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A car approached behind her. She turned and stuck out her thumb, hoping they’d take pity on her and stop.
They didn’t even slow down.
“Asshole,” she called out.
Not that it helped. It wasn’t like they heard her.
She crossed her arms, put her head down, and kept going. Rain fell steadily, soaking her hoodie and making her shiver. It was so cold, her teeth chattered and she wondered if her lips were turning blue.
When she heard the sound of another car, she turned, hoping to flag them down, but they were already slowing.
Hope soared as the vehicle pulled over. It was a nice car—a sedan, black or maybe dark gray. But her hopes were dashed when the car got closer. A guy was driving and it looked like he was alone.
She’d hitchhiked before and she didn’t get in cars with men unless they had women or kids with them.
He rolled down the window. “Hey, are you okay?”
She took a better look inside, hoping there was someone else in the car she hadn’t seen. But the rest of the vehicle was empty.
“I’m fine.”
“Do you need a ride or anything?”
The way he said that caught her attention. There was a hesitance in his voice, like he wasn’t sure how this worked. Like he’d never stopped for a hitchhiker before.
She stepped closer. “I don’t get in with men.”
“Yeah, I don’t blame you.” His brow furrowed with concern. “There are a lot of bad people out there.”
Wow, he was gorgeous. Older than her, but no gray in his dark hair. He had warm brown eyes and neatly trimmed stubble. He wore a button-down shirt with the top unbuttoned and the sleeves cuffed. She could imagine him loosening a tie after work, sliding it through the collar to take it off, and unbuttoning the first couple of buttons.
Water dripped down her cheeks and her feet were well on their way to going numb. The way his forehead creased with concern, and with no lust or malice, made her want to trust him.
Or maybe it was the storm and the potential warmth of his car.
“I’ll be okay.” She tried to keep her teeth from chattering. “I just need to get to the bus station in Pinecrest.”
He looked forward, then back at her. “That’s a long walk.”
“Yeah.”
Another gust of wind hit her and rain pelted her face.
“Okay.” He hesitated. “If you’re sure. I won’t force you into anything, but if you want a ride…”
She didn’t get in cars with men. But she was wet and freezing and he looked nice. He had kind eyes. One corner of his mouth turned up and he nodded toward the passenger seat as if to say, come on in. It’ll be fine.
Trust me.
She glanced around the storm drenched highway. At the rain pelting down and the trees bending in the wind.
And she ran around to the other side of his car and climbed in.
CHAPTER 3
Zachary
My phone woke me up. Groaning, I rolled over and forced my eyes open. Who the hell was calling me this early on a Sunday? And why weren’t they texting like a normal person?
