I am about to get out and wave the person down, but I don’t even have to. The truck pulls over in front of us, and a large, masculine figure emerges from the driver’s side. We are either about to be rescued or murdered. I guess either way is better than hypothermia.
Glass half full, right?
Chapter 7
Gavin
I putmy truck in park and glance in the rearview mirror at the SUV. I don’t even have to get out to know that they are stuck, which surprises me. A car like that should be fine on this road, especially if the driver knows what they’re doing. Many people travel to Colorado to ski every year. Someone who lives in San Diego might not know how to manage a vehicle in a snow squall at ten thousand feet and climbing.
I trek over to the car, squinting my eyes against the sleet, and tug my flannel tighter over my chest. It’s really coming down right now. I am used to this kind of weather, but I understand that not everyone is.
I approach the car and through the window I can see two women inside. I tap on the window with the knuckle of my middle finger and take a step back. I know being approached by a single man might seem a little precarious in this situation. I am just shy of 6’5” and recently let my five o’clock shadow grow into a well-groomed, short beard. I look like a lumberjack who could be confused with an axe murderer if these ladies have any imagination.
The window rolls down, and immediately the snow blows into the car, covering her face enough that for a moment, she is hard to see. But not enough that I don’t instantly recognize her.
No shit. It’s Sweater Dress Charlotte.
I bite back a smile.
“Thank you for stopping,” she says as she cleans the sleet off her glasses. At least this time she’s wearing something from this decade. The sweater dress was very flattering and memorable. “This weather is wild.”
“Yes, it is,” I say with a smile, stepping close enough to the window that I block the storm from continuing to smack her in the face. “Wild day really…”
“Totally,” she smiles, and then her eyes lock on mine, and the look on her face belongs in a photo album. Everything about her expression screams what I am already thinking.What are the odds?
“Where you headed?” I ask her.
“You know, on second thought, I think we are okay,” she says. “We have a tow truck coming.”
“A tow truck?” I ask, arching an eyebrow.
“No, we don’t,” the girl in the passenger seat, who is unsurprisingly her friend from the cantina, says as she leans over. “Sorry. Hi. We don’t have a tow truck coming. And if you have a clean criminal record and honorable intentions, we could really use some help.”
“I’m an okay guy,” I say, holding up a hand. “Scout’s honor.”
“Awe, you were a boy scout?” the girl asks with a smile, nudging Charlotte. “Char, he was a Boy Scout.”
“I actually wasn’t. But I do know a thing or two about getting your car out. I just need to know where you’re headed,” I say.
Charlotte is quiet, staring at me, and yet refusing to make eye contact all at the same time.
When she doesn’t answer, her friend does. “The ski resort. In Pineville. Any chance that’s not too far out of your way?” she asks.
“Actually, I’m headed there myself. I can give you a lift,” I say with a smirk.
“Great!” the friend beams. Meanwhile, Charlotte leans back into her seat as if she is trying to evaporate into the winter air.
“Perfect,” she grumbles, and again, I have to bite back a smile.
Chapter 8
Charlotte
It is takingeverything in my power not to stare at Gavin right now. It’s not because I don’t want him to recognize me. The smirk on hisway too handsome to be legalface gave away the recognition almost immediately. No, I am avoiding even looking in his direction because this man is hotter than a Hemsworth and bigger than the Jolly Green Giant. He’s standing slightly higher on the embankment than where the car stopped, and when I look out the open window, his crotch is right in my face. I know the bulge in his jeans is not a pair of hand warmers shoved into the pocket of his jeans.
“Let me check out the wheel situation,” he says. “I’ll let you know if I need to dig you out or if I can just get behind the car and give it a little push.”
“With your bare hands?” Josie asks with wild eyes and an open mouth grin.
