Repaying the Debt

Chapter6

Chapter Six

The sleek black town car pulled up to the curb as Leo led me out of the art gallery. It was like I was hyper aware of his warm touch on my lower back.

A driver hopped out, running around the car to get the door. Leo thanked him before ushering me inside. I slid across the leather seat, looking around the dark interior. It was nice and smelled clean. I didn’t even want to think about how expensive it must be to hire someone to drive you around in this type of car.

Leo slid in beside me, pulling his phone out from his pocket. The glow of the screen illuminated his cheeks, making them look hollow and gaunt. He reminded me of the sleek panthers at the zoo. The way that he seemed to sprawl into the seat.

The driver jogged around the car, getting into the front seat. He closed the door before shifting around to look at Leo. “Good night, Mr. Philips?”

“Leo and yes, it was.”

“Home, then, Sir?” the driver asked, looking into the rear view mirror before navigating the car onto the street.

“Maddox, it’s Leo.” He said, sitting his phone on the seat by his leg. “No, take us to Glenda’s.”

“Planning to do some late-night shopping?” Maddox asked. He raised a dark eyebrow in the mirror as he looked between the two of us. Looking away, I shifted in my seat. The leather creaking underneath me, it was warm and I realized that the seats were heated.

“Shopping?”

Leo slid his jacket off. His eyes moved from my legs up to the dress that I was wearing. Lingering on my chest before he looked up into my eyes. “Right now, you don’t look the part of my future wife.”

I looked down at the black dress that Chrissy had picked for me to wear. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

His lip twitched, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, picking up his phone. “Nothing, it’s fine for tonight.”

We drove in silence as Maddox maneuvered the car through the sparse traffic.

I brought my thumb up to my mouth, worrying my nail with my teeth. Maybe this was a bad idea? Maybe I should have let him call the cops?

How was I going to pretend to be his fiance? I didn’t know him and he didn’t know me. How were we going to make his family believe that we were in love?

“Izzy, what’s that short for?” He asked, breaking the silence.

“Isobel.” I pulled my thumb away from my mouth. Smoothing my hands over my thighs. “Isobel Jennings.

“Isobel, I like that.” He said, nodding his head. A strange part of me was happy that he liked something about me. Even if it was something that I had no control over.

My phone chimed and I pulled it out of my bag, swiping my thumb over the cracked screen. I was glad for a reason to take my eyes off of the dangerously handsome man beside me.

Chrissy: OMG, where did you go with Leonardo?

I sucked my lower lip between my teeth. What was I supposed to tell her? I knew that I couldn’t tell her the truth.

“It’s my friend.” I felt guilty even as I told him. I had said I wasn’t going to ditch her, but I did. I was a horrible friend and she deserved better.

“What are you planning to tell her?” He asked, scooting closer to me. I shivered at his nearness, that delicious cinnamon scent filling my senses. I was never going to be able to enjoy cinnamon candy again without thinking about him. He leaned closer, looking at the screen.

“I, I don’t know.”

His delicate fingers moved over mine and he took the phone from my hands. “For this to work, we can’t tell anyone the truth. Not even your friend.”

“Chrissy wouldn’t tell anyone.” I said, defending my best friend. He didn’t know her like I did.

My phone chimed again and Leo looked at me with a half-smile that made my body tense up. His golden eyes all but danced. “Are you sure about that?”

Chrissy: Are you on a date with him? You have to tell me everything when you get home. Stacy is going to be so jealous. Hell, I’m so jealous.

“Okay, so Chrissy might tell her sister.”

“No buts about it. I had thought asking one of my security guys to take her home would be a distraction. It seems it wasn’t enough.” His fingers moved across the screen as he typed out a message to Chrissy.

Leo pressed the button on the side of my phone, turning off the power. He shifted around in his seat, tucking my phone into his pocket.

“I’m going to need that back.”

“I’ll be replacing it with one that doesn’t have a cracked screen. You shouldn’t be seen with one that’s broken. People would think I don’t know how to take care of you.”

Maddox pulled the car to a stop in front of a cute little boutique. I pressed my lips together, still looking at him. Leo let out a huff, lifting an eyebrow.

“What did you say?”

“I told her that you were okay and that you would be away from home for the next few weeks. This is it.” Leo said, not giving the driver a chance to get out as he opened the door and slid out of the car.

He turned back to me, leaning down and offering his hand. I placed my finger in his grasp, trying to ignore the thrill that shot through me at his touch as I scooted across the seat. I swung my legs out of the car and he pulled me to stand.

I looked at the shop, frowning. The sign on the door said that it was closed.

“Leo, we can’t go in there.”

“You’re my fiance, they’re open.” He let go of my hand and I stepped forward.