Tall, Dark and Handsome

chapter 20

"Are you done eating?" Tom asked as soon as he shut off his phone. I looked down at my plate of food that seemed like it had been barely touched, feeling sick to my stomach already.

"Yes." I answered quickly, getting off my seat and already looking for my purse. He frowned at the pancakes and bacon on my plate, fixing me with a steady gaze. "I'm full, okay?" I reassured him.

"You'll get something along the way." He said impatiently, already walking out of the kitchen, and down the foyer. The car was already rolled up in front, patiently waiting for him and I to grace the seats.

"Miss. Hart." I heard the small voice coming from behind me. Turning around, I saw Greta, Tom's housemaid step into view, holding my purse in her hands.

"Thank you." I murmured, smiling warmly towards her as I grabbed it and ran out the door, practically leaping down the steps to where Tom had so kindly opened the door for me. Sliding into the buttery soft seats, I felt tense all over until he slammed my door shut and joined me on the other. He hadn't mentioned what was wrong but I could tell by the  curt phone call and how his jaw was locked that whatever was going on back in Hiddleston & Baker was bad.

Knotting my fingers together, I kept my hands in my lap, eyes upfront, not daring to look towards him in fear of causing more distress to the situation. My heart slammed against my feeble chest when the car abruptly came to a stop at a red light, jolting us awake from our thoughts and sending us lurching in our seats. He grabbed my elbow, catching me before my head slammed against the front seat.

"John!" Tom yelled in a thunderous tone. I shivered in my spot, anticipating what was to come next.

The private windows rolled down, revealing a bald headed middle age man. "Sorry, sir. A child leapt onto the street."

"Pay attention to the road next time." His voice clipped.

"Yes, sir." John rolled the windows back up, leaving us in our stilled silence. He turned to face me, regarding me with the same penetrating gaze that left me breathless and my heart to pound so loudly in my chest I was sure he could hear it.

"And you..." Tom shook his head slightly as he reached over my body, allowing me to smell his crisp aftershave and grabbed the seatbelt that was hanging limply by my side. "Don't forget your seatbelt." He reprimanded, kissing me on the forehead before retreating back to his corner in the spacious car. Resting his ankle on one of his knees, he rubbed his lower lip with his index finger, lost in thought, already having forgotten about me. I fought back stinging annoyance that bubbled away inside me. He had other things on his mind, much grander things that I didn't have to deal with. But couldn't he at least tell me more about the problem at hand? Couldn't he at least share more about what he was thinking?

Studying his sculptured face, I drew my lower lip into my mouth, chewing thoughtfully as I wondered how I could break down his hard exterior and let me in.

"I'm not an animal at the zoo." Tom replied dryly, turning his hot gaze back on me. "You can't stare at me forever."

"Oh, but I can." I smirked, fighting down my smile when I was rewarded with a smile from him.

"I can too." He tipped my chin back with his finger, brushing the soft underside gently. Touches like this came so tender and warm, it made me wonder of so many possibilities I couldn't allow myself to have enough courage to fathom. He was Tom. A billionaire, who had the IQ of a million and had the looks of a drop dead gorgeous model and for some reason, had a backstory that he wouldn't share. Sometimes, when I looked at him without him noticing, I could see the sadness lurking around the corners. He was a man who had a painful past and I was determined to find out what exactly it was to drive him to consider himself as a cold heartless lover.