Lou raised a hand in greeting. “Bridger! Got a minute?”
Bridger. Of course his name was Bridger.
He set the chainsaw down on the ground and pulled off his work gloves. Then took the orange ear plugs out. He walked toward us, all easy confidence and unhurried grace.
“Uncle Lou.” His voice was the kind of voice that made you think of dark rooms and… other things.
His eyes flicked to me, held for a beat too long, then back to Lou.
“This is Roxie,” Lou said. “Her car broke down. Needs a place to stay for the week, but the whole town’s booked up with that wedding and all.”
Bridger’s gaze swung back to me and heat crawled up the back of my neck. “My timing belt died.”
“That so?” His stared at me, those dark eyes assessing me. I refused to react. What he saw was what he got.
And if he wanted it?That sneaky little voice that had urged me to try spicy food in Texas that almost sent me to the emergency room, whispered in my ear.
“That’s what Lou said.”
I couldn’t read the expression in his eyes, but I felt the weight of his attention.
Lou cleared his throat. “Bridger’s got a big place up the mountain. Plenty of room.”
My eyes widened. “Oh, no. I couldn’t.”
“She needs somewhere to stay,” Lou pressed. “Can’t have her getting cited for sleeping in her car.”
A muscle worked in Bridger’s jaw. He didn’t say anything for a second. “You were going to sleep in your car?”
“I didn’t have a better option.”
“You do now.”
Not a question. A statement.
My brain stuttered. “I don’t even know you.”
“Lou can vouch for me.” Again, that ghost of a smile.
“Well, I don’t know Lou either.” I planted my hands on my hips. I wasn’t quite sure why I was arguing with him. Except, of course, because one of Momma’s rules kept repeating in my head.
Rule #6: Don’t trust a stranger just because another stranger says you should.
Or another one that Momma didn’t include because it was universal. Don’t accept candy from a stranger. And this looked suspiciously like candy.
Man candy, that dangerous voice inside me purred.Yummy, man candy.
“He’s a good man,” Lou said quickly. “Keeps to himself, but he’s solid. You’ll be safe up there.”
I looked between them. At Lou’s earnest, weathered face, then Bridger’s which gave me nothing.
“I can’t just... impose on a stranger.”
“You’re not imposing,” Bridger said. His voice was flat. Final. “I’ve got the space. You need it.”
“It’s really not that simple.”
“You got another option?”
