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He shrugged. Sweat layered his skin and he didn’t feel like tolerating any bullshit even if she looked very good. “I’ll slow it down. You. Do. Have. A. Choice. It’s called Uber.”
If looks could kill he would be six feet under.
“Does the owner of the floral shop realize her employee has the bedside manner of a caveman?” Her pert nose wrinkled.
He laughed. Wouldn’t she feel like a fool when she realized he wasn’t Bonnie’s employee. He didn’t even feel motivated enough to correct her. “Look, lady, I’m just here to give you a ride to Bonner’s farm. We have two options. One, you get in the truck where it’s much cooler and we can get this show over with, or two, you figure how you get there on your own.”
The long hesitation told Raven her decision could go either direction and he didn’t much care.
Her shoulders slumped some. She didn’t say a word as she reached for her drink sitting on the bench. He guessed she decided the truck would suffice.
“I guess she was expecting an Escalade” he muttered under his breath.
Raven reached for one bag.
“You don’t have to help,” she said smartly.
“Lady, this is for me more than it is for you. Time is money I heard someone say recently.” He hid his grin.
Her eyes widened and he followed the path of her vision. A flash of brown fur came galloping past him.
“Chow! No!”
But Raven was too late.
Chapter Five
Parker had every intention of telling Bonnie Bonner that it was important for her employees to make a welcoming first impression. If this was the way the owner ran things, no wonder they were close to bankruptcy. How dare the driver be so rude after making her wait in the unbearable heat for an hour.
He reached for her luggage.
The last thing she wanted was an egotistical man thinking she couldn’t carry her own weight.
Starting to open her mouth, she slammed it shut. She was somewhere between shock and fear as she saw a big Sasquatch-like-creature burst through the open window of the truck. She heard the driver yell a command but little good it did. The wolf charged straight for her. Her heels were frozen on the sidewalk, she couldn’t run, or scream, and the only thing that manifested was a weak whimper as she realized her fate. She’d die—or at least be mangled—by a wolf in Montana. Her parents would be watching the six o’clock news and see her demise.
In what seemed like minutes but certainly was only seconds, the moving mass of fur ate up the distance between them.
Chow, as she heard the man call the wolf, put on the brakes like a fast-moving train, but since he was as big as a car, he couldn’t come to complete stop. He barreled into her and planted both burly feet on her shoulders. Her heel caught in the crack of the cement and she went tumbling backward. Her faint scream split the air and the next thing she knew the wolf was sprawled on top of her, and his large, wet tongue swiped from her chin to her forehead, leaving a streak of stringy saliva. She sputtered then felt an icy sensation on her heated skin.
Oh no. The coffee…
“Ahh, damn! Chow! Bad boy!” came the driver’s muttered response.
Big brown eyes and a large floppy tongue were exchanged for piercing blue eyes as the man leaned over her in concern.
“Here. Let me help you.”
She hadn’t even completely registered what he was asking before he pulled her to her feet. He kept his grip on her elbow as if he wasn’t sure she could stand on her own. Out of her peripheral, she saw the wolf, his tongue hanging cartoonishly out one side of his mouth and his tail swishing proudly through the air. Anger mixed with fear sparked through her. “Get that wolf before he kills me!”
The man finally let go of her and took a wide step backward. Had she left reality and found herself in a world of giants who had wolves for pets? Maybe she’d hit her head when she’d fallen? Could this all be a nightmare? Would she awaken and pop back into the land of the living?
Then the man smiled. Not just any smile but a grin that worked deep pools into his cheeks and made his eyes shine. The gesture ripped through her. Did he find this funny?
His gaze lowered and his smile disappeared.
Then she remembered. The coffee! Parker moaned. Her white shirt was ruined, covered in a brown stain that was quickly spreading across the delicate silk. The crushed plastic cup, which she still held, had a few drops remaining at the bottom.
“Chow! What did you do?” The cowboy scolded the wolf that didn’t seem the least bit remorseful.
