Crash Into Me Read Free Page B

began to roll again, and I let out a heavy sigh, hoping his dry humor was
an indication that I wasn't going to be killed anytime soon. "Okay, can I
ask you two questions and get straight answers?"
    "Of
course. You can ask whatever you want and I'll answer."
    "I'd
like straight answers."
    His
mouth hitched up at the corners into a sly smile. "As straight as you
want."
    "Where
are we going?"
    "To
see a house I'm planning to buy."
    "Really?"
    He
turned his head to look at me. "Do you want that to count as your second
question?"
    And
after being scared shitless and almost killed, then confused and finally
frustrated by his vague answers, I had to laugh. "No."
    "Then
what's your second question?"
    "Are
you going to do something awful to me out here in the middle of nowhere?"
    Without
a word, he stopped the car and put it into park. Then he leaned over, nearly
touching my cheek with his lips, and pointed out my window. "That's the
house, and I have no plans to do anything you wouldn't like or even love. What
do you think of it?"
    He
was so close and smelled so delicious that I couldn't think clearly. I turned
my head slightly and his lips brushed my skin, sending a jolt of electricity
straight to between my legs. Pressing my thighs together, I turned toward the
window and pretended to look up at the house on the hill.
    "It's
nice."
    "It's
twelve million dollars."
    Holy
shit! In my mind, I counted the number of zeroes on a check for twelve million
dollars. Then I imagined what I could buy for twelve million dollars. And even
all that probably wouldn't fill the house I was looking at.
    His
breath drifted over my neck, and I leaned back slightly, wanting so much for
him to kiss me or touch me with his hand. He did neither, though, even as he
remained there so close.
    In
my ear, he whispered in a voice that hit me somewhere deep inside, "See?
Nothing bad."
    Just
when I was sure he would do something, he sat back in his seat and began
driving back toward the city. My mind and senses were reeling. Never before had
I wanted to feel the touch of a man's lips on me so badly, but he never made a
move. The experience left my emotions raw, and I feared saying anything more as
I was sure I would embarrass myself, so I sat silently as he drove toward Sunset Park, speaking only when he asked me where I lived.
    When
he finally pulled the car up to in front of my building, my feelings were all a
mishmash. I felt happy about the fact that he hadn't killed me, but it seemed
that he never had any plans to do that or anything else, including anything
sexual. I couldn't be sure, but it seemed like he just wanted company. I guess
I had been that, but my infatuation had secretly made me want so much more.
    "Thank
you for coming to see the house, Nina."
    "Okay.
Thank you for not killing me out in the middle of nowhere, I guess," I
said with a smile, sad our time together was over, likely forever.
    "I'll
watch you get in."
    "Thanks."
    I
waited a long moment just in case he wanted to lean in and kiss me, but he
simply smiled and stared into my eyes, making me feel intensely insecure.
Finally, I blurted out, "Goodbye," and got out.
    Crossing
in front of the car, I forced myself not to look inside at him. Whatever this
had been, it was over, and I needed to get over it. I felt his stare on my back
as I stepped onto the sidewalk, but I told myself to not turn around.
    Then
from behind me I heard the car window lower and he said my name. Turning
around,  I was struck by how lonely he looked in that car all by himself. I
waved and smiled, and he said quietly, "Nina, be careful getting in cars
with strange men. You could get hurt, and I wouldn't want anything bad to
happen to you."
    He
drove off, leaving me more confused than before. Frustrated and baffled by my
time with Tristan Stone, I hurried into my building.

Chapter Two
    Sundays
were always the best day of the week, as far as I was concerned. My father had
never been a very religious man after my mother