Play The Part (Player Next Door Book 3)

37 | Round The Table

This one escalates. A gentle warning. 

Chapter 37: Round The Table

I made the rookie mistake of unlocking the car door early.

Because now, here I was, standing with the dented door open and watching Luke Dawson sit in the driver seat of my car.

My precious car.

"I'm going to need you to step outside," I told him formally, "I'll drive my car."

"Over someone's laptop," Luke finished my sentence unnecessarily, leaning back.

Oh, so he woke up today and chose violence.

"Are you testing me right now?" I asked, my patience drying up fast.

"No, unless you see a raccoon anywhere?" he looked through the window shield, pretending to search for my furry friend.

"Am I a joke to you?" I stared down at him, partially enjoying the view from this angle, I'll admit, "Is the raccoon a joke?"

Because I will never, ever forget that raccoon.

"Can you just get in the car, Minnie?" Luke asked, getting annoyed, "Because I am not letting you drive me anywhere with your history."

"You are sitting in the seat of a great driver! And my car is sensitive and you don't even know how to treat her and I can make you move," I blabbered, before immediately regretting that last threat.

I've seen what that boy presses.

Even if I used all my force, I wouldn't move Luke an inch. Maybe a third of an inch though?

With the help of a fly getting in his face?

I held onto the door of my car, staring at the air in search of any flies and then down at him.

I got a good angle on his shoulder blades, pronounced under the fabric of his shirt, creating a landscape of defined lines and gentle curves. Each movement he made, no matter how slight, seemed to accentuate his muscular build.

Focus, Millie.

"I think I know how to treat her," he said in a deep voice. He raised his hand to brush something off his jaw.

"I've got contacts with the police department you know," I threatened, ignoring the feeling those words did to me.

"I'm sure Officer Patel would love to swing by and chat," he replied, equally unphased, "You know what Minnie? I think you still owe me for that laptop. So why don't we go back in time and just pretend like this is another trade."

"You can't buy me."

"I kinda did-"

I lunged at him, with full force and immediately hated how muscular his body was, because it did not make for a smooth landing. My shin hit the metal of the car interior and my ribcage banged against the wheel.

The element of surprise.

That's what they teach you in the art of war.

But I regretted my decision, finding myself twisted like a pretzel with my feet sticking outside the car like I was the wicked witch of the west.

I really hope Charlotte, Nicole and Jake were not witnessing this.

Luke leaned back, raising his hands to protect himself, while my body came flying into his face.

"Woah."

He then reacted and coolly collected me in his arms, picked me up and swiftly turned my legs around in the vehicle, setting them down in the passenger seat and slamming the door to the driver seat shut.