Page 6 of Summer Storm (Seasons In Montana: Summer #9)

Other woman drama

Brielle

Oh, no! What are the odds I wonder as the SUV begins to shimmy and the steering wheel tugs to the right. Slowing, I flip on the hazard lights and check my mirrors before easing off the highway and onto the shoulder of the highway.

Putting the vehicle in park, I check for traffic before jumping out and hurrying around to the passenger’s side. Sure enough, the front tire is flatter than a silver dollar pancake.

“Well, crap.” There’s no use putting it off, this time I’m going to have to call my favorite mechanic.

As far as first dates went, the rodeo had certainly made an impression on me and over the last month, so has Aaron.

The man is a quintessential alpha male; confident, assertive, and definitely protective.

He may be bossy, in the best ways, of course but I’m an independent woman and can take care of myself…

usually. I have the feeling though– I’ll be doing my share of groveling for not calling him after the first incident. Maybe even on my knees if I’m lucky.

I grin at that naughty thought. We’ve spent as much time together as possible even though work and filming the show takes a major portion of his time, but we’ve managed to eke out some time each day for each other, usually around supper time.

Some days he cooks, and I do our laundry at his place because the washer and dryer I purchased are on back order, and some days I cook while he does maintenance on my vehicle.

Whatever we do, we talk about everything important in our lives like the pros and cons of filming the show, our family scandals, the dogs, past failed relationships, you name it, it’s been wonderful.

After that first date we agreed to take our relationship slow and really get to know one another after jumping the gun so to speak last winter.

Other than some steamy kisses, we’ve stuck to our guns and haven’t been sexually intimate, but it’s on the horizon, looming like a storm, and I’m more than ready.

Hopping back into the driver’s seat, I slam my door and automatically hit the lock button. I’m independent, not stupid. Stealing myself for Aaron’s reaction, I reach behind the seat to grab my phone out of the side pocket on the tote I use as a purse and kind of a doggy diaper bag of sorts.

From the back seat Rudy chuffs out an exasperated breath almost as if to say, “Can you believe this? Now we’re going to miss supper!

” His new brother, Toothless catches me with a slobbery kiss, sliming my arm from wrist to elbow, letting me know Rudy isn’t in danger of starving anytime soon and we’ll be okay.

“Thanks Big Guy.” The Pittie lets out a groan of pleasure as I give his ears a quick rub. Yes, I’m stalling. Sheesh. “Here goes nothing.” I call Aaron, putting the phone on speaker.

“Hey sweetheart, what’s for dinner?” he teases, asking the same thing Nolan asks every time he calls. The happiness I hear in the sexy timber of Aarons voice sends more than a shiver of desire over my nerve endings; he makes my heart happy too.

I decide to tease the bear. “Did you know, I’ve been driving for eight years and not once have I had a flat tire? Then I start dating this sexy mechanic and all of the sudden I get two flats in the same day.”

“What? Are you okay? Did you run something over? Are the dogs okay?” He demands his voice getting tighter and more stressed with each question. Holy smokes.

“Aaron. Aaron, calm down. Yes, the dogs and I are all okay. No, I haven’t run anything over…at least I’m pretty sure I didn’t. I noticed the back passenger tire going down before I left Lolo. I changed it out with the spare…”

“You, what? Why didn’t you call me?” He bellows.

“Don’t yell at me, I handled it. I didn’t notice the second tire until we were on the road for a while.

” I shrug even though he can’t see me. My dads were firm believers in every kid going through driver’s education classes also took a basic automotive maintenance course too.

I know how to change a tire, check my fluids, and change my oil.

“Where are you now?”

“I’m on 93 just past Wild Stallion Road.”

“I’ll be there in twenty. Stay in the truck. I’ll call you back.”

“Okay, drive care…” The big butthead hung up on me.

“Stay in the truck.” I mimic using my manliest voice to imitate him.

I mean, what if the dogs need to go potty?

And twenty minutes? More like ten and that’s if he doesn’t get pulled over for speeding.

Even though this is a pretty lonely stretch of highway, the state boys and tribal police from the nearby reservation patrol Highway 93 pretty regularly.

It’s a hot one today and both dogs are secured in their doggy seatbelt harnesses, so I keep the SUV running and the air on.

I swivel in my seat, looking back at them.

“It shouldn’t be long now, kids,” I reassure them.

Reaching into my tote, I pull out the bag of banana chips, and hand one to each of them as my phone rings.

“I should be close. Are you still okay?” Aaron’s voice is intense; the big diesel engine of the wrecker they use for towing roars in the background as images of him tearing up the highway pop into my head.

“Baby, we’re fine, slow down before you get in an accident yourself, okay?”

Toothless growls.

“What was that?” Aaron demands.

“Um, a car just pulled up behind me. Gray, nondescript, older model. A Caprice maybe? The old cop car looking type. I can’t see a front license plate... two men approaching.”

“Fuck! Are your doors locked?”

“Of course, my mama didn’t raise a fool,” I roll my eyes. “Well except for maybe, Nolan.” I try to lighten the tension pouring through the phone, while using my mirrors to keep both men in sight.

“Hey, pretty lady, need some help?” The man who arrives at my door tips his sunglasses down on the bridge of his nose and frowns. Despite the mean look, I keep my voice even and while not overly friendly, polite.

“I’m good. I appreciate you stopping, but my man will be here in a moment.”

“It’s the wrong bitch!” He shouts, as the man on the passenger side tries to open the back door and boy does he get a surprise. Toothless, the gentle giant, turns into a snarling mass of pissed off aggression which causes Rudy to sound off too.

Not only that, but the sight of the wrecker lights flashingcutting across the grassy median dividing the highway lanes like a bat shooting out of hell, is freaking over-the-top dramatic. Aaron lies on an airhorn of all things, nearly making me pee my pants.

The man at my window screams and darts back toward his car.

Turning I watch as the second guy follows, tumbling into the shallow ditch before popping back up, and then dives through the open passenger window as the driver throws the car into reverse.

With the passenger’s legs still hanging out of the car, the driver whips the car around and peels off down the highway in the wrong lane.

I whip my head back around and squeal as the tires on the wrecker smoke and Aaron slides to a squawking stop in front of my vehicle. My breath whooshes out of me and my hands begin to shake. Flinging my door open, Aaron catches me when I launch myself into his arms.

“State police are on the way. God!” He wraps his arms around me, and we cling together until the cops arrive.

After explaining multiple times what happened and giving them the best descriptions of the men that I can, they somehow get clued in to who my brother is and as if by magic they suddenly quit fudging around and remember who I am, even though I’m pretty sure I met them both the same day Aaron and I reunited.

They pull prints from the back passenger door handle and then let me know I’m free to go. Jerks.

My head is aching, by the time Aaron gets the wrecker turned around.

I leash up the dogs and take them for a quick potty break while he hooks up my vehicle for the tow home.

It’s a tight fit with the four of us in the cab of his truck but we make it work with me in the passenger seat, Rudy on the floor between my legs and Toothless sitting in the middle, his tongue lolling out in a doggy grin, living his best life.

“I’m you’re man, huh?” Aaron asks after a few minutes of riding back toward home.

“Huh?” I turn from staring at the scenery flashing by, and frown in his direction.

“Back there, I heard you tell that fuckhead, ‘your man was gonna be there in a minute’.”

That isn’t exactly what I said, but I’m not going to quibble. I mean, besides family who else would drop everything the second I called and come hellbent and roaring to the rescue?

“Seems so.”

“Good.” With a bob of his head, he focusses back on the road.

“An air horn, huh? Who’s idea was that?” I ask still watching him. I’m delighted to see a faint blush staining the skin not cover by his close-cropped beard. He chuckles and any remaining tension the situation created disappears like campfire smoke rising into the trees.

“That would be me,” he says on an embarrassed chuckle. “I set it up as a prank for Jorie, she always honks when she leaves on a call and when she returns. In the rush to get to you, I forgot I installed it…nearly shit myself.”

“Oh. My. God. You aren’t the only one! I hope those two yahoos did for sure.” At that we crack up and don’t stop laughing until we reach the outskirts of Wintervale.

I heave a relieved but worried sigh. “Do you think the cops will find them or discover who the woman was they were really after?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart. Those state boys better hope they do because when Nolan finds out, there’s going to be hell to pay.

” He gives me a speaking glance as he pulls into the parking lot and hits the remote that opens the gate, closing off the back lot from the front.

Once it’s open, he pulls through, driving around to the back of the garage.

Oh, boy. He isn’t wrong. Nolan’s going to be angry they were treating me like some kind of criminal, and I have a feeling Aaron will be the one to clue him in.

“Let me get this unhooked and change my clothes.” He throws a thumb over his shoulder, indicating the SUV. “I’ll check it over tomorrow. It may take a couple of days to get new tires on it, though. Not sure what we have in stock.”

It’s then that I notice his coveralls are covered in grease. Looking down at my shirt and pants, I grimace when I discover mine are too, probably from clinging to him like grapevine back there.

While he lowers my SUV, I bring the dogs out of the cab, forgoing their leashes.

“I’ll go in with you. I need to use the ladies’ room,” I inform him as I fall into step with him and we head for the garage door. My bladder is not up for any more bumps in the road, literally. Sheesh .

“I hope the Honey Garlic Chicken I put in the slow cooker isn’t ruined.” At the word ‘supper’, Toothless’s ears perk and he begins doing a funny little doggy dance, lifting first one front paw off the ground and then the other, impeding Aaron as he unlocks and opens the shop door.

Giggling at their antics when Aaron begins imitating Toothy’s dance, I pull my phone out in a jiffy and begin recording a TikTok video.

“Yoo-hoo, Aaa-ron?” I swing around in time to see a woman tumble out of an RV parked at the back lot.

I’m not usually one to judge, to each their own and all, but if anyone took a picture right now, I’m sure I’d be in danger of catching flies because she’s dressed up like…well, a two-dollar hooker on Saturday night to put it nicely.

And all I can think is some 80s rock band is going to be calling, because they’ll definitely want their hairstyle back. I mean, her hair is bleach-blonde and teased so high the woman looks like she stuck her finger in a lightbulb socket.

The red sequined sky-scraper high heels flash and sparkle as she takes quick mincing steps over the uneven pavement, her hips swinging from side to side for all she is worth.

My goodness, she’s working it so hard she looks like she’s one step away from disaster, because the hot pink tube top and black mini skirt she’s wearing is so tight and so short, she’s in serious danger of exploding out both the top and the bottom…

probably at the same time. It reminds me of those cardboard biscuit tubes you press with a spoon.

You know the ones that scare the bejeezus out of you even though you’ve opened them dozens of times?

It's not until she reaches us I’m able to tell she’s older than my own mom. What in the world is going on?

“Amber?” Aaron grumbles, “what the fuck?”

Ah, so this is the infamous Amber.