The Chauffeur [Complete]

Chapter 10

Rade glared at me when he saw my hand on the door handle. I rolled my eyes and let go of the handle so he could open the door for me.

While they do share quite a few physical features, Harvey and Rade were nothing alike. Harvey is sweet and gentle. And Rade is rude and rough. He's also controlling and annoyingly protective.

Like I said before, it hasn't even been a day, and I'm already tired of him.

When I tried to carry my groceries into the house, Rade took the bags from my hands. "I can carry my own bags," I snapped.

It's not that I didn't like the help. It's that I didn't want it. I'm not used to this kind of attention. I've had to do things on my own for the majority of my life. And now my new Chauffeur thinks I need him for every little thing.

He ignored me as he walked up to the front door, waiting for me to let him in. Rolling my eyes for the hundredth time today, I joined his side and fumbled around in my purse for my keys.

When I found them, I unlocked the door and went inside. Rade followed in after me, and I led him to the kitchen. I dropped my purse and keys onto the counter as I watched him set the bags down onto the island.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

He gave me a single head nod and turned to leave.

"Wait," I blurted, regretting it when he actually turned back around.

He tilted his head down at me, waiting for me to explain why I'd stopped him from leaving.

Dios(God), why is he so handsome?

I looked down, suddenly interested in the groceries as warmth spread like wildfire onto my cheeks. "It's too hot for you to be sitting in the car all day."

I used to let Harvey hang out in the house as well. Especially on days that were way too hot. I wanted him to be able to relax. But then he'd always find ways to keep himself busy with work.

I guess him and Rade were similar in that regard. They both constantly wanted to help people. And it seemed to irritate them -more so Rade than Harvey- when they couldn't.

"I don't mind," Rade said.

"I do," I replied back. "Sit."

He raised a brow at me, not seeming to enjoy being bossed around. But now he knows how I felt when we were in the parking lot at the grocery store.

Rade sat down on the barstool across from me, his gaze heavy as it remained on me.

Maybe I should've let him just melt in the heat. Because having him stare at me while I put away groceries is making me melt.

"Would you like something to drink?" I offered, really needing it for myself. My mouth had gone dry again, and I felt like I was being strangled by the apricot colored short sleeve I had on.

He nodded, and I turned away from him to open up the cabinet above my coffee maker. I reached up onto the second shelf to grab two glasses.

I could still feel his eyes on me as I set the cups down and closed the cabinet. Shifting over to the refrigerator, I continued to pretend like his gaze didn't affect me as I grabbed the pitcher of lemonade. I poured his glass first, then mine, and handed his to him.

"Thank you."

That accent. His voice. I was gaining an unhealthy obsession every time he spoke.

"So, where are you from?" I asked, not only trying to make conversation but to finally stop trying to guess. It's not like he talks enough for me to even really be able to figure it out anyway.

He took a sip of his lemonade, my eyes trained on the hand wrapped around the cup. The hand covered in veins and tattoos. My gaze shifted to his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing every time he swallowed.

No, no, no, no!

I'm married. I'm married. I'm married. I'm-

"I was born in Athens, Greece, but moved to the States when I was two."

"But your accent is a little different from Harvey's- your dad's," I corrected.

Rade clenched his jaw. I didn't know what that was about, and decided it was best not to question him on it. It wasn't any of my business. 

"My mother was born in London," he answered. "So I picked up a little bit of everything."

"Interesting." I downed nearly half my glass of lemonade. The cold liquid helped to cool my heated body down.

I reached for the pitcher, getting ready to refill my glass when Rade reached over to take my glass. I had no time to react as he poured his lemonade into my cup.

"You didn't have to do that," I told him as he gently pushed the glass back in my direction.

"It's okay. I wasn't really drinking mine anyway."

"Thank you," I replied with a small smile.

I tried not to focus on his eyes on me as I took the cup in my hand and took a sip. I had to will myself to drink slowly, despite the need to chug it all. I didn't finish all of it, a little less than half of the lemonade left as I set it back down on the island.

I still had a couple of more things I needed to get done for the day. So I cleared my throat and continued to avoid making eye contact with him. "Well, feel free to make yourself at home. If you need me, just call."

Suddenly, he was retrieving his phone and sliding the device across the counter to me. I looked down in confusion, not sure what he was doing. He had a tendency of doing things without giving much of an explanation.

He noticed my confusion and proceeded to clarify by saying, "I can't call if I don't have your number."

"Oh," was all I could get out in response. I couldn't tell if he genuinely didn't understand that I meant calling my name, or if he did know, and was simply just trying to get my number. Though I felt like it had to be that he didn't understand what I meant.

I picked up the black smart phone, feeling how heavy it felt in my hands as I located the contacts icon and entered my phone number. When I was done, I slid the phone back in his direction.

I watched the way his eyes drifted down to the screen as he picked it up. His thumbs flew across the screen, and a second later, I was feeling and hearing a buzzing noise.

I pulled out my phone, a smile forming on my lips when I saw that he had sent me a text. It read:

Rade: Save my number on your phone. You know, just in case you need me.

I looked up at him, catching the faintest hint of a smile. I think. I wasn't totally too sure he'd actually smiled. I could have been imagining things.

I shot him a glare, a smile still on my face. "Ha, ha, ha," I said in a robotic voice. "Very funny." Stormy gray eyes stared at me intently as I chuckled, a blush rising up my neck and reaching my cheeks. "You're so sure I'll need you. But what if you're the one who needs me?"

"I'll call."