Page 3 of Unbound

She stares at the card in my hand before tentatively taking it.

“Get whatever you want.”

I walk past her toward the restroom. I relieve myself quickly, not wanting to leave her alone too long. I doubt the cashier would do shit about it if another man started bothering her. When I get back out, she’s at the register.

I walk over, only to see that all she selected was the packet of peanut butter crackers and a bottle of water. The cashier is scanning my items now.

“Do two of each of those, except the energy drinks.” I walk back and get another Gatorade and one more of each of the snacks.

When I place them on the counter, Eden is swiping the card. The cashier adds my additional snacks to the bag and hands it to me.

When we reach the door, I open it for her, and she walks out ahead of me. She turns and holds my credit card out to me. I don’t take it.

“Look, I really can’t leave you here like this. If it were my little sister stranded, I’d want someone to help her. I can give you a ride. I’ll try to find you a women’s shelter or something on the way.”

She opens her mouth to answer when another truck driver walks up. He ignores us both and walks inside, but his presence seems to remind her just how vulnerable she is out here alone.

“Okay.” Her voice is shaky.

I sigh in relief, pointing at my truck. “I’ll pull it around so you don’t have to get wet.”

I hand her the bag of snacks and jog out to my pickup. I quickly start it up and pull around so that the passenger door is close to the awning she’s under. I hop out and run around to open the door for her.

To my surprise, she steps up into the vehicle.

When I get back around to the driver’s side, she’s shivering in the passenger seat. I crank up the heat and start driving toward the highway.

“Can you hand me my energy drink?”

She fishes through the bag and hands the blue one to me.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

We drive in the downpour for a few more minutes before she pulls off her damp hoodie.

“Why are you helping me?”

I glance over. She has the hoodie balled in her lap, and she’s nibbling on the peanut butter crackers. I can finally see her hair and her full face.

She’s stunning. Her skin is pale and smooth, and her golden hair is in a long, loose braid on her shoulder with wisps around her face. Her full lips are dry, and she has high cheekbones and long eyelashes. She could grace the cover of a magazine. I almost forget I’m driving for a minute before I jerk my head back toward the road.

Bruises that match the faded yellowing around her eye also decorate her throat. I grip the steering wheel tighter.

“I told you, my sister would skin me alive if I left you there alone. It’s just a ride, no big deal.”

She nods, leaning back against the seat and twisting open the water bottle.

“I got those extra snacks for you. Help yourself.”

As if answering me, her stomach growls loudly. I turn toward her. She blushes, pursing her lips.

“Sorry.”

“When was the last time you ate something?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know … yesterday, I think.”