Page 74 of Smoke Screen
Touché.
His mother. Total pro.
“I won’t leave the car,” Maddy added. “I promise.”
Appealing to Mom would do no good. She’d already confirmed that by floating the Audi idea. This was him against the two of them.
Mom alone was a force. Add Maddy and her big, pleading eyes? Screwed, screwed, screwed.
Zeke would soil himself, but Zeke wasn’t here withstanding the pressure. A man had to be smart enough to know when he was beat.
14
Phin’s Audimight be Maddy’s dream car.
She slid into the passenger seat, gently closing the door and settling into the soft leather that somehow seemed custom fit to her body. She inhaled the scent of Phin’s soap—something earthy and fresh, like a spring rain shower—lingering in the interior and nearly melted.
Sleek and sporty, with a black finish that gleamed under the sunlight; she imagined sitting behind the wheel, roaring down a deserted highway, and urging the car faster and faster.
Freedom.
That’s what she felt in this car. And she wasn’t even behind the wheel.
No wonder his grandmother wanted to drive it. Now, so did Maddy.
Beside her, Phin strapped in and fired the engine. “This car,” she said. “I think I love it. Maybe even beyond love.”
He flashed her the Phin smile. “It’s the RS 5 coupe, 444 horsepower, baby. Everyone said I was crazy getting the black because it gets so hot in summer, but seriously? Look at this car. Freaking stunning. Mom calls it my midlife crisis car twenty years too early.”
“If it’s a midlife crisis, I’m looking forward to it.”
“Exactly! Finally, someone gets it. I’ve got my eye on the R8 next. Right now it’swayout of the budget.”
The R8. Huh. If the RS 5 looked this good, what would the R8 be? When they got back, she’d research it. Play around with designing her own on the company’s website. She’d never be able to afford it on her salary, but dreaming never hurt.
Phin cruised down the driveway, turning onto the mountain road. She’d never been a fan of switchbacks, so she rested her head back and closed her eyes.
“Tired?”
She opened her eyes again, stared out the windshield at the lush green hills to the left. “A little. Stress wears me out.”
“Stress makes everyone tired. Take a nap.”
In this car, it wouldn’t be a problem, except … “That would make me horrible company.”
“It would make yousmartcompany. When we get back to the house, my brothers are going to be all over us. They’ll probably have a million more questions for you. Enjoy the break while you can.”
On a normal day, she only had so much energy. The energy bucket she called it. Now? With her life spun upside down, the bucket was already running low and she’d need reserves.
“When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”
“Exactly. Relax. Close your eyes and sleep. I’ll wake you up if something happens.”
Phin navigated an S curve, not bothering to slow down.Wow.What a rush. Normally, she’d be pressing her foot into the floorboard or grabbing hold of the door pull.
Now? Her blood hummed, sending little shocks through her limbs. She glanced over at Phin, one hand on the steering wheel, and his gaze fixed on the road. The relaxed focus, combined with his perfectly groomed scruffy not-quite-a-beard stubble that somehow looked stylish rather than unkempt, put him in the running for cover model of the year.
Handsome on another level.
