Driving Her Crazy by Kira Archer Page A

their kid be miserable her whole life than go against some grand plan for the betterment of the family.”
    “Yeah, well like I said, you wouldn’t understand. My family has had our whole lives planned out since before we were born. What schools we would go to, what friends we’d have. We were on a preschool waiting list when we were still in the womb. You have no idea what it’s like to have the kind of pressure on you that I do. When you come from a family like mine, what you do matters.”
    Oz snorted, any lingering amusement or sympathy for her gone. “So, apparently when you’re just a poor second-class citizen like I am, living paycheck to tiny paycheck, what you do with your life doesn’t matter.”
    Cher’s mouth dropped open. “No. That’s not what I meant, at all.”
    Yeah. That’s what was so sad about it. She obviously didn’t see anything wrong with what she’d just said. It didn’t even occur to her that it might be just the slightest bit offensive.
    “Well, Cher, no matter what you think, when you’re ready to live your own life, all you really have to do is go for it. I guess we’ll see if you ever have the balls to do it.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Since I do not have balls , I guess you’ll be waiting a long time. And will you please stop calling me Cher. My name is Cherice.”
    “Fine. Sorry. Cherice.”
    “Thank you, Nathaniel.”
    “Oz.”
    Cher just groaned.
    …
    His eyes twinkled in amusement and that insanely kissable mouth pulled into that sexy little half grin. Cherice’s heart did that inappropriate flutter again, which kicked up a hundred notches at the thought of her lying in his lap a few moments earlier. His firm, warm, very appealing lap. She sat back with a slight frown, but her cheeks were uncomfortably warm. What was wrong with her? She should not be reacting to him like that. And what the hell was he doing throwing around winks and half stripping in front of her and rubbing that lip and…and… sniffing her?
    She had half a mind to… oohhh the food is being brought right to our car! How had she never been to one of these places before?
    Nathaniel handed her order to her. She eyed the huge pile of food, knowing she should probably be a good girl and eat her meal first. “Screw it,” she muttered, scooping a huge spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. “Oh my God, this should be illegal.”
    Nathaniel’s eyebrows rose. She didn’t even care. She’d barely eaten anything all day and she hadn’t had anything so sinful in months. Or longer. She shoved another spoonful in, swallowed it down, and then grabbed the bridge of her nose and groaned.
    “Ow. Brain freeze.”
    Nathaniel burst out laughing. “Slow down there, Cher. We’ve got plenty of time.”
    “Cherice,” she mumbled around another scoop-full of ice cream.
    “Try dipping the fries into it.”
    She grimaced. Nathaniel just laughed and bit into his own burger. “I swear it’s good. Try it.”
    She held out a fry and the shake. “You first.”
    “My pleasure.” He grabbed the fry, loaded it with ice cream, and popped it in his mouth. “Delicious,” he said, licking his fingers.
    Cherice licked her own suddenly dry lips, her gaze glued to his. It did look delicious. The ice cream. The ice cream looked delicious.
    She realized he was staring at her staring at him and jerked back. He grinned, took a fry and dunked it in her shake, holding it out to her.
    “Come on.”
    She leaned forward, keeping her gaze glued to his. The salty, sweet deliciousness of the ice-cream-smothered fry was a surprise.
    “It’s good,” she mumbled around the food.
    “Told you.” He smiled and licked the finger that had just been holding the fry. “Eat up. We gotta get back on the road. We’ve still got about six-and-a half hours before we get to your parents’ place.”
    Cherice put another fry in her mouth, barely tasting the food. All her attention was riveted on the finger sliding in and out of Nathaniel’s