Emily

Ethan drove what could only be described as the most comfortable thing in which I’d ever sat my unrefined ass. When I asked, he said something about it being a BMW X6 but I was barely listening as I sank happily into the warm leather seat. I didn’t need to know cars to know this one was way above my pay grade.

I looked over at the odometer and saw that it had less than a thousand miles on it. “Do you not drive much or is this car that new?”

He followed my gaze for a moment then returned his attention to the road. “I’ve had it for two years. I just rarely drive it because I’m never in New York. It stays here while I’m traveling with the band or in L.A. recording.”

“So, you have a place here then?” I couldn’t even fathom having a house I didn’t live in and an expensive car I barely drove.

“I do. A loft.”

I thought about that for a minute. I didn’t want to inundate him with a bunch of trivial questions. I had to make them count. There was really only one that was important to me at that moment, so I went with it. “How long will you be in town?”

He pursed his lips, keeping his eyes on the road. “I leave later today to meet up with the guys. We have a few shows scattered around the US over the next month, special-event stuff we’re doing with other artists for charity. Then we head back here for a Thanksgiving night concert before we get a few much-needed weeks off for the holidays. We have a New Year’s Eve concert somewhere, but I honestly can’t remember where. Thank goodness we have people to keep up with this shit for us, or the scheduling alone would drive us all crazy. We’re always on the go. It seems like it never stops.”

“Is that why you paint? To slow down?”

He didn’t respond immediately, weaving slowly through traffic toward whatever destination he had in mind.

The longer the silence stretched, the more antsy I became. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “You don’t have to talk about painting with me. I shouldn’t have pried.”

His hand drifted over to my hand, landing there gently before returning to the shifter. “No. I like that you’re interested in that part of my life. I’m just unaccustomed to answering questions because no one really knows about it. I mean, the band, our PR rep—who’s also Kade’s wife—and maybe three members of our management know, but no one else. And I don’t really talk about it with anyone.”

“Like I said, I shouldn’t have pried.” I placed my hand over his on the shifter, surprisingly comfortable with the intimacy of the gesture.

“You’re not hearing me again, Emily. I said I like that you want to talk about my art. I just need a minute to find the words because I’ve never had to articulate any of this before.”

I waited for him to look my way and gave him an encouraging nod. “Take your time. I think Arthur expects me to be gone all afternoon, so we don’t exactly have to rush.”

He chuckled softly, looking relieved. “I did sort of kidnap you, didn’t I?”

“Something like that.”

“I probably should have asked if you were okay with spending the afternoon with me before I just stole you away.”

“Probably, but I’ll let it slide since I’m too comfortable to balk at this point.” I leaned back into the supple leather with a sigh, letting my eyes fall closed. “Consider me your willing captive.”

He made a noise low in his throat, and I could feel the heat of his gaze on me, roaming my body while he thought I was unaware. The car suddenly lurched to a halt and he swore under his breath. I cracked one eye open and fought off a smile. “Having trouble navigating this thing?”

His eyes flashed to mine, full of amusement. “Sorry. I was admiring the seat cover and lost focus.”

I laughed at the cheeky comment and closed my eyes again, the midday sun pouring through the tinted windows and warming my legs in an insanely pleasant way. The warmth spreading through my core was attributed to something else entirely.

And it wasn’t the heated seats.

He was flirting with me. Checking me out. Being charming and witty.

The majority of my nervousness had dissipated, quelled by his easygoing demeanor. In its place was a building arousal that was so incredibly unlike me it was unnerving. I didn’t usually have this strong of an attraction to someone this quickly.

Was it because he was Ethan Chase or because he was Conspicuous? Neither? Both?

I had no way of knowing, not yet anyway. Maybe as the day progressed I would be able to better pinpoint the source. Until then, I’d just have to do my best to control it.

I risked a peek in his direction and caught sight of his lean, corded, tattooed forearms as he gripped the shifter. The car was an automatic, so his firm grip was unnecessary. Unless he was feeling the same building tension as me.

I pressed my thighs together and caught him tracking the movement from the corner of his eye. We were incredibly aware of each other, which made me even hotter and all but guaranteed I’d be unable to hide it from him.

Shit.

It was going to be an interesting afternoon.