It was jealousy and ambition that drove Kane, and so he watched as his monster devoured.
She could learn from this, she thought, of what made a man—or a god—soulless.
Shed barely started when the knock on the door interrupted.
“What now?” Grumbling to herself, she went to answer it. Her irritation only increased when the door opened on Jordan.
“This had better not become a habit.”
“Lets go for a ride.”
Her response was to slam the door, but he anticipated her, slapped a hand on it, braced it open. “Let me put that another way. Im heading up to Warriors Peak. Do you want to come?”
“What are you going up there for? Youre a bystander in this deal.”
“Thats a matter of opinion. Im going up because I have some questions. Actually, I decided to get out of Ryans place after dinner. To give the lovebirds a little space.” He leaned comfortably on the jamb as he spoke but kept that hand firm on the door. “Found myself heading out of town and up the mountain road. Figured I might as well keep going, have myself a chat withPitte and Rowena. Then I thought, You know, its just going to tick Dana off if I do that without running it by her. So I turned around and came back. Im running it by you.”
“I suppose you want points for that.”
His mouth curved. “If youre keeping score.”
“I dont see that you have anything to talk to them about.”
“Lets put this one more way. Im going, with or without you.” He straightened, let his hand drop from the door. “But if you want to come along, you can drive.”
“Big deal.”
“My car.”
The image of his gorgeous, muscular, classic T-Bird flashed into her mind. She had to make a conscious effort not to drool. “You fight dirty.”
He took his keys out of his pocket. And dangled them.
Her internal war lasted about three seconds before she snatched the keys out of his hand. “Let me get a jacket.”
* * *
WHATEVER his flaws, Jordan Hawke knew cars. The Thunderbird climbed the hills like a mountain cat, all sleek grace and muscle. It clung to curves and roared downstraightaways .
Some might think of it as a vehicle, others as a toy. But Dana knew it was a machine . A firstclass one.
Being behind the wheel wasnt just a sexy pleasure. It let Dana shift the situation as smoothly as she shifted gears. She was in charge now. The trip to the Peak might have been Jordans idea, but by God, she was driving.
The evening was brisk, and grew brisker yet as they climbed to higher elevations, but the top was down. She was glad to trade chilly fingers and the bite of the wind for the sheer joy of zipping along the roads in the open air.
The trees were at their peak, the force of colors made only more brilliant by the sheen of gold from the setting sun. Fallen leaves skipped and skittered across the road where light and shadow danced.
It was like driving into a story, she mused, where anything could happen around the next turn.
“Hows it handling for you?” Jordan asked her.
“Shes got style. And muscle.”
“I always thought the same about you.”
She slid her gaze in his direction, balefully, then focused on the road. However much fun she was having, it didnt mean she couldnt take a poke at him.
“I dont see why you need a car like this when you live in an urban environment where mass transit is not only readily available but efficient.”