Page 4

PATIENCE

P atience climbed into the car and met Quinn’s piercing green eyes through the windshield.

She couldn’t really see the color with the shadows surrounding his face, but she’d stared at them enough over the last few months to know what shade they were with her eyes closed.

She couldn’t believe he’d offered his help.

His actions, since the first time she’d seen him, had made it clear he’d wanted nothing to do with her.

Not that she’d let it bother her. Livie told her she was pushy, and she supposed that was true.

Her parents had taught her from the beginning that if you wanted something, you had to work for it.

If you waited for someone to hand it to you, you’d wait forever.

Besides, Livie told her constantly that he watched her whenever she wasn’t looking. That was something, anyway.

After Quinn nodded to go ahead, she stepped on the brake pedal and pressed the power button.

Patience wasn’t sure if she wanted the car to start or not.

Wait, what was she thinking? Of course, she wanted it to start.

Except it didn’t start. Had she jinxed herself by wishing for more time with Quinn?

Nope, she wasn’t going there. Instead, she tried the sequence again, first the brake, then the power button.

But nothing. Dead in the water or snow. It was coming down even harder now.

Craptastic.

Now what? Her parents were overseas in Swuyji.

Livie and Theo were away for the weekend.

Her only option would be to call an Uber.

There weren’t even any busses that went close enough to her apartment that she wouldn’t freeze to death walking.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t take too much out of her tip fund.

She’d been hoarding it to donate toward medicine for those who couldn’t afford it.

Still, she didn’t have any other choice.

She jumped again when Quinn’s voice broke into her thoughts. When had he moved to lean on her open driver’s door?

“No luck?”

“Nope, unfortunately. I really appreciate your help. It’s too late to do much else now. I’ll have to call the garage in the morning. Hopefully, they’ll be able to come and get it and get it fixed. I can’t be without a car for long.”

Quinn nodded and stepped back to give her room to climb out.

“Do you have someone who can get you home?” He ran his hand through his snow-covered hair, making it stand up.

It almost made her smile. Almost. She shook her head and pulled her phone out of her back pocket. “It’s okay. I’ll just call an Uber. It shouldn’t take long for someone to come. I appreciate everything. It’ll be fine. You don’t have to wait.”

Quinn’s expression turned stormy. Without thinking how close she was to her car, she stepped backward.

Her legs banged against it and she tipped backward.

Flailing her hands, she tried to catch herself from falling.

Patience couldn’t believe how quickly he moved.

Before she fell over, he grabbed her arms and pulled her against him.

Her breaths fogged the air in front of her as her heart raced. Leaning against him, she tried to catch her breath with his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. Patience barely resisted the urge to snuggle closer.

What the hell just happened?

Before she could ask, he grabbed her biceps and set her away from him. Quinn’s eyes never left hers, and once he was sure she was steady, he released her. His expression seemed even darker. It seemed she was destined to keep pissing him off.

Heat rose in Patience’s cheeks, and her breath caught in her throat.

Holy pickles. She knew Quinn was strong.

He was a Navy SEAL, for shit's sake. She wasn’t a lightweight.

Yeah, she was short at barely five three with her chucks, but he’d grabbed her and pulled her upright like she weighed nothing.

Quinn sighed as he backed away, putting more distance between them. She could still feel his hands on her arms, and his breath brushing over her cheeks as he’d held her. It sent a zing of electricity straight to her core.

As her gaze roved over him, her eyes widened at the bulge in his jeans.

Oh man, that was definitely not a pickle.

Did she turn him on? Dragging her focus from his impressive hard-on, her gaze slid over his chest. How had she missed that he wasn’t wearing a coat?

It was freezing. But there he was in just his jeans and a black T-shirt that clung to him like a second skin.

Patience hoped she wasn’t drooling. But dammit. His muscles had muscles. What she wouldn’t give to run her hands over his pecs—in the name of medicine, of course.

By the time her gaze reached his face, her cheeks were flaming. Hopefully, he wouldn’t notice in the dimly lit parking lot, but she wasn’t that lucky.

His eyes narrowed. Then he clenched his jaw so hard that she saw a tic, and a small vein in his forehead pulsed.

“What’s wrong? Why are you so angry? It’s not like I asked my car not to start.”

Quinn shook his head, like he couldn’t believe what she was saying. “Do you often get into cars with strangers?”

“Strangers?” What the hell was he talking about? Then she realized what he meant. “Oh, you mean the Uber driver? No, because usually my car works. But obviously, I can’t do that tonight. Besides, Ubers are perfectly safe. It’s not like I have any other options.”

“No, they aren’t.” Quinn shook his head and eyed her like she’d lost her mind. He closed his eyes and sighed again.

What was it with this man? It almost looked like he was counting to ten.

He looked like he was in pain as he practically groaned the words, “I’ll take you home.”

Patience couldn’t have heard him correctly. Had her jaw actually dropped?

The attraction she’d tried to forget from the first time she’d seen the sexy Navy SEAL in the Ready Room flared to life.

Her roommate, Livie, had encouraged her to talk to him, but he’d rebuffed any of Patience’s attempts to get closer to him.

Instead, he’d done his best to keep her at arm’s length, speaking to her only when he had to.

Not that he was rude. Not exactly. But he wasn't encouraging, either. And now he wanted to drive her home?

“You want to drive me home?” Her voice almost squeaked in surprise.

He crossed his arms over his chest before he answered. He looked like an angry ginger teddy bear.

“That’s what I said. And before you try to tell me I’m a stranger too, we both know that’d be a lie. I should warn you, I don’t like liars.”

Patience nodded. She had been about to say that, but he was right. They weren’t strangers. “I don’t like them either. Trust is important to me. And you’re right. So, yes. Thank you and I’ll take you up on your offer. I’m sorry to put you out, though.”

He waved off her words. “It’s not a problem. I was heading home, anyway. Grab what you need and don’t forget to lock the car.”

Patience tilted her head to look up at him. Was he serious? Did he think she was twelve? Of course she’d lock the car. She’d known he was bossy, but he was taking his pushiness to a whole new level.

His deep, demanding voice raised goosebumps along her skin.

Quinn was gruffer tonight. Not that he’d ever been a fluffy bunny.

He seemed strung tighter than a guitar string.

All her empathy genes flared to life with the need to soothe him.

He’d never let her, but it didn’t stop her from the need to take away his pain.

“Patience? Mine is running thin.”

“What?” She blinked at his words. As they sank in, heat flared in her cheeks. “Sorry.” Pulling her gaze from his, she turned and reached into the car to grab her key fob and purse.

She didn’t understand why he was worried about her car, anyway.

She wouldn’t start. Carlene, her car’s name, wasn’t going anywhere without a mechanic’s help.

The baby blue car had been her first purchase without her parents’ help.

Patience had been babying her for the last few months, hoping the car would continue to run until she graduated in the spring.

But it seemed like every week something new was wrong with her.

At this rate, it would take duct tape and a prayer to hold her together for the next few months.