Page 49 of Beyond the Blue Horizon

Hazard.

The calm air held with a peril that I could almost taste.

Somehow, I could feel it radiating from this place, too.

Theo pulled into an open spot near the door that readLobby.

“Don’t worry, Pipes.” His tone was teasing. “Place might be a little messy, but these guys know what they’re doing. Won’t let you get dragged through the mud.”

Money.

That’s what he thought I was worried about.

I swallowed around the disquiet, and I nodded as I unlatched the door and pushed it open.

Cold gushed in, though it was tempered a fraction by the sunlight that poured down to brush my cheeks.

Still, I shivered since Theo was suddenly at my side, the man lifting his hand to hover it over the small of my back.

He wasn’t even touching me, but it felt as if he were searing me through.

“This way,” he grumbled low as he guided me around the front of his truck toward my car.

A man stepped out from the third bay as we approached. He wore gray coveralls that were unzipped, a white tee showing underneath. His hair was the darkest brown and a wry grin was plastered on his savagely handsome face.

God. Did all men look like this around here?

“Theo,” he said, lifting his chin.

“Silas.” Theo returned the gesture, and he pulled his arm away so they could shake hands. At the same time, he swung his chin toward me. “This is Piper. Piper Whittman, owner of the Volkswagen you hauled in.”

Silas wiped his hands with a faded red cloth, gaze appraising as he looked me over.

“Good to meet you, Piper, though I’m guessing you aren’t the most thrilled by the need to meet me.”

“I’m just happy no one was hurt.” I forced the trembling words.

“Yeah, only thing that matters,” he agreed.

My attention drifted to my car. Fearful relief clutched my spirit when I saw the front was completely crumpled. The airbags were deflated, though they were clearly visible through the cracked front passenger window.

“How does it look?” I couldn’t keep the shaking from my voice.

Silas turned toward my car, humming low before he shifted back my way. “Well, she did her job protecting the occupants, which means the front buckled to absorb the brunt of the impact so there’s going to be a ton of body work. Plus, the axle is bent, and the airbags need to be reset. Insurance is likely to total it out.”

Alarm tightened my throat, and I tried to swallow around the barb, the words barely audible as I pushed them out. “I’ll be paying for it out of pocket.”

Theo’s attention whipped my way, his gaze searing into the side of my cheek.

I crossed my arms over my chest as I struggled not to look at him, trying to protect myself from the energy he emitted.

The man like a blackened sun.

Pure gravity.

I knew this was a mistake. Coming here. Allowing one single person the ability to look at me the way he was.

I could almost feel the agitation of his thoughts as he calculated, and there was no question when he came to the conclusion that I didn’t have insurance because I was broke.