Damaged Beyond Repair by Kashmira Kamat (KittyKash) (ebook reader below 3000 .txt) 📖

She showed off her adorable two toothed smiles. She seemed busy with skimming pages of a Disney picture book. "Hi."

Rowan pointed at me, "seat belt."

"Oh." I clicked the seat belt into place.

He changed gears from neutral to drive and revived the car back on the road smoothly.

"Did you wait too long?" he picked up a coffee thermos from the console and offered it to me, "Coffee?"

"Thanks." I could never say no to coffee. His fingers brushed mine so lightly, even the slightest physical contact fluttered butterflies deep inside me. I took a sip from it. The liquid left a burn, leaving a bittersweet taste with a burning sensation. "No, just a few minutes."

He saw right through me, "My coffee making skills suck ass, right?"

They sure did.

"It doesn't, trust me." I know I was grinning. I was not a good liar.

He grinned back, "I can't make it right, no matter how hard I try."

Coffee bad or not, it didn't stop him from reaching for the other console and sipping onto his thermos.

"I like a lot of milk in my coffee is all." I said, "Besides, even though your coffee making skills suck, you're a great gourmet cook, no doubt."

His eyebrows shot up, in what I assumed had to be amusement "Was that supposed to make me feel better? You just insulted and complimented me in a single line. That's a rare talent, Alana, I must say."

I laughed, "Well, sir, my cooking isn't even half as good as your coffee. Does that feel any better?"

He stared at my face for a nanosecond before turning his head back on the road, "much better."

Twenty minutes, we were still driving and the demon professor with a good heart still smiling.

"What?" I asked him.

"You don't have to drink it."

"But, I want to."

"It's poison, I know it. Maybe worse."

"I'll still drink it."

"Just so you know, in case your persistence has anything to do with trying to impress me, well, you aren't earning any extra grades for doing that." He winked. "At your own risk."

"What do I have to do to become the teacher's pet?"

"Nothing. I've already taken you under my wing."

"I appreciate the gesture." I curled and uncurled a lock of hair as I continued, "It didn't matter how bad the coffee tasted. All that matters is that you made it especially for me...

Rowan took his eyes off the road for a second to give me a sidelong glance; he was blushing like a schoolboy. His arm curled around mine; I could feel the cool ring in his forefinger press against my knuckles. He squeezed his hand and he laced his fingers through mine, forcing me to wallow up whatever that had crossed my mind. He let my hand remain beneath his warm hold until he pulled into the Airport parking lot. He instructed me to wait in the car while he paid for the parking. A minute later, we were making our way towards the arrivals.

Minnie insisted on walking which forced us to walk extra slow. The old grandpa who'd bent lower with his walking stick had walked faster and through the sliding doors.

Rowan spared me a glance, taking my hand in his which felt like a soothing balm to my discomfort. He'd only filled me in on a few details regarding his sister. Apparently, her flight was landing from Hamburg. I expected a polished, wealthy, and confident woman. Snobby, nosy, bossy bitch if you were running out of more adjectives.

The flight schedule board flipped to arrived. I felt nervous with every passing minute. A group of tired passengers rushed through the sliding doors, dragging their heavy-looking baggage along with them. Some people stopped to look for their family members while others searched for banners. Rowan stepped closer to the railing, leaning slightly inward. When most of the passenger body had cleared, a group of attractive looking crew walked through the doors carrying their baggage and their easy grace which did not go unnoticed. A middle-aged tall man (who reminded me so much of George Clooney,) accompanied by a young co-pilot and five other flight attendants followed their suit.

A tall burgundy dye haired waved at Rowan frantically, her excitement almost brightened the entire place like a light bulb. She dragged her red tote, adjoined to the red suitcase as she walked towards us, her high killer heel pumps clanked.

She wrapped Rowan in a hug, smiling from ear to ear. "Good to see you, brother."

I started to feel awkward with my pathetic height. Damn, she was tall. She beamed at me, offering me her hand. "Claire."

"Hi." I reciprocated her contagious smile.

We shook hands, "so good to see you, Alana."

Claire's eyes traveled to Minnie, "Baby!" then she pointed out something else.  "You guys look like the happy young family."

Rowan rolled his eyes and got hold of my hand again.

"So...where are we headed?" Claire asked.

Rowan grabbed her baggage, "you tell us."

Claire stretched out her fingers, "I'll drive."

Rowan smiled, he'd seen this coming. He rummaged his denim pocket and tossed the keys towards her. "Here you go."