If this was a test run, she could respond without ruining anything, right?
With her free hand, she groped for her water bottle and took yet another huge gulp. “Alex, are you entirely sure these are the sorts of travel insights you want to share?”
“It’s the only explanation for Carah Brown, Wren.” When the car came to another stop, he turned to look directly into the camera. “Did you know that Carah is ninety-three years old?”
When Lauren laughed out loud, so did Alex, and she couldn’t resist engaging with his nonsense. “Maybe she has a Vanity Fair cover portrait that’s aging for her?”
“Solid literary allusion. Nicely done.” When he reached out for a high five, still grinning, she gave it to him. “Anyway, Carah’s ancient, and the Sasquatch of Youth lives here. That’s really all you need to know about Malibu.”
He held up a finger, as if he were a scholar making one final, crucial point. “Oh, and some people in Malibu try to keep their beaches private and only accessible to the super-rich, which is total bullshit. But I suppose they need seclusion for sasquatch-hunting purposes.”
Oh, holy crackers.
“I hope you’ve enjoyed your scintillating view of me and Malibu’s delightful stop-and-go traffic.” He flashed another bone-melting smile in the camera’s direction. “Thanks for watching, and remember to get out there, have fun, and don’t let Carah Brown fool you. She’s pretty, but she’s also old as fuck and mean as hell. Can’t say I didn’t warn you, people.”
Still shaking with suppressed laughter, she tapped the screen to stop filming.
“How’d we do?” When the traffic began to move faster, he returned his full attention to the road. “Never mind, I was obviously brilliant, so let me rephrase: How did you do?”
When she played back the video, he remained in focus the entire time, and everything he’d said was clearly audible. Unfortunately, so was everything she’d said, and his theoretical audience could see her arm as he high-fived her.
Dammit, if she’d simply kept out of the conversation and camera view, they could have used that clip, because he’d been … himself. Entirely himself. Funny, sharp-edged, intelligent, and ridiculous. Irascible and irresistible, as he’d said earlier.
“I’m sorry.” She sighed, placing his phone in the center console. “If I hadn’t butted in, that video would have been perfect for uploading.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Do you have any objections to being in the video?”
She hadn’t said anything embarrassing, and it wasn’t as if she’d paraded herself in front of the camera. So after a moment of consideration, she shrugged too. “No. Not really. But as you once told me, you’re the one the audience wants to look at and listen to. Not some random woman.”
“I don’t care about them, Wren. I want to look at you. I want to listen to you.” Before she could do more than blink at him in befuddled pleasure, he added, “But are you sure you won’t mind the public visibility? I don’t anticipate a huge audience, but what I said at the con is still a big deal in some circles. There’s a possibility the clips could get some traction.”
“If so, I’ll just stay offline for a few days again.” Carefully, she smoothed a finger over the folded pleats inside the door and avoided looking at him. “You really want me in the video?”
“Videos. Plural. If you’re willing.” He reached over and hesitated. “May I touch you?”
When she nodded, he laid a hand on her knee, and she breathed out shakily. “It’s more fun with you participating. Please, Wren.”
Her leg was on fire. His thumb brushed back and forth over her kneecap, and the thin, stretchy fabric of her leggings offered no protection from his heat, from the electrical current generated by his touch.
She required yet another desperate gulp of her water before she could speak. “Okay. As long as I can stay behind the camera, okay. I’ll do it.”
He gently squeezed her knee, and she bit back a gasp. She wanted his hand, those agile fingers, higher. If he ever cupped her between her legs and squeezed like that—
“Good.” His palm slid slowly up her thigh before returning to the wheel. “Get ready, then. Later today, I intend to tell people about the recent zombie sightings along the coast.”
She nearly choked on another sip of water. “Zombies, Alex? Really?”
Surely a grin that wicked violated state law?