Holy crap.That voice.Had she not been near orgasm merely from watching him walk and his scent, his voice would have kicked her to the edge.As it was, she almost fell over that cliff.
“I did.Can I drop you in town?It’s not a night to be stuck alongside the road.Not that any night is a good one to be stranded.But maybe you’re not and you have a tow coming.”She flushed.“Oh god, I’m rambling.I’m sorry.”
He nodded, his beard dotted with snowflakes.“I would love a ride.”A pause as he ran an ungloved hand along the rim of her car.“I’m going to grab my bag, okay?”His words were hesitant, almost like he worried she would race off leaving him stranded, the moment he stepped away.
She managed to nod without having yet another flood of verbal diarrhea that only solidified her understanding as to why she was single.She lifted the window while staring at his firm ass while he headed back to his vehicle.
Plus I’m not single digit size.This is a man who is panty-soaking handsome and could have the pick of any woman he wanted.Like sexy as fuck lumberjack.Or mountain man.Or rugged grumpy who falls for his sunshiny neighbor and is always saving her.
Vivyan rolled her eyes.Could she stop thinking about romance novels at the moment?This wasn’t fiction.This was real life and she was about to have a stranger—a very large one—climb into her vehicle with her.In bad weather and he was damn near twice her size.
Her heart kicked up when he strode around the front of her SUV toward the passenger side.She hit the unlock button and swallowed hard as he popped open the back door, tossing his bag in on the seat.When that door closed, she exhaled and prepared herself for sharing her vehicle with this stranger.
The SUV rocked to the side, a combination of the wind and his large size settling into the seat.
“I appreciate you stopping.”He touched the brim of his cap.“Thought I may have been spending the night out here.A few other cars blew right by me.”
She glanced at him.A mistake for her breathing grew erratic again.“People left you there?”Indignation filled her.That was tantamount to killing someone on a night like this.
Firm lips twitched as he looked at her while buckling his belt.“You almost did.I stepped out of the vehicle and I could feel you almost leave.”She opened her mouth and he shook his head.“I get it, I’m a scary motherfucker.”
Vivyan bit the inside of her cheek.He reached over and covered her hand with his.Large, scarred, and covered with a dusting of hair it completely dwarfed hers.Her heart paused before kicking up a few knots.How was it this man’s hands warmed her?He’d been outside in this freezing cold weather, no gloves, no coat.And she believed that he was warmer than she.
“I willneverhurt you, angel.”
“Vivyan,” she corrected.“My name is Vivyan.”
Lips twitched.“My name is Ronan.Ronan Milo.”
She didn’t want to think about how she missed his touch when he pulled his hand back.
“Nice to meet you.”Vivyan shifted into gear, checked the mirrors, turned off the hazards, and put them on the road once more, heading toward Sander’s Point.
Not commenting when he flicked on his seat heater, she kept both hands on the wheel.Wind buffeted her vehicle, slipping them on slick surface.It wasn’t that she was overly concerned.Sure, winter driving was dangerous but she’d grown up in the middle of Wisconsin and was used to that feat.Right now, though, it was a bit different when she was now responsible for someone else in the vehicle with her.
In her periphery, she could see him flexing his arms and tensing occasionally.She didn’t call him on it, figuring he was a control freak and arguing with a man who looked like he could lift her over his head without breaking a sweat while trying to drive in a snowstorm, not exactly a smart thing to do.
Flicking her gaze to her phone which sat in a holder on the dash to see how far she was from her hotel room and a bed.She wanted nothing more than a long hot shower and some rest for her eyes.Twenty five minutes.At least that was her estimated time right now but with the way the weather continued to worsen, she wasn’t sure.
Oldies moved through the speakers, keeping her calm at the familiarity.Well, calm as she could be with the man beside her.They didn’t speak and when she looked over at him, she realized he was either sleeping or pretending to be.
She didn’t have it in her to be annoyed.
He said a few vehicles had passed him.Maybe he’s just soaking up the heat because his wasn’t working and he didn’t have the ability to keep out the cold.
The truck hadn’t had any exhaust coming from it when she’d pulled up behind him so she got it, man had to be freezing.
Grateful to see the exit for Sander’s Point, he stirred when she carefully pulled off the interstate.Following the Australian male voice giving her directions she sighed when she pulled into the overfilled parking lot.Parking her vehicle beside a low slung red sports car that wasn’t getting out of this lot until it was completely plowed, she rolled her eyes.
“Is there somewhere I can drop you?”
Those amazing blue eyes were zeroed in on her once again and she felt the answering flip in her belly.He held her gaze for a good minute of charged energy between them.
“No, I was headed here as well.”
“Great.”She turned off the engine, removed her phone from the holder and pulled the keys before opening the door.
Should have put on my jacket first.But it was in the backseat so she didn’t have to drive hampered.He opened the door across from her and watched her from beneath the rim of his cap.Swiping his bag, he stepped back and shut the door.
