Page 73 of Black Sheep
Ten minutes later, we’re in the elevator heading down to the street level. But instead of leading me outside as I was expecting so we could ride back to my place in the Bentley, Cannon leads me through another door he unlocks.
“What is this?”
“You’ll see.”
He flips on the lights, and I realize it’s a garage. InManhattan. Inside it are three covered cars and a motorcycle.
“Are all these yours?” I ask the stupid question as he releases my hand to pull the cover off the one closest to the large overhead door.
“Yeah. Cars are a hobby. I met a guy down south who does a hell of a job restoring them, and that way I only wrench on them if I want to for fun.”
He steps away, tugging the cover the rest of the way off, revealing a cherry-red muscle car with double white stripes slicing down the hood and chrome so shiny I can see my reflection.
“That is one sexy car.” I spin to look at him in awe. “You’ve been hiding that in here?”
“Not hiding. Protecting. I take care of what’s mine.”
The last part might have been an offhand comment, but it works its way into that warm, fuzzy feeling in my chest along with the memory of him calling out“Mine.”
“You ready for a hell of a ride home?”
I meet his hazel eyes and tell him the truth. “I’m going wherever you take me.”
43
Cannon
Adrive through the city in the morning, before the bumper-to-bumper traffic, is one of my favorite things. Normally, I hop in the car around three or four a.m., and really let the Chevelle go from grumbling to roaring down the streets, racing from light to light.
But none of those early morning drives has anything on today andher.
God, but the sight of Drew’s dark hair blowing in the wind from the open window as she laughs when I turn and let the rear end break loose is the best damn thing I’ve ever seen or heard.
I knew falling for someone was supposed to make everything about them seem more special than it would be to an outsider, but I had no idea it would make a good moment become magical.
I’m so fucked.
And the kicker? I don’t even care. I let this happen. Despite every warning sign, I’ve gone and done the one thing I’ve never done before. I’ve fucking fallen in love.
I didn’t expect it to be this easy. I didn’t expect it to happen this fast. But like my mother said,“Love doesn’t care about time. It only needs the right moment.”
For years, I’ve wondered how she could have possibly gotten wrapped up in a man like Dominic Casso, but now I get it. It doesn’t matter who a person truly is when your heart is making the decision—it shows you the best and the brightest of them as all of their faults fade away.
I’m willing to bet a hell of a lot of money, even this car that I’d wanted for twenty years before I got it, that nothing Drew is hiding could be as bad as what Dom hid from my mother. And even when she found out the truth, her dedication didn’t waver.
Maybe that’s how Freemans are built. We fall hard and fast like naive motherfuckers, and damn the consequences.
When I make the last right to turn down the street where Drew’s building is located, she reaches out and squeezes my hand on the shifter.
“Thank you for last night. And this morning. Really, thank you for everything.” Her turquoise eyes are shining, and the smile on her makeup-free face is everything I thought it would be. Absolutely stunning. Regal even. Like she was born to have men worshipping at her feet.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out why she covers it all up, but I don’t need to understand everything about her ... yet.
“You’re beautiful. Always, but especially just like this.”
The blush I’ve seen rise from her chest actually does spread all the way to her bare cheekbones. Her dark lashes sweep down to contrast with her lightly tanned skin and a few freckles.
When she looks back up at me, there’s a serious expression on her face. “I never let anyone see me like this. Ever.”
