Page 41 of Effortless

Camilla gave them a wink, but quickly went back to Tommaso. “Everybody likes soap operas, Tom.”

His brow furrowed.

“What?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Again, how did you know I was here?”

“Someone let me know.”

“My brother?”

Tommaso tipped a hand over, saying, “Someone.”

“You couldn’t text me?”

“I thought a face to face might be better. Also,” he said, as he stepped away from the car while gesturing toward it at the same time, “I thought you might like to drive me to the airport.”

Camilla’s heart skipped a damn beat. “Seriously?”

“Someone else mentioned you liked fast cars.”

“That’s why you traded your rental in for this?”

“I mean, are we playing twenty questions, or are we driving?”

Camilla waffled between Tommaso, or going back inside. “August is still getting her micro braids put in.”

“August doesn’t give a shit!” someone yelled out the open salon door.

Tommaso’s laughter came out dark and heady. “Oh, I get it, now. Soap operas. Do you gossip in salons as much as they do on the television, too?”

“Yes,” someone else shouted from inside the salon.

Camilla glanced up at the sky, and almost wished the heavens would open up to swallow her whole. Tommaso’s voice brought her back to reality.

“You can drive, babe.”

He dangled keys, and let them jingle.

Her gaze wavered between Tommaso, the keys, and the Bugatti that looked like it was made to race and sin all at the same time.

“God, I love that car.”

“Good.”

“Was it my dad that told you I liked fast cars?”

Tommaso’s grin said it was her father. “Maybe. How did you know I talked to him?”

“My mom let it slip. You never mentioned it to me, though.”

“You made it pretty clear you weren’t up for anything other than some fun where I was concerned, Cam. I’m still good with that, babe. You know?”

“Is that why you went and did this?”

She waved at the car.

Tommaso didn’t give away a thing. “Really, I just figured since I was heading back to Chicago today it might be fun to hang out for a bit. Had you given me a chance, I would have taken you out to see a movie or dance. Your father said you liked that kind of stuff, too, but I was left with using your one other weakness.”