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“I have a mechanic on call who can help take care of your car.”
She looked away from me, stuck her hands in her jeans pockets, and just stared despondently at her car.
“I’ll just call someone,” she mumbled when the silence grew uncomfortable. She reached for her phone, and her brows narrowed as she stared at it. She sighed and ran a hand through her long, wavy hair, which settled across her shoulders.
I yearned to reach out and touch it.
“I don’t have reception here.”
What a shame. Of course, she didn’t. We were pretty far from the city.
“That does happen sometimes here, so far out. Not many cellphone towers around.”
She was so close. After years of keeping my distance, she was finally standing in front of me. I had to touch her. I had waited long enough.
Extending my hand, I said, “I’m Dario. And you’re?”
“Stranded, apparently.” She gave me a sheepish smile as she slipped her hand into mine. Her skin was cool to the touch and silky smooth.
She had a smile that could light up a room. I wanted to see it again, but first, I had to force myself to let her go.
“Well, Ms. Stranded,” I said as I let go of her hand, “I have a mechanic who can get your car out of that ditch. I just need to give him a call.”
“It’s okay. I’ll figure it out.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help myself.
“What are you laughing at?”
I moved closer to her, noticing how she took a step back. The vein at the base of her neck fluttered. Was she scared? Did I scare her? I didn’t know how I felt about that.
Something about her fear excited me, but I also wanted her to trust me. I was close enough to touch her again, and it took everything in me not to.
She looked at me warily, her eyes scanning my own, then her surroundings, before settling on my face again.
“You’re clearly stranded. There’s no way you’re getting your car out of there on your own. So, I doubt you’ll just figure it out.”
Sighing, she shrugged. “You’re right. Can you call your mechanic?”
“I’m afraid we’ll have to use my phone at my house.”
“Is that your place?” she gestured behind me. “That ridiculous palace with the crazy view of the hills?”
“Yes, care for a tour?”
She looked at me as if she was deciding whether I was a serial killer or not. I tried my best not to seem intimidating, but her next words let me know that I had failed.
“I’d rather stay here.”
“Suit yourself. But there are a lot of bears out this time of year, so I wouldn’t recommend staying out here alone so close to dark.”
I could tell from the look on her face that she was trying to decide whether or not to believe me. Funnily enough, I wasn’t lying about the bears.
I walked away from her, giving her some space, and hoped my expression was impassive. “You don’t even have to come in. You can wait on my porch while my mechanic gets your car up and running. Aside from being in a ditch, it doesn’t look too banged up.”
I studied her discreetly. I loved the way she bit her bottom lip with indecision and nervousness.
Begrudgingly, she replied, “Okay.”