“A few miles up there is. I know it for a fact.”
He gave me a half smirk, almost like he liked that I was pushing back. There was also a mischievous twinkle in his eyes I couldn't quite read.
Turning his attention back to the car, he said, “If it’s the oil burning out the engine, that’s an easy fix, but I won’t be able to tell until I can tow it back to my garage.”
“Where exactly is that?”
“Up the road, where it forks, we veer off to the left. That’s where my property is located.”
His property? I'd seen enough horror movies to know that going to a stranger's house in the middle of nowhere after your car breaks down was never a good idea.
Or I was being super paranoid and my alpha-defiance was flaring up for no reason. Horror movies aside, this cowboy seemed like a reasonable fellow. I didn't get any bad vibes from him. I actually kind of liked him. But that might've been the cowboy fetish speaking.
“Hope you ain't pressed for time," the cowboy in question remarked. “It's gettin' dark. If you need to stay the night, you’re more than welcome. Just depends on how jacked your car is.”
The offer to stay the night sent a shiver through me for reasons I didn't want to think about. “I’m actually supposed to be setting up camp at the research site,” I admitted, rubbing my arm.
“Sure, but you'll need your car for that." He winked. "I can take you back to my shop and try to figure this thing out. If you want, of course."
He gave the side of my car a light pat, and I watched his hand movements, enthralled. The muscles in his forearms flexed when he moved and his biceps were like smooth boulders under his skin. I tried not to stare, pushing down the ache of attraction.
What other options did I have? Nothing, unless I wanted to get dehydrated, drink cactus juice and go loony all by myself. I lifted a hand to the back of my head and scratched my hair.
"Sure, if you don't mind," I said.
“I’ve got tow supplies in the back of my truck." He stopped suddenly and clicked his tongue. “Geez, where're my manners? Name's Jake.”
“Jake.” His name was like a firecracker on my tongue, exploding from my mouth. “I’m Frederick.”
"Nice to meet ya, Frederick," Jake said, extending a hand.
We shook hands. I held on a little too long, disappointed when he let go a moment later. His grip was strong and sturdy, which replaced my fizzling dread with a sense of safety.
His cheekbones rose in a fantastic grin and his eyes were alight with excitement. Inside my head, something buzzed through my eardrums, but I couldn’t make sense of any of it.
Jake beckoned me with a wave of his hand. “Come on with me. We’ll get you all squared away in no time.”
“Thank you,” I said, wishing the knot in my throat would uncoil itself.
I followed Jake to his truck, watching his hips and butt move in those tight jeans of his, and prayed that I’d be able to keep my self-control intact.
But I had a job to do, research to conduct. I couldn’t afford to get distracted now.
At least help was on the horizon. One problem at a time. In the meantime, I had to get my head out of the clouds and plant my feet back on solid ground.
That meant more thinking about local cacti species, and less thinking about Jake's ass.
4
Jake
“You must be starving.”
The radio on the counter buzzed a soft country song in the background as I welcomed Frederick into my kitchen. He gazed around at all the ranch-themed decor like he was in a fine art museum. The way he walked into my home reminded me of a young foal, still unsure on his legs and wide-eyed at the world. As he sat at the table, I tossed him a glance over my shoulder, offering a smile that I hoped he’d find welcoming.
In actuality, I was fighting to suppress my nerves, and prevent my heart from exploding from my chest and taking flight right in front of me.
Little did I know when Mike gave me directions to the lost stranger that being around Frederick would be next to impossible. Not because I didn’t want him here. It was the opposite problem. My body was buzzing with excitement. It was hard for me to meet Frederick’s gaze, stare into those piercing blue eyes without it rupturing my soul.
