When I got out to the SUV the next morning, Darcy was already sitting in the front seat, arms crossed and with a very perturbed expression on her gorgeous face. What could possibly have upset her so early in the morning?
I loaded our luggage into the trunk and then took my place at the wheel. This was going to be an interesting drive. I glanced over at her, wondering if she’d mind if I put my hand in her lap again. Judging by the glare that she gave me, it probably wasn’t one of my better ideas. It was kind of sexy how she teased me. It just made me want her more.
By the time we got to the airport, everyone seemed a little perkier. It had been an early morning, and we’d been so used to sleeping in that this came as a shock. As luck would have it, my seat was right beside Darcy in first class. As I put my carry-on luggage in the overhead compartment, I looked down at her. She was doing everything in her power to avoid my eyes. I smiled. I liked knowing I had such an effect on her. It made me want to fight more to have her.
We settled in and both started watching an adventure movie. About halfway through the movie, Darcy fell asleep.On my shoulder.She sighed, and I wondered if she was dreaming of me. I sniffed her hair, and it smelled like apples which surprised me. I figured it would smell like charcoal to match her personality: black and charred.
“Would you close the blind on the window?” Darcy asked when she woke up.
I looked at her and hesitated. I wanted the window up. “No.”
“Excuse me?” she said.
“No, I won’t pull down the blind,” I elaborated.
“But I’m trying to sleep, and it’s bothering me,” she told me.
“I’m enjoying looking out and seeing the clouds. So, again,NO.” I resumed looking out the window simply to irk her. I didn’t really care if I saw the clouds or not, but it was fun making her mad.
“Prick,” she said, leaning back in her seat.
“You’re pretty self-important over there. Selfishness doesn’t become you, Darcy,” I told her. She merely grunted a response, put her headphones in, and closed her eyes.
I took the time to look at her. I was in awe of her natural beauty. She looked so peaceful, which wasnotsomething I was used to.
“Are you seriously just sitting there ogling me? That’s awfully creepy, even for you,” she said, glancing over at me.
“I wasn’t ogling you, princess. I was thinking about what alcoholic drink I could have that would make this flight bearable sitting next to you.”
“You were ogling me. Just admit it,” she pressed.
“Nope, sorry, darling. I’ve had you. No need to ogle anymore,” I reminded her. “Once was enough. I’mmoving on.”
She leveled her eyes with mine. “Good. I’m glad to see that we’ll no longer have any issues with each other,” Darcy said.
The rest of the plane ride was uneventful, as Darcy treated me as if I didn’t exist.Now,that, I have an issue with.
We were back in the car and on our way home when we saw a large dog on the side of the road. It was a mixture of black, tan, white, and really scruffy. It looked like it was suffering.
I pulled over immediately and got out. Walking slowly toward the dog, holding my hand out cautiously, I said in a low voice, “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“What are you doing?” Lila squealed. “That dog could bite your hand off.” She craned her neck to see what was going on.
The dog lay down in front of me, disinterested. I carefully picked it up and carried it back to the car. “Evan, can you take over driving?”
Lila and Evan got out of the car. “What are you going to do with it?” Lila asked.
“We’re going to drive to the nearest vet clinic and let them take a look at it. It’s injured pretty badly,” I told them.
Darcy looked over at me. “Phew! It smells.”
“You would, too, if you were homeless,” I reminded her.
She shrugged her shoulders. “I hope it’s going to be okay.”
Once we were at the vet, Evan called his driver, J.P., to come to pick them up as Lila was really tired. “Good luck, man,” Evan said, smacking me on the back.
I was surprised when Darcy followed me into the clinic. I explained to the receptionist what was going on, and she nodded. “Oh, that poor thing. I’ll see if the doctor can take a look at him right away.” She went behind the curtain, and I heard muffled voices.