of Manhattan. Inside the car, the silence was so thick it

corner of her eye, she studied Jude in the driver's seat. His ha

wind rushed into the cabin. He needed the freezing air to clear the suffocating, naus

as too hot, she leaned forward, her hand reaching towa

de barked, his voice

ooded her cheeks, burning with intense embarrassment. She pressed herself against

ing the physical palpitations of his haphephobia. He stared straight at the ro

creep, she thought. But outwar

on the brake. He turned his head, his piercing eyes locking o

ated, his voice flat. "It's to get my family off my ba

hard. "Do not get any ideas about

bered the old woman's story about his crushing mortgage and his mi

be intimidated. "Don't worry. I have a

yes. He thought she was playing hard to get. He h

offer. "Since we're going to be roommates, we split th

l. He snapped his head toward her, his e

the concept of splitting a grocery bill with

punchline, looking for the crack in her acting. B

money. Her sympathy flared again. "If your sales commissions a

in his life, his ability to provide was being quest

his fake identity, he forced the words thr

as pedal. The old Camry let out a loud, strug

s slammed into the seat. She let out a short gasp and s

. The irrational irritation in his gut dissipated slightly

s near City Hall. Finding

s of the steering wheel, he parallel-parked the Camry perfectly on the first try. Bl

Hall. All around them, couples were holding hands and kissing. The physica

ith her purse. It slipped from her fingers, hitting the floor. Her li

ands retreating into his pockets. His haphephobia and intense germaphobia p

e looked up at his indifferent posture, and the filter of his extreme good looks sh

m, she marched past the security guards toward the registration hall, he