Page 3 of Wrong Number, Right Grizzly (Dial M For Mates #7)

NIX

The call had cut out right after I'd said I was coming to help him, leaving me standing in my bedroom with a buzzing on the phone and a promise I'd made to a stranger.

I tried calling back immediately, but it went straight to voicemail. His phone was either dead or he was in a dead zone. Considering the weather and his location, either was a possibility. But he knew I was coming and he’d be waiting, so I couldn’t back out.

He probably thought I was from a tow truck company because I hadn’t explained who I was or how he’d called my number before the line went dead.

Somewhere on Abercrombie Road, a guy was sitting in his broken-down vehicle, watching for headlights and hoping the person he’d called would show up.

As I left the house and the rain was pelting down, I listed the reasons for why this was a terrible idea.

I didn't know this person, it was after midnight, and the rain was getting heavier. What if I got stuck or my car slid off the road? My vehicle wasn’t a four-wheel drive.

It was a city car that stayed on asphalt and stopped at traffic lights. My good deed could become a disaster.

But then I replayed his voice in my head when he said he couldn't stay out there much longer. If his phone had died, he couldn’t call 911. I had to go.

Twenty minutes later, I was in my car with a first-aid kit, flashlight, and my old phone in case the current one ran out of battery.

And I’d snatched two minutes to go through a fast-food drive-through and bought plenty of carbs and coffee.

If I got stranded before I got to the guy, I’d have food and caffeine.

Was it possible the rain was heavier than when I left the house? The streets were mini rivers, and I squinted to see through the windshield, even though the wipers were swishing back and forth.

I don’t like this .

I’ll keep you safe . I wasn’t sure I could promise that.

In the wild, a grizzly would go to his den or seek out some other shelter. My beast wanted to be home in bed and not stuck in a car on a flooded road.

The drive to Abercrombie Road normally took about an hour if I took the freeway out of the city, but tonight it took twice that.

I had to crawl through deep water and took two detours because of damage to the road.

I was pleased a friend had insisted I get one of those tools to break a car window in case I was stuck and water was rushing in.

As I traveled, the water got too deep, and twice I had to detour around streets that were completely flooded.

I reached the gas station. It was closed, as it was the middle of the night, but I had a tank full of gas. Now to find the guy.

Five miles past the station, the road got narrower and darker. No streetlights out here, just my headlights cutting through the rain. I drove slowly, scanning both sides of the road for any sign of a stranded vehicle.

But I slammed on the brakes because of a huge tree that blocked my way. It lay across the road, and because of its size, I couldn’t move it. There were flooded ditches on either side.

The odometer told me I was close, but as I was unable to drive any further. I’d have to walk and shout. Shit! That wasn’t practical with the rain and broken branches being carried away by the water.

I got out and put up an umbrella, but the rain was so heavy, two of the ribs broke and I was drenched.

“Hello! It’s Nix. I spoke to you on the phone.” I doubted the guy would hear me, even if he was a foot away. But as I squinted through the rain, I picked out the shape of a car up about fifty yards away. I’d never have seen it if it was black or dark green.

If he was sitting in the car, I had to get to him. I clambered over the tree, almost going splat onto the ground after I parted the branches, and trudged through the rain, waving the flashlight.

When I reached the vehicle, I was breathing hard, but the driver’s door opened and someone got out, yelling, “Thank you. Thank you for coming.”

He fell into my arms, and my grizzly, who’d been yelling at me to get back in the car and go home, froze. I did too. I was already drenched and shivering, but now the goosebumps were from desire, not the cold and wet.

"Thank gods you got here. I wasn't sure you were coming after the call cut off."

This wasn’t the time to explain what had happened, and I was no mechanic, so we’d have to leave his car here. I shouted over the wind and rain and pointed to my car with the headlights blazing.

He understood and got his backpack and locked the car, though with the flooding, I doubted anyone would steal it. We made our way back, and I was grateful to past me who’d stopped for fast food and coffee.

There was no time for introductions or examinations. I had to get out of here. I had to reverse, and the guy guided me with the flashlight. When I was turned around, I took off, hoping the flood water wouldn’t rise further.

Not wanting to take a hand off the wheel, I jerked my head to the back seat where I’d put the food.

The coffees were in the cup holder, and I told him to take one.

He was shivering, and I explained there were blankets in the back if he wanted to lie down, but he was downing the coffee as if it was an elixir.

“Nix.”

“Sorry, are you talking about basketball?”

“My name. It’s Phoenix but Nix for short.”

“R-Ronan.” His teeth were chattering, and he took a bite of cold burger and grabbed a fistful of fries. “Do you usually come out in this car?” He glanced over the back seat. “Can’t imagine you can tow much in this fancy vehicle.”

I heard the words, but even though he was soaking wet, it didn’t dampen his scent, and it filled the car and my nostrils.

"I got your voicemail. You called the wrong number.”

"Wait. You're not from Speedy Towing?"

"No, I'm just— This is going to sound ridiculous, but you called the wrong number. I'm not a tow truck driver."

He ran a hand over his face. “The phone died a couple of hours ago." He was probably wondering what kind of person went into the flooded countryside for a stranger in the middle of the night. "You definitely don't look like a roadside assistance guy.”

“Yup, my job keeps me in an office, and in case you’re wondering, this isn't how I usually spend my Friday nights."

He rattled on about work, but now we were on higher ground and we weren’t going to be washed away, so I let his scent wash over me. Gods, what were the odds I’d find my mate on a flooded road in the middle of nowhere?

The phone on the dashboard dinged. I had a signal, but a quick glance at the weather report showed a major river between us and the city had flooded its banks. We’d have to spend the rest of the night in the car. Not an option when both of us were wet.

I stopped the car and scrolled through accommodations in the area. We were on an old road that used to be the highway, and there was one place that had been around since I was a kid. I couldn’t imagine they had much business these days.

The motel was as depressing as I’d imagined, with peeling paint and a neon sign that had the hiccups. But they had a vacancy and I hoped a roof that didn’t leak.

The desk clerk glanced up when we walked in, dripping water on his worn carpet.

“One room is fifty bucks and it’s cash only." He slid a registration card across and returned to watching TV.

“We need two rooms," I added.

The guy shook his head. “Sorry, I’ve got one left because of the storm."

We were both soaked and exhausted, and I wasn’t about to sleep in the car. We were adults. We could share the bed for a few hours. Ronan was my mate, but I wasn’t going to jump him.

"One room's fine.” I pulled out my wallet. I didn’t usually carry cash but had grabbed some from a small stash at home in case I’d have to pay for a tow truck

When I unlocked the room door, I was disappointed, as there were two twin beds.

“It’s not exactly a five star, but it's better than being outside.”

Ronan didn’t respond but yanked off his wet jeans, sweater, and shirt, leaving him clad in his briefs. He washed his hands and feet, leaped into bed, and threw the covers over his head.

“I’ll pay you back for the room.”