“Absolutely! Let me grab my purse.” Riley, is this a good idea? Going with a complete stranger in his truck to a gas station? Letting go of the little bit of control I have in this situation? If I get in his truck, it’s all?—
“As much as I don’t want to leave a woman alone on the side of the road, I also don’t want you to feel unsafe with me. You don’t know me. What if you get in your Jeep, lock the doors, and let me come back? I’ll be back in about twenty minutes.” He must have a wife at home or sisters or something. Or maybe it’s the fact that he’s older, and men out of college gain maturity and insight and, I don’t know, common decency?
Fair. That’s fair.
“Yeah, that sounds good, but please come back. It’s late, and I just want my bed.”
He snickers—deep, throaty, the sound reaching every receptor in my body.
Damn.
“Regular or premium?” It’s not until he clears his throat that I realize I’ve been staring at what I can see of his features.
“Um, regular is fine.”
He’s the one nodding now. “I’ll be back.”
He tips his hat, strolling away without muttering a word. He opens the door to his truck, but, before stepping in, he says, “Get in your Jeep for me, miss, and lock the doors.”
Well, shit.
Yes, sir.
Yup, I’ll get in.
I’ll do whatever you want me to do. None of this I say out loud, doing as he asked instead.
Time slips through my fingers after he leaves. I blink, and he’s back with a five-gallon jug.
Okay, universe, I see you.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! I could kiss you rightnow,” I all but shout after lowering my window, but it only earns me a chuckle. He goes straight to putting the gas in my Jeep, and then he stands next to me.
This close, I can see his features.
Like,reallysee them.
Intense onyx eyes, full, salt and pepper beard framing the most flawless artistic creation that is his straight square jaw. There are a few dots on his nose, right below his eyes, that might be two freckles, but it’s hard to tell in the darkness. I can’t keep my eyes off him, though, and he knows it.
“Turn it on for me.”
I clear my throat. “Wh-what?” Riley, girl, get it together.
“Start the Jeep for me, will you?”
“Yes, sir,” I say, shocking him and me in the process. Zero chill and zero control; it’s like I haven’t gotten laid in forever when my libido and I both know, just yesterday, I was having a good time.
I turn the key, and Henry comes to life. Thank you, thank you, thank you, universe, law of attraction, serendipity, and this kind stranger. “Thank you so much,” I say with a big smile on my face. “What do I owe you?”
He tsks. “Don’t sweat it. Just fill it up at the next gas station and stay safe out there, yeah?”
“Are you sure?”
He hums, tapping my door and leaving me breathless as he gets in his truck.
Well, thank you, kind stranger. I was so distracted by his act of kindness, I missed him leaving, and I didn’t even get his name. Not that it matters; it’s not like I’ll ever see him again.
I hang out from my window, waving at him, shouting, “Thank you!” But he leaves without reservation. I shake out of my stupor and get going too. I put gas in the jeep at the next gas station before making it to my destination.
