“What was that about?” Case growls.
I spin around to face him expecting to see his blue eyes hard, but he has sunglasses shielding them. “I told him I had someone coming. But he insisted on staying to help me. What was I supposed to do?”
“Tell him to fuck off,” he snaps.
I run a hand through my hair. I’m starting to sweat out here. “I panicked,” I admit. “He gave me the creeps, and I panicked.”
“What were you thinking?” he demands.
I narrow my eyes on him. “I didn’t ask to break down. He stopped and …”
“And he could have taken you,” he interrupts me.
“I …” I pause because I don’t know what to say.
He sighs heavily, his anger starting to fade but his features still hard. “You should have called me the minute he pulled up.”
“What could you have done?” I ask skeptically.
“I could have made sure that you were safe.” I hate the feeling that his concern gives me; how it makes me feel all warm inside. He really seems like he cares about my safety.
“I’m sorry.” Why am I apologizing for something that I couldn’t control?
He stares at me, those black aviators shielding his dark blue eyes. His lips in a thin line and his nostrils still flared. He opens his mouth to say something but shuts it the moment a tow truck comes around the corner into view.
“You called a tow truck?” I ask surprised.
He nods. “You said you were running late to work. I don’t plan to just leave your car here. Someone could vandalize it. I’ll have it towed to a safe place where it can be fixed quickly,” he replies softening his voice.
I hang my head with a deep sigh. “What if I can’t afford what he charges?” When I lift my head back to look at him through my lashes, he gives me a small smile.
“Don’t worry, Taylor. Everyone in this town owes me. And this can be his payment.” With that, he walks to the front of my car as the tow truck beeps while he backs up to the front of my car.
I watch him as he gets down on his knees in his tight fitting blue jeans, helping the guy connect my car, and I wonder what my payment will be. Because I just became another person who owes him something. And the fact that I accused him of breaking into our home may mean that I owe him for more than one thing. My day just keeps getting better. I guess it could be worse; I could be in the back of that black lifted truck with that man who looked like he wanted to eat me alive.Silver lining.
CASE
I look down at where Nicole is tattooed in a pretty script on my wrists, and I feel my chest tighten. This scene looks all too familiar. A woman on the side of the road. Some random man trying to help her. I could have beat the shit out of that guy just because. But thankfully, he left willingly. And Taylor? How could she be so stupid and place herself in danger like that? I know she couldn’t help the fact that her car broke down, but she could have handled the situation with the man better.
I look up and push my watch back so it covers up the name. “Thanks,” I say reaching out to shake the hand of a friend. Frank has always been there for me when I need him. Even when I didn’t want him there.
“Anything for you, Case. I’ll make sure to have this fixed as soon as possible for your, uh, friend,” he says looking up at Taylor standing behind me. She has her head down as she kicks around some loose rocks with her tennis shoes.
“Just let me know when it’s ready,” I say and turn to Taylor. “Did you get everything you need out of your car?” I ask her, trying to soften the harsh words I spoke to her only minutes ago.
She nods as she pats her purse that hangs over her shoulder. “Yes.” Then she looks at Frank. “Thanks again.” She gives him a warm smile, and he returns it.
“Come on,” I say placing my hand on her shoulder and spinning her around to walk to my car. I don’t miss the way she looks at me with confusion on her face as I touch her once again, but I ignore it. “Let’s get you to work.”
She lets out a whistle when she sees my car parked on the side of the road. I smile proudly at her reaction. Women judge a man by what he drives. “Nice car,” she says as she admires the curves of my brand new white ZR1 Corvette.
“Thanks.”
I walk over to open the passenger door for her, and she thanks me before I close it. I get behind the wheel and start it up.
I pull onto the road, and I catch her looking over at me shyly. “I …” She pauses. “I want to thank you for coming to get me. You didn’t have to.”
Oh, but I did. “It was no problem,” I say coolly. I get calls from blocked numbers all the time, so it was no surprise when I woke to a blocked number. What was a surprise was the beautiful woman on the line. I couldn’t believe my luck. She needed my help. Of course, I was gonna run to her side. What did piss me off was seeing that man when I pulled over to help her.Who the hell did he think he was?She has no idea how cruel this world can be. But I know someone who does—Nicole!
