Page 2 of One Merciful Moment

"Okay." Boone let out a short laugh. "You're an Uber."

Ashley frowned and patted her pocket. "My phone. It was..." She checked her other pocket, frantic now. "It was in my back pocket. I had it. I..." Her breath hitched. "It must've been on the seat. It must be in the truck."

He stepped closer. "Let me take you inside. You can sit and have some water. We'll figure out the rest."

Her frown deepened. She didn't trust him. He couldn't blame her. He wouldn't trust him either.

But she finally nodded.

He guided her toward his house across from the courthouse, keeping his pace easy so she didn't spook. She walked stiffly. He opened the door and motioned her inside.

She stepped in, scanning the room like she expected her truck to be parked in his living room.

"Sit." He walked to the kitchen. "I'll get you some water."

He grabbed a glass, filled it from the jug he'd been given when everyone started rationing food and water, and handed it to her.

She cupped the glass with both hands and took a sip. He studied her. Freckles across her nose and cheeks. Pale complexion. Red-tinted blonde hair. It had been a long fucking time since he'd seen a woman this beautiful.

He stepped over and locked the door. The click made her flinch and snap her gaze toward him.

He wasn't trying to trap her.

But whatever brought her here without a storm wasn't done yet. And he needed a minute to figure out what the hell he was dealing with before Everstill found out she existed.

Chapter 2

Ashley

––––––––

Ashley sat on the edge of the chair, fingers curled around the glass. The water tasted normal. The room looked normal. Sparse, but familiar enough. She'd been in houses owned by single men before, and everything about this one said he lived alone.

She probably should've asked his name back on the road. The flats full of blueberries would heat up, dehydrate, soften, maybe spoil before she got them to the farmer's market.

She needed to get back outside. She needed to find her truck. She needed to understand what had happened.

"Thank you for the water, but I need to go." She set the glass on the end table. "I need to find out if anyone was hurt." She stood. "Thank you... I'm sorry. I didn't get your name."

"Boone." He pointed toward the window. "There's nothing out there for you right now."

"My truck." Her pulse jumped.

"You're confused." He widened his stance. "Shock can do that to a person."

"I'm not confused." Her voice came out thin. "I know what I saw."

He stood in front of the door, unmoving, blocking her only exit. Fear crept up her spine. She didn't know where she was. She didn't know this man. Goosebumps rose along her bare arms. Something was wrong. The air was too still. The sky too pale. No clouds. No color. It was the first thing she'd noticed after the accident.

Even Boone seemed odd. His dirty blonde hair was uneven, as if he'd cut it himself, or maybe he ran his hands through it because it was messy. He was tan and reminded her of a surfer, except they weren't close to the coast, and he looked around thirty-five.

"I'm an herbalist," she blurted, grasping for anything that might make him see her as a person instead of a problem. "I work with plants. I was delivering flats to the farmer's market where I sell what I harvest."

Boone shook his head but didn't speak. Was he refusing to listen, or did he simply not believe her?

"Look," she said, swallowing hard, "I'll stay outside. Just call me an Uber. Or a tow truck."

She reached for her phone again, even though she already knew it wasn't there. Her fingers brushed an empty denim pocket. Tears stung her eyes. How did this happen?