Page 26

“I’m not okay. But I will be.”

Tori nodded. “I’m sorry. It sucks.”

“Yes, it does.”

The sun settingmade it hard to see and Tobias squinted against it. Country music blasted from the radio and the air whipped into the cabin of his truck. A long drive normally settled his mind and gave him a chance to be alone with his thoughts.

Ever since the night he’d almost made love to Tori, he’d not been able to concentrate on shit. Every single moment of that night replayed in his mind over and over again. As soon as he woke up, she was there, the picture of her under him. Her breasts perfectly positioned for him to suckle.

Damn, he was doing it again. Where the hell did he put his sunglasses?

The good thing about living in Montana was the opportunity for long drives with no distractions but the slopes and valleys of the landscape. He pulled down the visor and it helped a bit with the glare of the sun. It was too late now, but he should have headed east so not to have the annoyance of the sun in his face.

A song came on the radio and he began to sing along. Damn if he didn’t sound good. Tobias chuckled and began singing again. Tori and he had a song. Whenever Boys II Men came on the radio, Tori would shriek and force him to slow dance with her. He’d acted annoyed but, secretly, he had loved any chance to hold her close. Damn, she’d felt so good against him. No one else ever came close to that. She was his one. And damn it, he was man enough to admit it. Just like he was man enough to know he would never fully trust her.

The sound of a horn jarred him to reality, but too late to respond correctly. Tobias cranked the steering wheel to the right. But he turned it much too sharply. He realized the mistake when the truck careened out of control.

It wasn’t clear if the vehicle rolled or slid on its side. Metal against metal grinded and something cut into his left leg. The music continued to play. It was too loud. Suddenly, the truck came to a stop, hitting something so hard his upper body flew forward and his face smashing into something.

And then a thick fog fell. A groan sounded. Tobias wasn’t sure who made the guttural sound. Maybe him. The smell of automotive liquids and smoke burned his nose and he struggled against the tightness pushing in his chest.

This was not the time to pass out.

“No.”

Darkness fell.