Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1242

Just then, John walked over, looking a little sheepish. He reached out and took James’s suitcase from his hand.

“Mr. Nelson, let me handle your luggage. I’ll get it settled, you go ahead and get in.”

James didn’t argue. He handed over the suitcase and stepped into the van with one easy swing of his long legs. Inside, there was plenty of space, with two single seats in the back and a three-person bench in front. Emmy was sitting by the window up front.

Harlene, originally next to Emmy, sprang up as soon as James got in. She slipped past everyone and perched herself next to Penny in the back row, throwing James a grin that pretty much shouted, I saved you a seat. Don’t let it go to waste.

James’s lips twitched with the slightest smile as he took the empty spot beside Emmy. She was still upset, her face turned toward the window, showing him only the back of her head.

He didn’t mind. Instead, he looked down at her hands resting on her lap. They were slim and pale, her knuckles still a bit red from the cold outside. Without thinking, he reached out and wrapped her chilly hand in his warm palm.

Emmy whipped her head around and glared at him. “Let go.”

James didn’t. If anything, his grip tightened just a little. “Your hands are freezing. Give me the other one too, let me warm them up.” He gently pulled her other hand into his, trapping both hands in his warmth.

Heat radiated from his palms, slipping in through her fingertips and soaking deep into her skin, burning its way toward her heart. Emmy tried to pull away but didn’t manage, so she gave up and let him hold her hands.

She still wasn’t sure if he’d finally figured out his feelings about Mercedes, and the unease she felt hadn’t faded at all. Her mood stayed frosty. She let him hold her hands, but kept her lips pressed together, not saying a single word back.

By then, John came back after dealing with the luggage and got in the front seat. He glanced at the two of them sitting so close, gave a little sigh, and pulled the passenger door closed. The driver started the engine, and the van glided out into the night, heading in the direction of Boston.

Then Harlene’s voice popped up from the back, loud and excited. “Hey, Penny, did you see what happened back there? That was epic. Like something right out of an action movie!”

She leaned forward, eyes shining. “Are you super skilled at martial arts too? Like Mr. Nelson? Do all people from your part of the world know kung fu, like Bruce Lee or something?”

Penny blinked at the back of James’s head. Something like respect flickered in her eyes. “I’m all right, but Mr. Nelson is a lot better than me,” she said. “And not everyone from where I’m from learns martial arts. Only people who train for it do.”

Harlene nodded, even if she didn’t totally get it. “Wow, that’s still so cool,” she said, practically bouncing in her seat. “Now I know three people from Asia, and out of those, you and Mr. Nelson can both fight like in the movies. Talk about legendary! The odds are crazy.”

She kept going, practically glowing with excitement, leaning in closer to Penny and lowering her voice. “Would you show me some moves sometime? I wanna toughen up too. Next time someone tries to mess with me, I can throw them down with a judo flip or something.”