The front driver’s side tire was definitely deflated—sagging low and tilting slightly. Had it been like that when I pulled in?
Feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on me, I slipped out of the booth and ducked into the restroom to calm my heart and my breath. My hands trembled as I turned on the faucet.The nerve of that guy—storming up to me, a total stranger, and talking to me like that. Heath used to do that. Corner me with his words. Make me feel small and stupid.
But this time…I’d fought back.
I pushed my sunglasses up to my head, creating a makeshift headband against my freshly dyed darker hair, and splashed cold water on my face. The icy sting brought me down a notch as I snatched a few paper towels from the wall-mounted dispenser and blotted them against my skin. I tossed the used paper towels into the waste bin and braced against the sink, lifting my gaze to the mirror to stare at my reflection. Shit, there went my makeup. Thankfully, though, the bruise around my eye had almost faded completely, but the memory of how I got it hadn’t. Still, I’d stood my ground with that cowboy. As loud and intimidating as he was, I hadn’t shrunk—not this time. That had to count for something, right?
I adjusted my sunglasses back in place, concealing what was left of Heath’s damage as I stepped out of the restroom. The cowboy was gone from the diner, but I spotted him through the window standing beside his horse. Movement caught my eye then, and my heart jumped. Willy was crouched next to my car, running a hand over the ruined tire. I rushed outside.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
Willy bolted upright, hands raised like I’d just caught him stealing. “Whoa, easy now. Just takin’ a look.” He thumbed toward my car. “That tire’s shot.”
I exhaled sharply. “I didn’t even realize it was flat when I pulled in.”
“Well, that’d explain the damage. Rim’s not lookin’ so hot either. You must’ve driven a few miles on it.”
I winced.Four milesexactly. Stupid cowboy on the road. “I did,” I confessed, exhausted.
Willy chuckled. “Eh, hard to tell sometimes with how bumpy our roads are. Especially out near the cattle crossing. But I’ve seen worse.”
I blinked at him. Was that…understanding? From a man?
“Still,” he said, “that one’s done for. I own the garage down the road and can tow it in for you. Once I get her up on the lift I can see about fixin’ the rim, but I’ll need to order the tire.”
“How long will that take?” I asked. And how much is it gonna cost?
Willy scratched his beard. “Might be a couple days. Maybe longer. This ain’t exactly Dallas.”
I blew out a breath and crossed my arms as I felt my entire body sag. From the corner of my eye, I noticed that cowboy watching me—standing with his horse and that stupid smug smirk lifting the corner of his mouth again. He looked like he wanted to say something, but a pickup truck with a horse trailer pulled in just then, cutting off our glaring contest. Another man got out and together they loaded the animal into the trailer.
I turned back to Willy. “Thanks,” I muttered, unsure of what else to say.
He nodded and went for his tow truck as I trudged back into the diner. My booth suddenly felt too isolating, so I sank onto a barstool and dropped my head into my hands. What now? No car. No place to stay. No idea what came next.
“I know I already asked what brings you through Tarnation,” Belle said gently, and I lifted my head to meet a pair of caring eyes. “But I get the sense that this ain’t a sightseeing trip.”
A bitter chuckle escaped my lips. “More like a wrong turn I never got to make right.”
She hummed and assessed me before leaning in and lowering her voice. “What are you runnin’ from, sweetheart?”
Chapter Four
Andi
“What makesyou think I’m running?”
Belle arched her brow and smirked. “Hon, you’re as jumpy as a scared rabbit.”
I didn’t know how to answer, so I just stared at the coffee cup she placed in front of me.
“Let me guess,” she said, tilting her head as her smirk grew. “You go by the name of theLipstick Banditandyou’re on the run because you robbed a bank. Andthatwas your getaway car.”
Despite myself, I laughed. Belle seemed like such a friendly woman, almost motherly. Lord knows I would’ve confided in my own mother in this situation, had she still been alive. As I basked in Belle’s warmth, I suddenly felt the urge to spill my whole life story. And who better to talk to about this than a stranger? People did it all the time with bartenders, so would it really be any different talking to a waitress?
“No, I’m not a bank robber,” I said. “And I’m not running, I just…” I let out a long sigh and glanced around the room. Seeing as no one was paying attention—finally—I slowly lifted my hand to remove my sunglasses and, with the same hand, shielded my face.
Belle’s breath caught. “Oh, honey,” she whispered, her gaze softening at the sight of the fading bruise around my eye. “Who did that to you?”
