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“Raul, I hate to bother you, man, but shit, Janie’s about to freak.”
Raul cradled the phone to his ear and began ripping the leather work gloves from his hands. “What’s the matter?”
“Elaina’s car broke down three miles from the house and we’re in San Antonio. She doesn’t mind walking back, but you know Janie, she’s a city girl, she’s freaking out thinking something might happen to Elaina.”
Raul felt immediate and unintentional heat fuelling his blood. “No problem. She on the south end of county road?”
“Yeah, probably half a mile from you. Thanks, man. Drop her at the house. We won’t be home for a couple of days. Buying supplies for another damn party. Just leave the car, I’ll get Earl to pick it up and take it to the garage.”
“You got it.” Raul closed his cell and walked to his truck, pissed at himself for the uncontrollable and sudden heat of arousal pumping through his veins. He tried to rein in his lust in a futile attempt as he reminded himself repeatedly, she’s too damn young.
****
Elaina had walked
about a mile from her car toward the house when she heard the diesel motor idle up behind her. She figured the farther she walked, the less time she would have to spend with him. Confused and irritated with herself for the way he made her feel, she didn’t want to be in his radius any more than was strictly necessary. She hadn’t felt comfortable admitting that to Brian when he told her he was going to call Raul.
She scooted to the side of the gravel road and waited for the big, black 4 X 4 to roll up beside her. The passenger door opened from the inside and she grabbed it with her hand.
“Get in.”
CHAPTER THREE
Anxiety and a sliver of tension coursed through her. She didn’t care for big men who thought they could tell her what to do. She especially didn’t care for big, tall, Latino men telling her what to do. Latino men had that certain machismo that Anglos didn’t. It was the way they were brought up, the way their fathers raised them. They thought they were the dominant gender and acted and lived it. Her gentle, blonde mother had warned her often enough. Maybe they weren’t all like that, but nothing so far had indicated to her that Raul Vega wasn’t. But Brian had called him to bail her out, and she had no choice but to make nice.
She put her dusty tennis shoes on the running board and climbed in his truck. Easing down into the leather seat, she swiveled to face him. “Thanks for picking me up.”
She settled in the seat and felt his eyes on her.
“Got your phone?”
“Yes.”
“Pull it out.”
She did as he asked and raised her eyebrows in question.
He rattled off his number and made her key it in and then repeat it to him. “You don’t take any chances, you need someone, anytime, you can’t get Brian, you call me. Anytime.”
“Okay, thanks. Again, I’m sorry to be a bother.”
“No problem, Miss Ruiz. You can’t help when your vehicle breaks down. These things happen.” He put the truck into drive and eased his foot down until they were slowly rolling down the deserted road.
Elaina was agitated by his presence and her brain wasn’t functioning like it should be. She said the first thing out of her head. “Yeah, well, I didn’t have to run out of gas.”
He immediately braked and turned to look at her. “You what?”
Shit! Why the hell had she said that? Her eyes flew to his and she mumbled, “Ran out of gas.”
Fury took over his features as he slammed the truck into park and turned fully to face her. “Tell me you didn’t just say that, Miss Ruiz.”
“Look, it’s not your problem, I appreciate you giving me a ride—”
“Do you know what can happen to little girls on a deserted road when they have a disabled vehicle?”
“It wasn’t intentional—”
“You let yourself run too low on gas.” His eyes ran over her. “That’s not very smart.” His voice was glacial.
