When he looked over at Grace as she moved in his direction, he couldn’t help but smile. Despite her frown, she moved gracefully, and muttered to herself as she moved. He could see the tension in her shoulders as she straightened to lean over the top of the bridge. Holding his breath, he watched her check the outside of the bridge. The drop wasn’t that far, but she’d still feel it if she didn’t keep her balance.
He released his breath as she stood upright. Planting her hands on her hips, her scowl deepened, and she continued muttering to herself. He wished he could hear what she was saying as the lightning flashed. One… Two… Three… Four… Boom.
Grace jumped, and the clouds opened, releasing a torrential downpour that left his clothes soaked within moments. Without saying a word, they ran together to the car.
“Christ, what a day,” Kilian muttered as the car rocked backwards and then slid sideways away from the road. Grace’s hand shot out to brace herself against the glove compartment.
“Be careful,” she hissed, though he could barely hear her over the hammering on the roof.
“Shh,” he said, and looked into the review mirror to gaze at the sign they’d nearly slid into. Putting the car into drive, he pressed gently on the gas hoping to move slowly from the side of the road. When he didn’t go anywhere, he put it back into reverse and tried again.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Grace said as the tires shot mud out from under them.
“So, I see. We’re going to have to get out and push.”
Grace groaned as she glared up at the rolling clouds.
“We’re already wet,” he continued as lightning streaked over the bridge. “It’s the only way we’re going to get out of here.”
The thunder rolled deep, vibrating against the car’s windows, and Grace nodded her head in defeat, “Let’s do it.”
Kilian straightened the wheel and put his car in neutral before stepping back out into the pouring rain. When all this was over, he would need a vacation. There was nothing worse, in his mind, than being cold and wet.
Glancing over at the sexy brunette, he waved, signaling her to push on the car’s front bumper. His Volkswagen rocked slightly but didn’t budge, and as lightning streaked for a third time, he sighed deeply. This was going nowhere.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” she gasped as she heaved hard at the bumper.
“Everything okay?” he asked over his shoulder as the wind howled in his ear.
“Just bloody dandy,” she hollered. “I’ve always wanted a mud bath.”
He raised his eyebrows and coughed to suppress his laughter, normally he liked a good laugh, but maybe this wasn’t the time.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Yes.”
His car rocked toward him and he pushed back. It moved away from him, then back to him, settling back into the ruts made by his tires in the mud.
“Ugh,” she cried out and flung her hands to her sides, leaving him to push alone.
“Come on, Grace, we can’t give up,” he groaned as he pushed all of his weight into the car.
“We can, and we should, or I’m going to leave you out here alone.” She stared up at the sky that flashed once more. “We should call our families. My dad will have connections out here, and I’m sure he could get a tow truck in no time.”
“The hell we’ll do that,” Kilian snarled and rose to stand, “I’m not going anywhere with anyone that’s in it with your dad.”
“What?” She laughed, sounding hysterical.
“Oh, don’t look surprised,” Kilian said, shaking his head and looking around the empty road, “He can’t be trusted, and he’d probably have the guy kill me for running off with you.”
“My father wouldn’t- I mean, I’d ask him not to, and he would have to agree to your safety.”
Kilian merely lifted a brow.
“My father wouldn’t lie to me,” she insisted.
“Are you sure?”
