I pushthe button on the handle, and the umbrella opens above me.
Making a run for it, I dash across the parking lot to my car. Only, the spot is empty when I get there.
My eyebrows pinch together. That’s weird. I could’ve sworn that I parked on the end of the last row when I arrived at school this morning.
My head whips around, searching for my car. I dig into my coat pocket for my keys, but my fingers hit nothing but the inside of my pocket.
What the fuck?
A black town car pulls up in front of me, and an older man with salt-and-pepper hair jogs around the front bumper holding up a large black umbrella. “Ms. King, I’m here to escort you to the spa.”
My chin jerks back. “Uh, what?”
“I can assure you that your car has been safely delivered to your home. I’ve been instructed to pick you up and take you to get a massage at four o’clock.”
“Instructed by who?”
The man smiles. “Mr. McKinley.”
My chest tightens. “He planned this?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He swings open the back door, and gestures for me to get inside. “Come in and get out of the rain.”
“Sorry, please just give me a moment.” I slip my phone out of my purse and click on Stephen’s name before holding it up to my ear.
“Hey, pretty girl,” he answers.
“Don’t pretty girl me. There’s a strange man standing in front of me telling me to get in his car. As a woman, you can understand my hesitation. What is going on? Where’s my car? And how did you get my car keys?”
He chuckles. “That’s Carl; he’s my driver. He’s going to take you to get a massage.”
“But I have to pick up Alyssa from school. Her field hockey practice got cancelled because of the rain and?—”
“We’ve already taken care of that. I’ve got her with me right now. Say hi to your aunt, ‘Lyss.”
Alyssa’s cheery voice blares through the phone. “Hi, Aunt Presley!”
My eyebrows shoot up. “First grand theft auto, and now kidnapping. What’s next on the agenda?”
Stephen laughs again, like this is totally normal behavior. “Enjoy your massage, pretty girl. We’ll see you at home.”
The call ends, and I’m left blinking down at the screen in disbelief.
Carl clears his throat. “Ms. King, come on inside. I have the heat on. Wouldn’t want you to catch a cold.”
I snap the umbrella closed, and slide into the back seat of the car.
The door shuts behind me, and Carl scurries around to the driver’s side. He glances at me in the rearview mirror as he climbs inside. “How was your day, Ms. King?”
My head falls back against the seat as I laugh. “Like any other day, up until now.”
His eyes crinkle as he smiles. “I’ve heard good things about this spa. You’ll have a very enjoyable afternoon.”
I shake my head as I stare out at the rain. “And how many women have you driven around for Mr. McKinley, Carl?”
“I assume you mean the ones not blood related?”
I smirk. “Exactly those ones.”