Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
I’m crossing back downtown when I see a woman with long brown hair standing on the side of the road. Instantly, I think of Elle and slow my truck down. Leaning forward in my seat, I peer out the windshield. It is Elle. She’s standing next to a car that has its hood up.
I’m parked, out of my truck, and walking to her before she realizes I’m here. Since I know she’s skittish, I call her name before coming around to the front of the car.
She peers wide-eyed around the hood, and relief shows on her face when she sees it’s me. Thank fuck because I can’t handle her looking at me like she did earlier today.
“You okay?” I ask her as I come around the car, looking her up and down. She’s changed clothes and is now wearing an oversized sweatshirt over loose jeans. I’m not sure what she’s thinking, hiding her body the way she does. I have so many questions but none I can ask her yet.
She points to herself and then her car. “Yeah, I’m fine. My car is not, though. It overheated, I think.”
I bend over the car and check it out. The sweet smell of coolant hits my nose, and I point. “Yeah, it looks like a cracked radiator hose. Has it been running hot?”
Even in the dark of night, I can tell she’s blushing. “Yeah, I planned on getting it looked at next payday. Jennings Auto Repair is just a few blocks over. You think I can just drive it there?”
I hold back my smile. “No, you don’t want to drive it and risk damaging your engine. Is Tate still running the shop?”
She nods.
“I’ll call him.”
Her shoulders drop. She looks completely overwhelmed, and I wish I could wrap my arms around her, but I know she’d resist it. I step out of her way as she goes to the car. She’s gathering her things as I call Tate.
He answers on the second ring. “Hey, Tate. This is Hudson Blaze.”
“Well, well, well. Star quarterback turned military hero! Are you back in town?”
I run my hand through my beard and smile. Tate is a good guy. Always has been. “Yeah, I’m back in town for good this time. I’m going to come see you at the shop sometime soon, but the reason I’m calling is I have a friend broke down. It’s a radiator hose.”
“Sure thing. You need a tow?”
I nod and turn away as Elle bends over and stretches into the back seat of her car. She may wear baggy clothes to hide her figure, but I have an idea of just how sexy she is. My hands are itching to touch her, but instead I turn my back. “Yeah, we’re right over on Main Street. It’s Elle Patterson’s car.”
“Ugh, I told her it would probably cost less to get a new car than to fix everything that needs fixed on it.”
Fuck. I whisper into the phone, “Fix everything that needs it. I’ll take care of it. Everything.” I peek back at the car, but in this light, I can’t really see the quality of the tires. “If it needs new tires, put em’ on. Anything to make it safe so it won’t break down.”
He clears his throat. “Did you miss the part where I said it would be cheaper to get a new car than fix everything that’s wrong with it?”
“No, I heard you loud and clear, but she’s not going to be happy if I buy her a car. This will have to do for now.”
After telling him exactly where it is, I hang up and walk back over to Elle.
She’s holding a bag over her shoulder, her purse and notebooks in her arms. “Did you get a hold of him? Can he pick it up? Did he say how much the tow will be?”
I reach for the notebooks in her arms. “No, he didn’t mention it, but he’s sending someone to come get it.”
I take off walking back to my truck, and I know the only reason she’s following me is because I have her things. “Hudson, I’ll take those. I’m going to call Lilian and see if she can pick me up… or you know what, it’s only a short walk to my apartment.”
I’m smirking as I open the back door of my truck and unload the stack on the backseat. She’s crazy if she thinks I’ll just let her walk home. This may be the small town of Whiskey Run, but with her, I’m not taking any chances. She’s standing next to me now, so I reach for her tote bag and extract it from her arm as well before adding it to the seat with her other things. “Nonsense. I can take you home. I’m already here, and I don’t mind at all.”