Page 88 of Reckless Love
There was a driver waiting outside for us. He opened the door for us and we got in the back seat while the man put my luggage in the trunk.
“Livin’ the high life, aren't you?” I teased.
“Always have been.” Rhodes grinned and took my hand, threading our fingers together.
It’s true, he had always been famous, but I’d never noticed it more than now.
“You’ve settled into your fame.”
His nose scrunched. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“It isn’t a bad thing. When I met you, you were still uncomfortable living under your parents' spotlight. Now you’ve created your own success and you carry it with confidence. It looks goodon you, Rhodes.”
He looked at me and grinned, his hazel eyes more green in the California sunshine.
“Thank you. That means a lot coming from you.”
“You know I’m proud of you, right? So proud.” My voice cracked a little bit.
He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. “It’s what keeps me going, Elle love. I’m proud of you too.”
I rolled my eyes, partially to distract myself from the way his kiss made my breathing uneven. “I have some catching up to do. My parents are trying to convince me to move back to Silver Hills. They think it’s time I get something more dependable than these writing gigs that hardly pay. I can live at home for a while and save money…”
“Do you want to move back to Silver Hills?”
“I do miss it so much. Honestly, as much as I hate the idea of moving back in with my parents at this age, their house is huge, and I could stand to recoup for a while. And…I do need a job that pays better. They’re not wrong about that.”
“I wish you’d let me help,” he groaned.
If I had a dollar for every time he’d tried to convince me to let him help, I’d be rich. One time, he left a stash of hundreds in my apartment after coming through and I threatened to shave his head if he ever did that again.
I gave him a stern look. “You can help me by being the comic relief I’ll need if I do decide to move back.”
He squeezed my hand. “You know I can do that.”
We grinned at each other.
“How are your parents?” he asked.
“They’re good. They’re trying really hard to set me up with this guy from their church…Bernard.”
He frowned. “What kind of name is Bernard?”
I snorted. “Sounds like a charming grandpa or something.”
“Exactly. With a sky blue cardigan. Not for you, Elle baby.”
I grinned. “And if my parents are pushing him, that can’t be a great sign.”
He tilted his head likeyou said it, not me. He looked out of the window for a second and then down at our hands, still clasped. I loved that he still grabbed my hand after all this time. I hoped that never changed.
“Actually, I’ve met him though, and he isn’t bad.”
He coughed and dropped my hand when he couldn’t stop.
“Are you okay?” I asked when he cracked the window and knocked his chest like he couldn’t catch his breath.
He adjusted the vents on his side so they hit him, and he took a deep breath. I put my hand on his shoulder and frowned when I felt how tense he was.