Page 7 of The Forbidden Billionaire
“I’m sure you are, ma’am.” In my ear, Rick says, “Exit clear.” The sedan’s moved on. I press the button and reply, “Copy that.”
“Copy what?” Now she’s annoyed. “Who are you talking to? I’m not the fucking president.”
“Eagle’s on the move,” I say to the inside of my wrist, and she glares at me. I smirk. “Come on, ma’am, give me the keys. I’ll be driving you for the foreseeable future. If you don’t like it, you can take it up with Marcus.”
She unlocks the car, then dumps the keys in my hand. “Oh, believe me, I will be. I intend to make everyone’s life a miseryuntil I’m free again.” She stomps around to the passenger side and gets in.
I open the driver door and bend to look in. “Don’t you want to sit in the back?”
“Nope.” She clips in her seat belt, then studies her phone.
Gritting my teeth, I get in, buckle my own belt, and clip my security button to it. The car is neat and tidy. It smells of her perfume, something sensual and exotic. A nodding model of a daisy is stuck to the dashboard. I stare at it, then look at her.
“I like daisies,” she says defensively.
“It’s smiling.”
“It’s cheerful.”
I scowl and start the engine.
“I see,” she says. “You’re going to be Mr. Grumpy Trousers, aren’t you? Well, that won’t last around me. I’m the sunniest person in the whole of New Zealand.”
I put the car in reverse and back out of the space. “We’ll see.” When I’m safely out, I slot it into Drive and head out of the car park.
“All clear,”Rick says.
I press the button on the belt. “Copy that.”
“Jesus,” Aurelia says. “Are you constantly going to be talking to yourself?”
“I’m afraid so. You’ll have to get used to it.”
“My other security officers never talked to themselves. They always followed at a respectful distance. And they let me drive.”
“Which is why you were able to give them the slip, and I’m now the lucky one to be stuck with you.”
“Are you always this cheeky to the people in your care?”
I head out onto the main road, then blow out a long breath and glance at her. She’s right; there’s no need to be rude. “I apologize.”
“Oh Luke, I’m teasing you. You’ll have to get used to that, too. If we’re stuck with each other’s company, I’d much rather you make me laugh than spend the whole day with a stick up your ass.” She looks over at me then. “Oops. Are they listening right now?”
My lips curve up. “No, ma’am. I have to press this button when I want to talk to the team.”
“Oh. Well, that’s something. I don’t want them listening to me every time I insult you.”
“Should I expect lots of insults, then?”
“I would think so, wouldn’t you?”
I give a short laugh, keeping my eyes on the road.
She’s quiet for a bit, as I drive through the busy city center. Then, eventually, she says, “You’re Australian, aren’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What were you doing in the New Zealand Defence Force? Couldn’t we find any actual New Zealanders to serve?”
