Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
He moves to the back of his truck and produces a gallon of water from the back seat. He holds it up. “Or maybe we should call your boyfriend. We could wait right here for him together.”
I swear there’s a smirk on his face, like he knows I was lying. But that’s impossible. This stranger doesn’t know a thing about me. Unless he recognizes me. Not that Mr. Sinfully Handsome looks like the type to pick up a romance book, but you never know. Romance readers are a diverse group and even men enjoy them.
I put my hands on my hips and study the car. I pretend to think it over before I turn again to Mr. Handsome. Then I glance at the watch I’m wearing. “He’s in the middle of work right now. I’d hate to disturb him so if you don’t mind…”
“We could wait a while and then call. I don’t have any plans for the rest of the day.”
Before I can figure out how to get out of this situation without admitting that I’m a liar, my baby meows. Relief fills me. Of course, the perfect excuse. “I don’t want to keep my cat waiting. We’ve been on the road all day, and he’s starting to get anxious.”
For a moment, I think he’s going to say something more, but he licks his very plump, very biteable bottom lip. “Then we’ll get to the garage, and you can call your boyfriend from there.”
3
GWEN
“Yes, I know it’s a bad idea to lie to the scruffy mountain man,” I tell my cat. “Your mama is setting a terrible example for you today.”
At least, I can acknowledge this as I chug along the road into Courage County. I glance in the rearview mirror, making sure the hulking black truck is still behind me. There’s something about this big man’s presence that has me all confused. I should be focused on Landon. Getting to Landon is what matters most.
When we arrive at the auto shop, the mountain man approaches a dark-haired woman at the front of the shop. He speaks to her in low tones before nodding to my car.
I don’t know why seeing him talk to another woman annoys me so much. I’ve never been the type of woman that needs to be the center of attention, but I find myself irrationally jealous of anyone else he talks to. I want this big mountain man focused only on me.
The woman steps around the counter. She’s wearing baggy, blue coveralls with Gabby on the stitched nametag. She follows us outside.
“I definitely won’t have the parts in for this thing.” She sends me an apologetic look and focuses back on the car. She peers under the hood and the fact that she’s more into the vehicle than she is my companion eases a little of the jealousy burning a hole in my gut.
The sky is already turning to dusk. In my original plan, I would find Landon and he would be so enthusiastic about seeing me. We’d go out for dinner and then I’d crash at a local motel. Except I haven’t seen any motels in this town. “Where am I going to stay tonight?”
“Well, you could call your boyfriend,” the man suggests. “I’ll loan you my phone.”
“I don’t know his number off the top of my head,” I lie. Screw it, I’m not inviting him to the wedding. He’ll be that character that mysteriously disappears off the page, never to be seen again. With that decision, I confess the truth, “And maybe I let you think there was one when there wasn’t.”
A smug look crosses his face, and I instantly regret telling him this. “So, then you need lodging for the night.”
“The bed and breakfast is closed,” Gabby calls from under the hood. She doesn’t even look away from the car. “The Andersons had a pipe burst. Whole place is flooded.”
“If only there were a Good Samaritan nearby…” My mountain man shakes his head, feigning regret.
I narrow my eyes at him. I’m not sure if he’s trying to get me to ask for help or if he’s needling me.
Gabby pokes her head out from my hood and says, “I think the nearest place is probably two hours up the road.”
My shoulders slump. I’m grimy from traveling all day, and I’ll have to get a taxi to take me back to Courage tomorrow. Still, all of this will be worth it when I get to meet Landon. He’ll love me on the spot, I’m sure of it. “Do you happen to know where it is?”
“It’s a hostel outside of Asheville,” Gabby volunteers. “I’ve crashed there a couple of times. It’s co-ed.”
“That could be new,” I say more to myself than anyone else. I’ve never been in a co-ed dorm. I went to college for a year, but it was an expensive one my parents wanted me to attend. They cared more about looking good in front of their academic friends than what I wanted.