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“And I told you it was empty,” Janice said as she leaned over and patted his cheek. He flinched, but he didn’t move away until she started chuckling.
Looking down at the gun and hefting it a few times, I looked at Janice with a raised eyebrow. “This is loaded.”
“Shh, you’ll scare him. He’s already a frightened rabbit,” Janice scolded me as she walked to the front of the shop. Jerking her thumb over her shoulder, she pointed at the stranger. “This is Mark, he’s from New York, and he’s got a bit of a car problem.”
“How do you…” He seemed to think better of the question as he rubbed his forehead. “You know what, don’t tell me. It’s fine.” He met my curious gaze. “You’re Iris?”
“Yes.” Flicking my eyes between the two of them, I decided Janice was the one with the answers. “What’s going on?”
“My car broke down,” he explained as he came to the front of the store. “Janice said you may be able to help?” He looked so hopeful.
“Cars? I don’t know anything about cars.”
With a frown, he turned to Janice, and she grinned at us both as we waited expectantly. “I told you that Iris has the guesthouse.”
I’d been staring at the guy, giving him the once over. When I came in, I’d seen a grubby-looking guy in a wrinkled, sweaty T-shirt, and he looked shifty. Now, I realised he was actually decent looking, thick blond hair that was cut close to the sides but not too close, longer on top, and it looked as if his hand had been through it a few times today, causing the damp strands to stick slightly up, giving him a dishevelled look that was somewhat appealing. Good skin with light stubble, strong nose and soft-looking lips. His shoulders were broad, his shirt pulled across them nicely, his biceps had a defined bulge to them even with his arms hanging loose at his side.
“Iris?”
My attention snapped to Janice. “What?” I knew I was blushing because I had just been openly checking out the stranger.
“He can’t go anywhere until Monday. Will’s on the mountain.”
“He can’t stay with me!” I exclaimed suddenly.
“That’s fine. I can borrow a car, and I can make my way to Denver.” He looked between the two of us. “I mean, I can hire a car here, yeah?”
Janice walked over to the front door and made a show of looking left and right. “Yeah, you can get a car from that imaginary Avis right over the road there.”
“You’re hilarious,” he mumbled under his breath, and when he realised I’d heard him, he shrugged apologetically. “Do either of you have a car?”
“Nope.”
“I do,” I said at the same time as Janice denied owning her truck out back. I widened my eyes at her, but she just winked.
“May I borrow your car?” he asked me, stepping forward. “I’m a graphic designer, I work in New York, I’m not a scammer. Take me to your guesthouse, charge me room rates or whatever, I’ll pay.”
“And how do I get my car back?” I asked him shrewdly.
His face fell before it brightened. “You can drive me! I’ll pay you double.”
Biting my lip, I considered him again. “What if I want a grand?”
“Fine.”
“Each way.”
He hesitated. “Okay, I would say slightly more than I was expecting to pay, but if you can get me out of here, let’s do it.”
“And your brother’s car?” Janice asked as she looked him over. “Just leaving his baby on the road, abandoned?”
“No.” He faltered and, groaning, his hands clasped the back of his neck as he tilted his head backwards and looked at the ceiling.
I didnotnotice that his shirt rode up and he had one of those Vs that drove women wild. Allegedly.
“A graphic designer?” Janice asked him as she ogled him openly. “Isn’t that a desk job? What you need that kind of body for?”
“Janice!” I hissed at her, and she laughed as he flushed.
