“The engine. Try it again.”
I growled, cursing under my breath and praying the Jeep’s engine would start this time. If it didn’t, I had a feeling Austin was going to make me his mission.
And because sometimes the universe was cruel and unforgiving, when I turned the key, nothing happened.
Chapter Two
Austin
There were girls, and then there were women. The one inside her Jeep, throwing a fit, is most certainly a woman, but acted like a little girl. She was pissed and rightfully so, but for some reason, she was taking it out on me.
No one ever wants to be rescued. Not unless it’s life or death. We all like to think we’re self-sustaining, able to care for ourselves, but sometimes it’s nice to have a helping hand.
“So, darlin’, looks like you need a ride,” I told her as soon as she turned the key and the Jeep didn’t even try to turn over. “Where ya headed?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Just give me a jump, and we can go our separate ways.”
I shook my head and pushed off the car, stepping back to her window. “Although the idea of jumping you sounds fantastic, I can’t. I only have my bike with me.”
She grabbed her phone from the center console, tapping on the screen like the thing was to blame for her problems. “Fine,” she grunted. “I’ll just call roadside assistance.”
“I’ll wait with you, then.”
She snapped her head to the side as she dropped her phone in her lap. “You’re staying?”
I nodded.
“Why?”
I leaned against her window, careful not to put my face too close. This one was a wild thing, and she was liable to bite. “I wasn’t raised to leave a woman alone in a place like this. My grandmother would whip my ass if she ever found out. So, I’m staying. Once roadside is here and your Jeep is running, I’ll go.”
She grunted again, resting her head on the back of the seat, and stared up at the roof of the Jeep. “You have no idea how self-sufficient I really am.”
I shook my head. “Don’t know and don’t care. I was raised old-school, and I stayed old-school. There’re some ways things should go, and a man staying with a stranded woman is one of them.”
“Austin, right?” she asked.
I smiled, liking she remembered my name. “Yeah, darlin’. Austin. And you are?”
“My friends call me Mak.”
“Mak,” I muttered, surprised a girl as beautiful as her had such a manly nickname. “Want to wait inside for them to come? I’ll buy you something to eat and another Coke?”
She wrinkled her nose as her stomach rumbled, liking my idea too.
“Beats sitting out here waiting.”
Her gaze swept across my face as if she was trying to decide if I was trustworthy or not. “I’ll go inside with you only because it’s safer than being outside with you.”
I smiled. “Works for me,” I said, peeling myself away from her truck and backing away.
“Hello,” she said into the phone. “My car won’t start, and I’m in need of assistance.” She rolled up the window, leaving me outside and not privy to the rest of the conversation.
I stood outside, a few feet away, checking my phone instead of staring at her. When her Jeep door opened and she climbed down, I finally looked up again. “All set?”
She nodded. “They’ll be here in about an hour.”
“Perfect amount of time to grab some grub,” I told her, tucking my phone back into my pocket.
