Page 47 of Phoenix

“Rather walk.” He kept his eyes ahead.

“You’d rather walk in a rainstorm, in the dark?”

No response.

“Or is it that you didn’t want to burden your brothers with a call?”

Nothing.

“Well.” I glanced in the rearview mirror and blew out a breath. “You can’t walk home.”

“Then why don’t you sign a waiver that says I’m fine to drive.”

“Nice guilt trip.”

“Nice organization caddy in your console.”

I glanced at the “Happy car” car organizer I’d had secured to my console. Everything in its place, divvied up between adjustable binders and multi-sized pockets.

How had he even seen it? Phoenix Steele misses nothing—noted.

I looked at the dark road ahead, blurred by sheets of rain. Goosebumps from the cold outside air prickled my arm. I knew he and his brothers lived on a massive compound at the top of Shadow Mountain, but wasn’t sure where it was—or where I was for that matter.

“How far away do you live?”

“Not far.”

“Define not far.”

“Not far.”

I shook my head. “Get in.”

…

“Getin.”

This. Guy.

“Phoenix,accept helpand get into my damn car.Now.I don’t have time for your macho male bullcrap right now.”

17

ROSE

When Phoenix still didn’t stop, I gassed it, yanked the wheel, cutting him off. The SUV bottomed out in a muddy ditch.

That stopped him.

“What thehellare you doing, woman?” He asked. “You just got yourself stuck.”

“Well if you weren’t so bull-headed?—”

He opened my door. “Scoot over.”

“You scoot over.”

We both frowned at each other.