The night breeze carried a faint chill, prompting Jolie to rub her arms as she glanced at the app to check on her ride. She had indulged in a few drinks tonight. Otherwise, she would have driven herself home.
Just then, a sleek black SUV pulled up in front of her. The tinted window rolled down, revealing a chiseled, serious face. ""Mr. Cooper," Jolie greeted with a polite smile when she saw him.
Gavin rested one hand casually on the steering wheel, his deep gaze briefly sweeping over her. "Get in."
What?
Was he offering to give her a ride?
Jolie hesitated, instinctively shaking her head. "There's no need, Mr. Cooper. I've already called a car."
Gavin's voice was calm but firm. "You still haven't returned my belt."
Oh. Right.
Jolie quickly fished the belt out of her bag, the black leather contrasting starkly against her fair hands. The striking visual caught Gavin's attention, and his gaze lingered on her fingers-slender and delicate, so pale they seemed almost fragile as if they might snap with the slightest pressure. His eyes drifted back to her face.
For a fleeting moment, a shadow of another figure-Selena-seemed to overlap with hers. But the vision disappeared as quickly as it came.
"Get in and give it to me," he said in a low voice, his tone leaving no room for argument. He turned his gaze away, waiting.
Jolie wasn't sure what he was thinking or why he insisted she get in the car.
Couldn't he see she was trying to keep her distance?
With a quiet sigh, she relented. Walking around to the front of the vehicle, she opened the passenger door and climbed in.
Once seated, she handed the belt over with a polite smile. "Thank you for your help tonight, Mr. Cooper."
Gavin took the belt without a word and casually tossed it onto the back seat before locking the doors.
"Where to?" he asked.
Jolie hesitated for a moment. At this point, refusing again would seem unnecessarily pretentious. Resigning herself, she gave him the address of a small apartment complex she occasionally stayed at.
The car started, smoothly merging
into the quiet night. Jolie turned her head to gaze out the window. Her cheeks still carried a faint blush, and the motion of the car combined with the tranquil atmosphere made her feet drowsy.
Gradually, the tension left her body, and before long, her eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep.
The soft patter of rain woke her. She opened her eyes slowly, blinking at the droplets streaking down the window, blurring the view outside.
Startled, she quickly turned to the driver's seat.
Gavin was reclined in his chair, his eyes closed, completely still. The car's interior was dark except for the faint glow of streetlights streaming in through the rain-slicked windows.
His profile was strikingly sharp-high
cheekbones, a strong jawline, and a nose that cast a defined shadow in the dim light. His lips were faintly pressed together, and his prominent Adam's apple added a rugged touch to his otherwise composed O demeanor. The aura he exuded was cold, distant, and commanding, even while he was resting.
Unbidden, a memory surfaced in Jolie's mind, a recollection of the intense moments she had spent with him before.
He was, indeed, as stoic and
unyielding as he appeared, utterly uncompromising in his dominance He had left no room for her to have her own thoughts, asserting his
control with relentless
ον
determination.
A flush crept up her face at the memory. She quickly turned her gaze away, scolding herself for letting her mind wander.
That day had been an accident. Just a one-time mistake...
"Mr. Cooper," she called softly, her voice breaking the silence.
There was no response.
She called out a little louder, "Mr. Cooper?"
Still nothing.
Was he really sleeping that deeply, even in the car?
Jolie frowned and glanced at him curiously but decided not to disturb him further. They had already arrived at the entrance of her apartment complex.
Leaning forward, she searched for the lock release on the console. But the controls were hard to see in the dark, and she fumbled around blindly, relying on touch to locate the switch. However, her hand landed squarely on his thigh.
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