Page 4 of Heartbeats Amidst Chaos: Part 3
Rissa considered for a moment, specifically the fact that she was using an untraceable card on a burner cellphone. What had her life become?More exciting than it’s ever been before—that’s for sure.
“You want to set a budget?” she asked.
Elio shook his head. “Go all out. I trust you.”
I wish I could say the same to you.
She scrolled through the phone, watching Elio from the corner of her eye as he skillfully changed lanes, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror at regular intervals. He lifted his hand slightly from the window frame, letting it ride the warm air rushing along the side of the car.
“This money I’m spending,” she said cautiously after a moment. “It’s all gained legally, right?”
Somewhat to her surprise, Elio nodded immediately.
“All from the construction company I manage,” he said. “It’s technically a family business, but ever since I’ve taken over, absolutely everything about it has been aboveboard.”
“So, the untraceable debit card. . .”
One side of his mouth pulled up in a half smile. “If you grow up in the family I grew up in,” he said, “you learn to take precautions. Be ready for anything. . .”
“Put aside savings in an untraceable offshore account,” Rissa finished for him, and he chuckled.
“Something like that.”
“Awesome.”
She turned her head to gaze out the window at the nondescript highway scenery for a moment: Tall, dry-looking grass and midsummer wildflowers crowding back to bushy, juvenile trees. Her window was only partially opened, but her hair still whipped about her face.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had ridden with the windows open like this—maybe not since she was a child. It eased something inside her, an emotional muscle she hadn’t even realized she’d been keeping clenched like a fist almost her entire adult life. Or maybe it was the man in the driver’s seat that was having that effect on her.
Turning back to her phone, she began shopping in earnest.
“Okay, but clothes can’t be our only disguise, right?” she asked after a moment, glancing up again. “Yourface has been all over the news. People are going to recognize you.”
He glanced in the rearview mirror again, his hazel eyes momentarily alert. After a moment, he focused back on her and the road.
“Maybe,” he said. “But in my experience, people see what they want to see. No one expects a suspected terrorist to be enjoying a romantic getaway at a lakeside resort.”
“You have a kind of memorable face, though,” Rissa said, still cautious.
“Really?” Elio grinned, tilting his face toward her as if offering himself for her inspection. “In what way?”
“Don’t try to change the subject,” Rissa objected as breathless laughter escaped her.
Piercing hazel eyes,she cataloged internally.Movie star cheekbones, regal nose, jaw so chiseled it should have a danger sign on it.
“I’ll wear a hat,” Elio offered. “A big straw sunhat.”
Rissa giggled again. She had never giggled so much in her life, but the happy sound wouldn’t stop floating up from somewhere deep inside her. Never in her life had she felt quite how she didwhen sitting across from this charming suspected criminal, the wind tossing her hair, her dress hiked up around her hips as she put her knees up to lean the phone against them. She noticed Elio’s quick, appreciative sideways glance and felt her cheeks flush, but she didn’t change her position.
She tapped the phone screen again. “Biggest straw sunhat I can find—added to the cart,” she said smartly. “I hope you don’t mind a little sunflower ribbon.”
Elio puffed out his chest in mock arrogance. “I think I’m man enough to handle some ribbon,” he said.
Rissa rolled her eyes, but her smile wouldn’t be smothered.
“How long till we get there?” she asked, turning her attention to the front window. Part of her wanted this ride to last forever.
“Couple hours,” Elio said lazily. “Looks like it’s going to be this straight, flat road the entire time.” He glanced over at her, his eyebrow quirked. “If you have any ideas for helping keep me awake, I would be much obliged.”
