Dawn Autumn Read Free Page B

herself with, “He’s my ride, so I guess I have to go, too. I’ll see you guys around.” Though hopefully not in this lifetime.
    Once outside, she got in front of Fred and braced her hands. To her surprise, she’d misjudged the distance and actually made contact with his chest. It was surprisingly hard, and since he seemed poised to move around her, she pressed firmly and stayed put. “Fred, I need to drive.”
    He stared down at her, his dark glasses lending him a seriousness he probably didn’t feel. “You do?”
    “Yes.”
    She took her hands off him and stepped back, but he moved forward, so she braced herself and stopped him. Had he always been so tall? The man towered over her! Ignoring the discomfort at the notion, she squared her shoulders. This was life or death.
    “Fred, give me the keys.” Keeping the tips of one hand warningly on his pec, she held out the other hand and stared at him expectantly.
    Slowly, he reached into his pants pocket and pulled them out. Instead of handing them to her, he dangled them just out of reach. “You want them? Race me for them.” He made a sudden break and dashed around her, his long legs carrying him to the low rider in seconds.
    Jay dashed up to him and plastered herself to the driver’s door. “Fred, this is serious! I can’t let you drive. I really can’t. Somewhere out there is a car full of angry motorists with your name on it. Don’t be difficult.”
    His lips turned up at the corner. “You think I’m going to kill us, don’t you?”
    “Was I that obvious?” She asked with mock dismay. She held up her hand again.
    His smile deepened. “It’ll cost you.” He leaned forward slightly.
    For a moment, she swore that he would kiss her. Her eyes dropped to his rather attractive mouth and the firm line of his jaw. The feel of his chest was fresh in her mind...but this was Fred. “What will it cost?” she asked, more breathlessly than she should have.
    He straightened and handed her the keys as he reached around her to open the door for her. “You have to let me buy you some ice cream.”
    Ice cream. She could handle ice cream. Almost wilting with relief, she climbed in and started the car.
    Cold Stone had a sixties décor and an incredibly good supply of premium ice cream. Jay relaxed once she’d pulled in and parked the still immaculate Impala in front of the big front windows. Her own driving skills were a little rusty, and she’d never liked city traffic, but at least she’d gotten them there alive.
    Fred moved to her door while she was still saying a heartfelt prayer and opened it for her. “My lady.”
    She laughed at him a little shakily. “Something about this is backwards, I think.” She let him open the ice cream parlor’s door for her, and then chose the booth directly in front of the low rider so she could keep an eye on it. Both the red vinyl benches and the newsprint table top were spotless, and the black and white tiled floor looked respectably swept even at this hour.
    A waitress dressed in a pink poodle skirt and demure blouse came to take their order. An earring winked incongruously in her left nostril. “What can I get you two?”
    “I’d like a glass of water and a parfait,” Jay said when Fred waved for her to go first. She listed what she wanted on it, and then listened as Fred ordered a banana split with everything but chili sauce on it.
    “Oh, and make those out on separate checks,” she told the waitress.
    “No, don’t.” Fred’s huge sunglasses stared at Jay in disapproval. “My treat.”
    “Fred...”
    “I’ll let you two work this out while I get your order,” the waitress said, making good her escape.
    “It would be rude to let you pay,” Fred said firmly.
    “We’re just here as friends,” Jay said coolly, trying not to squirm at his generosity. She wasn’t used to this kind of treatment.
    “Then as your friend, I’ll treat,” he said, as if the matter was closed.
    Jay frowned, disliking these