexpected twists. The last thing I needed was another complication. And undoubtedly this stranger, who was admittedly an attractive, interested-looking male, was a complication.
“Can I help you?” I spoke in my professional voice, the same one I used at the nursery when dealing with wearing customers.
“I hope so. I was on my way across the lot to my car when I spotted this baby. Tell me she’s for sale.” His eyes were eager and admiring.
“Sorry. Not for sale, not at any price.”
He blew out a breath, but it was good-natured. “I was afraid of that. The best ones never are. How long have you had her?”
I shaded my eyes with my hand and looked up at him. With the sun shining behind his head, it was difficult to see his face. But his thoughts were continuing on the same track as they had when he’d first approached the car.
“Actually, she belongs to my boyfriend, to his family. He’s in college, and he has very generously allowed me to drive her while he’s away.”
“Ahh. That just figures. Like I said, all the best ones are always taken.” His eyes skimmed over me, and I had the sense that he wasn’t talking about the Mustang anymore.
“I don’t think I know you,” I said cautiously. I had no desire to encourage this boy’s attentions, but he was leaning against the car and I couldn’t exactly pull away.
“I’m new. It’s my first day. And before you ask, yes, I’m a senior, and no, moving in senior year isn’t fun. I didn’t have any choice. Oh, and by the way, my name is Rafe. Rafe Brooks.”
I raised my eyebrows at this rush of information. Rafe chuckled and ran a hand over his face.
“Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I’ve just been getting the third degree all day. You didn’t know.”
A glimmer of empathy flashed across my mind. I knew all too well what it was like to be the new kid in school.
“It’s okay. I’ve been there, quite a few times, matter of fact.” I hesitated. I didn’t want to give him the wrong idea, but not introducing myself now would be downright rude.
“I’m Tasmyn Vaughn.” I leaned across the passenger seat and extended my hand. Rafe studied it for a minute before taking it thoughtfully.
“It’s nice to meet you, Tasmyn Vaughn,” he said. I noticed that he had to lean down over the car to reach my hand. He really was quite tall.
There was a slightly awkward silence, and then I pulled my hand away. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I kind of have to get to work,” I said. “It was nice to meet you. I hope you like King.”
“Yeah,” Rafe nodded. “I’ll probably see you around. Not that big a school, after all.” He stepped back from the Mustang with a last, lingering glance.
I pulled out of the lot,
“I guess it just happens sometimes,” I replied. What existed between Michael and me was private and privileged information. I knew that even our closest friends sometimes wondered about us, but they were kind and loyal enough not to ask—not aloud, anyway.
Lunch ended at last, and the rest of my afternoon was blissfully uneventful. Before leaving for home, I put the top down on the Mustang. I had discovered that one of my guilty pleasures and major stress releases was driving along the country roads, music playing and wind in my hair. Today I was certainly going to need just that.
I was settled in the driver’s seat, ready to throw the car into reverse when a shadow fell across me and I heard a voice.
“Wow. Now that’s a beauty.”
I jerked my head up in surprise. My mental guard dropped, and as I took in the tall, dark-haired boy standing on the passenger side of the car, I could hear him clearly.
Wow, again. The car is a classic, no doubt, but the driver is even hotter. Where has SHE been all day?
This was totally not what I needed. The day had been almost unbearably long and full of unexpected twists. The last thing I needed was another complication. And undoubtedly this stranger, who was admittedly an attractive, interested-looking male, was a complication.
“Can I help you?” I spoke in my professional voice, the same one I used at the nursery when dealing with wearing customers.
“I hope so. I was on my way across the lot to my car when I spotted this baby. Tell me she’s for sale.” His eyes were eager and admiring.
“Sorry. Not for sale, not at any price.”
He blew out a breath, but it was good-natured. “I was afraid of that. The best ones never are. How long have you had her?”
I shaded my eyes with my hand and looked up at him. With the sun shining behind his head, it was difficult to see his face. But his thoughts were continuing on the same track as they had when he’d first approached the car.
“Actually, she belongs to my boyfriend, to his family. He’s in college, and he has very generously allowed me to drive her while he’s away.”
“Ahh. That just figures. Like I said, all the best ones are always taken.” His eyes skimmed over me, and I had the sense that he wasn’t talking about the Mustang anymore.
“I don’t think I know you,” I said cautiously. I had no desire to encourage this boy’s attentions, but he was leaning against the car and I couldn’t exactly pull away.
“I’m new. It’s my first day. And before you ask, yes, I’m a senior, and no, moving in senior year isn’t fun. I didn’t have any choice. Oh, and by the way, my name is Rafe. Rafe Brooks.”
I raised my eyebrows at this rush of information. Rafe chuckled and ran a hand over his face.
“Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I’ve just been getting the third degree all day. You didn’t know.”
A glimmer of empathy flashed across my mind. I knew all too well what it was like to be the new kid in school.
“It’s okay. I’ve been there, quite a few times, matter of fact.” I hesitated. I didn’t want to give him the wrong idea, but not introducing myself now would be downright rude.
“I’m Tasmyn Vaughn.” I leaned across the passenger seat and extended my hand. Rafe studied it for a minute before taking it thoughtfully.
“It’s nice to meet you, Tasmyn Vaughn,” he said. I noticed that he had to lean down over the car to reach my hand. He really was quite tall.
There was a slightly awkward silence, and then I pulled my hand away. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I kind of have to get to work,” I said. “It was nice to meet you. I hope you like King.”
“Yeah,” Rafe nodded. “I’ll probably see you around. Not that big a school, after all.” He stepped back from the Mustang with a last, lingering glance.
I pulled out of the lot,
Similar Books
