“Thank you,” I manage to squeak out.
“Calder Brennan.” He extends his hand, and I shake it, noting the calluses, the strength in his grip, the way his hand completely engulfs mine. “I’m with the Hotshot crew based out of Black Timber Peak. We’re in off-season right now, but I was heading back from a training exercise when I saw your smoke.”
I don’t know what a hotshot is, but I’m not going to ask. I’ll assume something with fire because of the way he handedly took care of the situation.
“Kendry Sullivan.” I shake twice and then pull my hand back, trying to ignore the tingle that runs up my arm from where we touch. “And I’m really grateful you stopped. I had visions of my car exploding into a fireball.”
A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, transforming his face from seriously handsome to dangerously goodlooking. “Movies aren’t real life. Cars don’t usually explode, even when they’re on fire. But you did the right thing, getting out when you did.”
“Well, that’s one thing I’ve done right today.” The words burst from my mouth before I can stop them, tinged with more bitterness than I intended.
Calder’s expression shifts, the concern returning. “Bad day?”
“Bad month. Bad year. Bad life.” I glance back at my car— my dead… smoking… useless car.
Kind of a fitting end to this shitty day.
“You hungry?” he asks.
He verbally shakes me from my downward spiral. “Um, yeah, kinda.”
“Let’s get you fed.”
Merry barks.
“You, too, snowflake,” he says to her like bringing along a dog is no big deal.
Not once did Derek ever ask me if Merry or I were hungry… or anything.
Not only does he put out fires, but I think he’s starting one inside of me.
2
CALDER
“Bad life.” The admission hangs in the cold air between us, more vulnerable than she probably intended.
I don’t press, just nod like I understand that some things hurt too much to explain to strangers on highway shoulders. I know this. I hide in the mountains and face flames to pay for not being able to save a life. Running away from the past to find a future.
And I almost think that my future has run into me today. Kendry is curvy in all the right places, hips for days, bountiful chest from my dreams, and long red hair that I could wind in my hand and tug back to arch that plentiful booty.
I shake from my floating imagination. My mother always said I had a vivid one…
If she only knew…
She’d wash my mouth out with soap.
“Let me call for a tow. There’s a mechanic in Black Timber Peak— about ten minutes from here, place’s called Four Wheel Fix-It. Vernon can probably get to it, but I’ll be honest with you, parts for a car this old, especially this close to Christmas...” I trail off, hopefully the implication clear.
Kendry’s eyebrows raise. “How long are we talking?”
“Best case? Three days. Worst case? Week, maybe more if the parts have to be ordered and that’s if it’s even… fixable.”
She seems distant like she’s thinking everything over but is getting pulled under by the tidal wave of potentials and possibilities.
“Hey.” I face her head on and lift her chin so I can look into those gorgeous eyes. “You’re not stuck out in the cold. Black Timber’s got a decent inn, and the town goes all out for Christmas. There’s even a Christmas Market tonight in the town square. Could be worse places to be stranded.”
She tries for a smile, but it’s not quite there. I’ll make it my mission to see one.
