Beyond Control Read Free Page B

but I couldn’t decipher what he was saying. All I could do was look at this piece of perfection as he toyed with us and obviously enjoyed it. My hand slid up by my necklace as I attempted to block my scar from his view, but all that did was make me more self-conscious.
    “Are you two okay?” he asked.
    I nodded, speechless, and looked away.
    “That was quite a hit,” he continued. “I’m an EMT if…”
    I whipped my head around, intending to give him a mocking glance, but instead I wound up blushing as his smile turned to a wonderfully wicked grin with his eyes capturing my discomfort.
    “If he can do that with his eyes, I can’t even imagine what he can do with…” Brandy whispered in my ear.
    “What was that?” the man’s voice rumbled, eyeing me, not Brandy.
    “Okay, you’ve had your fun,” I told him, flushing from the inside out. “We’ve got an event we’re late for.” I watched his eyes follow my lips as I spoke, which did nothing but create a hornets nest inside of me. How could his eyes do that to me, penetrate me like that?
    “You’re right. What was I thinking? You’re the only ones who have a place to be.” He flashed me another wide grin. The intensity in him shifted only slightly as he pretended to be annoyed. “I wasn’t on my way to anywhere in particular. In fact, I had only planned on driving back and forth on the bridge all night. One side… Then the other…”
    “I didn’t mean that where we had to go was more important than you,” I sputtered out. This is what I hated about riding in these things. Limos automatically put people in the ass-hat category. However, wanting to live up to the already laid reputation, my lips pinched together, and my arms crossed automatically.
    “Maybe we’re headed to the same place,” he replied, his eyes carefully reading my actions, teasing me. “Although, judging by how you’re dressed, it’s doubtful.”
    I frowned and looked away from the guy and mumbled, “You really should drive more carefully.”
    The guy laughed and my eyes flicked back to his. “That’s what most people hear when they’ve just gotten rear-ended,” he replied. “Well, I think I struck out here so my insurance will be in touch.” He gave me a wink and ducked out of the car.
    I watched Bernie and the guy trade goodbyes quickly before he jogged back to whatever vehicle was pulling the trailer.
    Brandy reached for the bottle of champagne and replenished both of our flutes. “I think someone’s got a crush on the mystery man.”
    “I do not.”
    “You always get this way when you do,” she continued laughing.
    “What way?” I demanded.
    “Snippety.” She smiled as if she’d won the battle.
    Bernie climbed back into the car, apologizing profusely, and Brandy and I both resituated back to the side seat. I watched as the utility trailer pulled away and we followed.
    “It looks like it did more damage to this car than his trailer,” Bernie said. “It’s gonna be in the shop for awhile.”
    “That’s a shame,” Brandy replied sarcastically. Finally the woman was on my side about riding in this car.
    “So what’s that guy’s name?” Brandy asked Bernie. I jabbed her in the ribs, and all she did was laugh.
    “Jason something or other,” Bernie replied. “I’ve got it written down. He certainly got a kick out of you two, didn’t he?”
    “Jason,” Brandy repeated it for me as if I didn’t hear it the first time. “That’s a nice name.”
    She was about to get on one of her ‘pair up Gabby’ kicks so I quickly deterred her, hoping her champagne consumption would aid in my rescue.
    I turned to her and asked, “You wanna know what’s more ridiculous than showing up to places in a limo?”
    “What?” she asked playfully, batting her lashes and forgetting about setting me up with the stranger.
    “Pulling up to a place in a busted-ass limo,” I replied, and we both started laughing. Dating crisis averted once again.

Cars were lined up