In Too Deep

Chapter 41

I’d almost blown it already when I bent down to kiss her cheek. And of course Taylor called me on it. I chuckle to myself. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to leave everything up to her. I’m going to have a hard time keeping my hands to myself tonight. I grip the steering wheel harder and floor the gas.

After a little while, we settle into the drive. Taylor flips through my music, playing an eclectic blend to show off, or possibly mock, my diverse tastes, everything from classical to jazz to pop to old school rap.

“So have you decided what to do?” I ask, unable to hide my curiosity any longer.

“About?” she prompts, looking up from the mp3 player.

“Whether or not you’re going to stay here?”

“Oh.” Her chin drops.

It’s a strange reaction. Is she afraid to tell me something?

“For now. I can’t leave before I know more and, I guess like you, I’d rather be here keeping my eye on McAllister than to run back home. But I can’t imagine ever doing another assignment he gives me.”

I breathe again, relieved and still worried about her too.

After about fifteen minutes, Taylor grows restless. “So how long of a drive do we have and where exactly are you taking me?” she asks, shifting in her seat.

“It’ll be about an hour. We’re going to my house.”

“Your house?” she looks up at me expectantly.

“Well, my father’s house, I should say. He’s away on business right now though, so we’ll have it to ourselves.”

“Oh.” She pouts out her bottom lip and I grip the wheel tighter, forcing myself to concentrate on the road and not her full mouth.

“I’m going to cook for you.”

“You cook?” she asks, her voice full of surprise.

I nod, smiling. “Not much anymore, but yes.”

She smiles, inspecting me like she’s weighing each new thing she learns about me. “Did your mom teach you?”

“Yes, and Mrs. Lee, our housekeeper, and my nanny growing up. She still works for my father and though she won’t be there tonight, I instructed her to shop for everything I’d need to make you dinner.”

She flushes and looks down.

I wish I knew what she was thinking.

“Thank you. That sounds… nice.” Her voice is soft, just audible over the low music.

Or we could forget about eating and go straight to my bedroom. Or the hot tub. I accelerate, pushing the car faster.

After crossing through the gated entrance, I make my way down the private drive leading to the house.

Taylor leans forward in her seat to look at the houses we occasionally pass, each allocated a large plot of land and standing as impressive as ever.

I haven’t been here in over a year, preferring to stay at the school during breaks rather than here where it feels dead and cold. But on the plus side, it was somewhere I would have Taylor all to myself.