“An okay person? Wow. That qualifies as a compliment?”
He ignored her and kept speaking. “I was stating a fact, not trying to compliment you. Anyway, I’m going to give you some advice. Maybe you should ask yourself if you’re happy. If the answer is no, you should do something about it.”
He was the second person on the same day to ask that question. “What? I don’t seem happy?”
“The way you’re looking at me right now, no. I’m not sure if it’s him or me that you want to kill.”
“At the moment, both of you! Unlike guys, I don’t see relationships as disposable. Dylan and I have been together for four years!” She held up four fingers and wiggled them. “Count them . . . four! We have soul ties.” Her voice cracked. “I . . . I just want us to work.” She was out of control telling Ellis all of her business. Haven had to get a grip.
Calmly, he responded. “But, does he?”
The fight went out of her. Her voice was barely there. “He says he does.”
“So, you’re with him because you’re supposed to be or because you want to be?”
She opened her mouth to speak. Not only did Haven not have an answer, but she also couldn't seem to utter a word.
“If you can’t answer that question, who’s kidding who?”
“I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Fine. But, I didn’t take you for a woman who lied to herself.” Ellis turned on the radio and didn’t say another word for the rest of the drive to his grandmother’s house.
The ride back went surprisingly fast. They pulled up in front of Ms. McKenna’s home next to a silver BMW i8.
“I wonder who’s visiting your grandmother this late. She should be in bed.” Her question wasn’t really directed to Ellis just spoken out loud.
It touched him to see her concern. Ellis turned the engine off to his car. “I had a rental delivered. You’ll need something until your vehicle is fixed.”
She whipped her head around. “You . . . got me a car?”
“No, I leased you a car until yours is fixed, and my reasons were purely selfish.” His arrogant lop-sided grin spoke volumes. He was so full of himself it was ridiculous. “Had you been nicer to me, maybe I would have given it to you.” No, he wouldn’t have. Ellis still wasn’t sure he could trust her. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself. He knew what snakes were and had dealt with plenty of them. Though, most likely, Haven’s only problem was being a difficult woman.
He tried to give her the keys. She wouldn’t accept them.
“I can’t take a car from you. It’s just . . . this is too much.”
He shrugged. “My grandmother has come to depend on you. Seeing you makes her smile, so for now, I don’t want to interrupt that routine. Lyft is always an option. But how are you going to get back here in the morning? I would think that could be somewhat expensive given how far away you live.”
“You know where I live?”
“There’s not much I don’t know. You’re spending time with my grandmother. You had to know that I ran a full background check on you.”
Her face scrunched up. “Weirdly, I feel . . . somewhat violated.”
“You shouldn’t. It’s standard practice in our circles. You would make a choir girl seem like a stripper.”
Deep down that comment touched a nerve. Maybe that was the problem between Dylan and her. Maybe she was too vanilla.
He continued to tease. “You should spice it up just a little.” He flashed that sexy-as-sin grin before turning serious. “Stop being proud and take the damn car.” He opened his door and got out.
His words weighed heavily on her. The seeds of a plan started to form in her head. Maybe he could . . . ? No. She couldn’t ask him to help her with Dylan. Could she?
Ellis came around and opened her door, and she got out. For now, she would mull it over. In the meantime, Haven couldn’t take her eyes off of the shiny new BMW. She walked around it as if she were afraid to touch it. “I’ve never driven in anything this expensive before.”
It was obviously no big deal for Ellis. “It’s just a car, Haven. A leased car.”
She smiled. “To you, maybe.”
“Look, woman, I’ve got calls to make. Are you going to stand out here like a deer in headlights all night, fawning, or are you going to get in and go home?”
Ellis handed her the keys.
Tentatively, this time she took them. “Thank you.”
“Whatever, just don’t hit anything. Now, go home. It’s getting late.” Deep down, Ellis felt as if he owed Haven for being there for his grandmother. The least he could do was help her out with a car. “Call me so that I know you made it safely.”
Haven surprised herself when she threw her arms around his neck, unintentionally pressing her body into his. “Thank you so much!”
His arms instinctively wrapped around her. The sweet smell of coconut in her hair was surprisingly soothing. The softness of her body melded perfectly to his. She felt good in his arms—too good.
Slowly, Haven stepped away, a little uncomfortable because they were just a little too close. A lot too close. She cleared her throat. “Sorry, I just got a little carried away.”
“It’s late. You’re tired, and so am I.
