This handsome man stares down at me and, with a straight face, says, “Darlin’, what kind of man would I be if I let you die right in front of my eyes if I could save your life?”
“One who had an overwhelming sense of self-preservation,” I tell him.
Would I have done the same? I’m a good person, but I don’t know if I could literally jump toward a moving car to save a stranger, even a hot one.
He smirks at my statement as he pushes himself off me and then holds out a hand to me.
I don’t hesitate in taking his hand and being pulled up from the ground like I weigh nothing.
God, I love strong men. Smart is a bonus, but strong…that gets my motor running. Maybe that will change as I get older, but for right now, it is high up there on the list of important qualities I want in a man. Is it stupid? Probably, but I don’t give a crap.
When my eyes move to where my car used to be, I suck in a breath as the realization crashes over me. A minute earlier and I would’ve been bending over, half inside, half outside, to grab my purse. A few minutes before that and I would’ve been completely inside, waiting for the lumberjack tow truck driver to get here.
“Don’t worry,” the guy says at my side, “I have a dashcam. We’ll find out who that asshole was.”
I hadn’t even realized the person never stopped after demolishing my car like he meant to do it. “Damn,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Why would they leave?”
“A bunch of reasons. Maybe they were drunk or had an outstanding warrant.”
“Asshole,” I whisper and turn my gaze toward Mr. Burly. “Not you. Them.” I fling my arm out toward the pieces of my car that stayed where the entire thing used to be.
He reaches into his pocket, fishing out his phone. “That they are, darlin’. I’ll call this in.”
“Call it in?” I ask, totally missing that he said darlin’. Any other time, those words would’ve made my belly flutter, but right now, I am knee-deep in shock to feel much of anything.
“The police.”
I nod as he lifts the phone to his ear. “Right,” Imutter, and I am happy at least one of us is thinking clearly.
I turn my body, staring out across the highway, and watch the cars move past in a blur. I’ve never been that close to dying before. If he hadn’t tackled me, I wouldn’t be breathing right now. It all happened in the blink of an eye, and that is the scariest part of it. One minute, you’re here, and the next…you’re not.
“They’re on the way.”
“Thanks,” I say, my voice soft compared to the buzz of the traffic.
The man touches my back so gently, I almost don’t feel it. “Why don’t we wait in the truck. It’s not safe to stand here.”
I can’t argue with him. His point was proven a few minutes ago. “Okay,” I say, sounding more like a zombie than myself.
My feet move on their own, trusting this man with every fiber of my being. He guides me toward the passenger door of his giant tow truck, which looks more like a tank compared to my cute little sports car.
“Up you go,” he says after opening the door for me and moving his hand from my back to my arm. “You’ll be safer in here.”
“Yeah,” I whisper, grabbing the bar inside the truck to haul myself up. I’m not short, but this truck makes me feel dainty and little.
As soon as I’m situated, staring straight ahead, hecloses the door and walks around the truck, talking to himself.
As much as this is a pain for me, I’m sure he didn’t have this on his bingo card today. What was supposed to be a simple job has now made him into a witness to a crime.
“I called my partner to tow your car out of the woods,” he says as he settles into the seat next to me. “His truck is built better for going off-road.”
“Thanks,” I say again, but I don’t think I can say it enough. There’s so much to thank him for, specifically me still being alive.
“You wet?” he asks.
I snap my head to the side, and my eyes widen. “What?”
“Are you wet?” he asks again.
