Taste (Take It Off #9)(8)
Author: Cambria Hebert

I pulled off my apron and hung it on a hook, then went to get someone to come and finish the bread I was making. The back of my neck prickled a little as I felt his stare, but he didn’t say a word, and for that I was grateful.

I’d left my bag in the small office this morning and when I came out with it draped over my shoulder, I was surprised to see Spencer lounging against the wall, holding the tin.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“We’re supposed to talk.”

“I said not here.”

He pushed off the wall. I couldn’t help but notice the way the black jacket of his suit hugged his shoulders.

“I’ll drive you home.”

“No,” I said quickly.

His eyes narrowed.

I couldn’t let him do that. What if those men were still watching? They might suspect that I told someone. They could take it out on Jack.

“I can drive myself.”

“You almost passed out,” he pointed out.

“I’m fine,” I growled.

“Down, girl,” he said, giving me a grin. Then he walked off down the hall. “I’ll meet you outside.”

I stared after him. Did he think I was just going to listen? Maybe he was used to women doing what he wanted. I might be charmed by him, I might think he was totally hot, but I wasn’t about to do as I was told.

As he went another member of the staff came around the corner and stopped when he saw Spencer. He was dressed in an identical suit so I knew he was also part of the Secret Service. “Spencer, did you forget about the meeting?” the man said.

Spencer’s back stiffened. I heard a low curse. “Yeah, sorry I’m late.”

The man shook his head and looked down the hall at me. I felt my cheeks heat because I basically got caught eavesdropping.

Spencer followed the man’s eyes and glanced at me. Then he looked back at his co-worker. “Can you fill me in later? I need to be somewhere.”

“Yeah you need to be at the meeting. The security at that dinner next week is a big job.”

Spencer sighed.

“It’s okay,” I called out, not wanting him to feel torn. I wasn’t his responsibility anyway. “We can talk later.”

I didn’t wait around for him to argue. Instead, I hurried around the corner and went outside to the parking lot, dialing my mother’s cell phone. She answered on the second ring. “Elle? Is everything okay?”

I could hear a lot of noise in the background. “Hi, Mom. Are you and Jack at the zoo?”

“Yes, he’s having a great time.”

I smiled. He loved the zoo. His little eyes always lit up when he saw the animals. “That’s great.” I cleared my throat. “My stomach isn’t feeling any better so I’m coming home. It’s better I don’t work with the food today.”

“I can leave right now and meet you.”

“No,” I said quickly. I wanted her to be there in the crowd for a little longer. “Don’t rush. Jack loves that place. I’m just going to lie down anyway.”

“I’ll bring him home afterward,” she said, relenting.

“Sounds great,” I said, fishing my car keys out of my pocket. I disconnected the call and dumped the phone into the twilight zone that was my bag.

My head was muddled with thoughts and fears as I hit the unlock button on the wireless remote and reached for the door handle of the driver’s side.

But that’s as far as I made it.

A large hand grabbed me from behind.

5

I screamed and the keys in my hand hit the pavement with a loud clatter.

“Shit,” Spencer muttered, letting go of me immediately. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I swung around, feeling like I’d just run fifteen miles. “Yeah? Well, you did.”

His lips drew into a line and he shoved a hand through his hair. “What the hell is going on, Elle?” he demanded.

“I thought you had a meeting?” I questioned.

“I told you to wait for me,” he countered.

“Does everyone do what you tell them to?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“If they know what’s good for them.”

I snorted.

He bent down and snatched the keys off the pavement before I could even blink. “Hey!” I protested, reaching for them.

“I’m driving.”

“I’m pretty sure you were just told in there you had to stay?” I questioned again.

“You’re more important right now,” he said softly.

My stomach did a little flip. It seemed appropriate his eyes were the color of honey, because his words were just as smooth.

“I don’t want anyone to see us together,” I said truthfully.

Clearly, I was not as smooth as he was.

He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “That’s the first time a woman’s ever said that to me.”

I rolled my eyes and suppressed a laugh. “I don’t think your big ego will fit in my car anyway.”

He pretended he didn’t hear my very good insult and tucked my keys into the pocket of his black dress pants. He was wearing a pair of wraparound shades, but even with his eyes covered, I could still feel their amber gaze.

“Come on,” he said, gesturing with his head to the other side of the lot. “I’ll drive.”

I followed, not because I wanted to, but because he had my keys.

Okay, maybe it was because I wanted to.

He had his hands tucked into the pockets of his slacks and the action pulled the fabric taut across his tight ass. I couldn’t help but stare at it as I trailed along behind him.

Please, you totally would be looking, too.

“Are you staring at my ass?” he asked over his shoulder.

“No,” I said like I was completely disgusted by the suggestion.

Thank God he couldn’t see the mortification in my eyes.

His chuckle floated back to me, and I wanted to die from embarrassment.

We stopped beside a black Mustang without a speck of dirt on it. “I should have known this was your car,” I said.

He grinned. “She drew your eye, eh?”

“I suppose so,” I admitted. I did tend to give it a look when I walked through the lot every day.

“Let me tell ya something,” he drawled. “You can tell a lot about man from his car.”

“Is that so?” I said, amused.

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the side of the shiny black paint and nodded.

“And what does this car say about you?” I asked.