Page 3 of Pretend You Love Me

I watch in the rearview mirror as a man exits the truck and walks my direction. At first I think I must be hallucinating. There’s a glow of light behind him and the more he comes into focus, the more my insides start to tingle. He’s tall and broad, and good god, his tight t-shirt can barely contain his biceps.

I roll down the window as he approaches my door, and I’m praying he doesn’t recognize me.

“You okay?” he asks as he leans down. His face is even more beautiful than his body which is saying a lot. Piercing eyes. Sharp jaw. Thick wavy hair.

He studies my face for a moment. Please don’t recognize me. Please don’t recognize me.

I don’t breathe. I also don’t answer. “Miss, are you okay?” he says, louder. His eyes narrow. He looks downright peeved.

We lock eyes.He doesn’t recognize me. Thank god.

The last thing I need right now is to be recognized. It would ruin everything. Before I left, I dyed my normally blonde hair red; I even dyed my eyebrows to match. I’m honestly shocked at how natural it looks. I figured if Emma Stone could go from blonde to red, so could I. God, why am I thinking about Emma Stone and hair color right now? I need to answer this beautiful statue of a man peering into my window with beautiful, angry eyes.

“Miss?” He sounds extra annoyed now.

“Oh, I’m fine,” I say, shaking my head.

“Did you hit your head?’ he asks.

“I don’t think so.” Honestly I can’t remember. I just realized the airbag deployed.

“You’re bleeding,” he says, opening my door.

I’m looking around.

“Your head.” He’s crouched down with the door open, so he can take a closer look at my head, and I can take a closer look at his biceps fighting against his t-shirt.

“Shit,” he says as he leans closer.Good Lord, he smells amazing...sandalwood and just a hint of something citrusy.

He leans in another inch. I’m holding my breath again. He’s so close now, I can feel his breath tickle my hair, and it sends shivers down my spine.

“You’re shaking. Are you in shock?” he says, worry flashes across his face.

Shock? Um. Something like that.

“No, I’m fine,” I say.

“Can you get out?” He extends his hand. I take it. As soon as our skin meets, goosebumps break out on my arms. God, I hope he doesn’t notice. He doesn’t seem one bit phased by my touch.

I step out of the car and squint in the harsh sunlight. My back is against the car, and he’s leaning in toward me to get a better look at my head.

“You’re going to have to see Paul,” he says, clucking his tongue.

“Paul?”

“The town doctor,” he says.Is there only one?

“Not a hospital?” I ask.

“Darling, you are hundreds of miles from a hospital. How did you end up here?”

“Long story,” I say and shift my eyes away.

“Well, I guess I’ll take you.” He steps back. I hesitate. Should I go with this man? My brothers would kill me if they found out I just jumped into a truck with this random - albeit incredibly handsome stranger. My brothers are, of course, already furious with me for running away, but that’s another story. A long story. One there’s no time for at the moment.

“Don’t got all day, darling,” he says. Our eyes lock again.

“Oh, sorry,” I say. “Let me just grab my things.”