Page 11 of One Filthy Kiss

“E-everything?” Spittle collects in the corners of his mouth. No one else comes near us. “It’ll cost you.”

I apply more pressure, feeling his Adam’s apple bobbing beneath my arm. “Did I ask how much it would cost?”

He shakes his head. Barely.

Footsteps behind me. Ric touches my arm. “I’ve found her.”

3

MEGAN

Someone appearsfrom out of nowhere and rolls across the hood of the taxi as we’re about to leave the film studio.

The driver slams on the brakes, and the car screeches to a halt.

Amber screams. I wrap my arms around her head and cover her face on the back seat. I’m shaking. I don’t know what happened. I didn’t even see anyone coming, but it didn’t sound good.Our taxi driver just killed someone.

Then the passenger door is yanked open, and he’s back.

The demi-god with olive skin and brooding brown eyes. He isn’t even out of breath— which confirms my previous assumption that he isn’t human—while my heart is leaping about like a frog on hot cement inside my chest.

“I’m sorry,” he says while I’m still trying to figure out what the hell just happened. “I couldn’t let you leave without putting things right.”

Sorry for what? Kissing me in front of a room filled with strangers with access to cameras? For almost killing himself beneath the wheels of the taxi I just happen to be riding in? Or for being an absolute fucking psychopath with a death wish?

He glances at the silver-haired man in the driver’s seat whose hands are frozen to the steering wheel and raises a hand in a gesture of peace. “Please accept my apologies. My driver will see that you are paid for any inconvenience caused.”

“Are we done here?” I glance pointedly at the open passenger door that he’s leaning on. We’re not going anywhere while he’s standing in the way.

“Is she okay?” He gestures to Amber, who hasn’t moved. “Your daughter.”

“She isn’t my…” I leave the sentence hanging. I don’t have to explain myself to this maniac. “She’s fine.”

Amber pulls out of my embrace and eyes him suspiciously. “Are you an actor?”

He smiles, and my love-starved heart performs a backward flip. Why does he have to be hot as well as crazy? “No. Nothing that glamorous.” He reverts his full attention to me. “The footage is being erased as we speak. If your husband has seen it, I’ll accept full responsibility. Just tell me what needs to be done, and I’ll do it.”

“Myhusband?”

He glances at my left hand. “Your boyfriend then.”

I’m staring at his full lips and perfect white teeth and have to drag myself back to reality when I realize that he’s waiting for my response. I shake my head. He doesn’t need to know that I don’t have space for a relationship in my life. This is the guywho thought it was acceptable to drag me in front of a camera and use me as playboy target practice.

There’s a mischievous gleam in his eye when he looks at me. “Let me take you to dinner then. So that I can apologize properly.”

There’s a sharp intake of breath from Nikki who is sitting on the other side of Amber. I ignore her.

“Thank you, but no. I’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

The smile grows wider. He clearly doesn’t understand rejection. “There’s something I should show you.”

My eyes instinctively travel down towards his groin area which—oh my fucking good God—is bulging way more than is acceptable in broad daylight. He notices, of course he does.

“Seriously?” My mouth is so dry, the back of my throat clicks when I swallow, giving me away. “You expect me to come to dinner with you after what you’ve done.” The audacity of the guy!

“After whatI’vedone?”

His left eyebrow quirks upwards, and it’s kind of cute. I bet he couldn’t twist those perfect features into an ugly expression if he tried.