I don’t know why, but I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my lips. This girl is so weird. She’s quiet and shy one minute and totally off the rails the next. She’s shy, yet not. Strong, but weak. She’s a conundrum wrapped in a pretty package with big eyes, a stunning face, and a smokin’ hot body.
“Did you call a tow?” I ask after she pauses long enough to take a breath.
Arlo stops moving and faces me, her lips flat. “Of course I did, but they said it’ll be a few hours.”
“Cancel them,” I tell her, reaching into my pocket to grab my phone.
“What?”
“Cancel. Them.”
She gapes at me as I lift the phone to my ear, making the call that I know will get us a fix quicker than her current company.
“Yo.” I hear from the other end.
“Mammoth.”
“What’s up, Mello?”
I stare at Arlo as she continues to watch me, lips parted, eyes carefully studying my every move. “Can you send someone with a tow out to County Line near the Vet about two miles west of the tollway?”
“Sure thing. Give him thirty to get there. You okay?”
“I’m great. My friend Arlo busted a tire and bent the rim. Think you can squeeze her in tomorrow?”
“One of the guys can do it. It’ll be done by noon.”
“Thanks, man.”
“What’s Mello want, baby?” Tamara asks Mammoth on the other end of the line.
“His friend’s car has a flat,” he tells her.
“Oh,” she says in a dejected voice.
“What’s with the voice?” he asks.
“I was hoping for something a little more…fun.”
“Sorry that a guy with a busted tire isn’t enough fun for you,” Mammoth replies.
“Not a guy,” I throw out there, my eyes still on Arlo, studying the lines of her face.
“Oh,” comes from Mammoth.
“Oh, what?” Tamara asks.
“Not a man, princess. A chick.”
“Mello and all his pussy. You’re not doing a free job for one of his random bitches,” Tamara says in the background.
“Not one of mine,” I say softly, and Arlo’s eyebrows rise. I shake my head. “She just needs some help.”
“Not one of his,” Mammoth repeats.
“Still not doing it for free,” Tamara mutters. “His wife? Yeah. Random chick? No. Piece of ass he’s tappin’? No. Fiancée? Sure thing. Get me?”
“Got you, princess,” Mammoth whispers.
“He got me?” she asks him.
“I got her,” I grumble.
“Got to go, man. Tow will be there soon, and I have a spicy chick to deal with.”
“I’m not spicy,” she argues.
“Princess, you’re not bland,” he says with a hint of laughter.
“I’ll catch you two later,” I say, disconnecting the call before I hear shit I don’t want to hear.
“Who’s Mammoth?” Arlo asks me, now leaning her ass against the hood of her car.
“My cousin’s husband. He owns a body shop. Tow will be here in thirty, and your car will be fixed by noon.”
“Noon as in noon tomorrow?” she whispers and lifts her hand to her mouth, biting on her thumbnail.
“Yeah, babe. It’s almost dark, so the closest noon is noon tomorrow.”
“Shit,” she mutters, chewing a little more on that poor nail.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she tells me as she pulls up her legs, going back into the same position I saw her in as I blew past her on my bike. “It’s fine.”
“What’s wrong, Arlo?”
She waves her one hand, still chewing on her other.
I take a step forward, closing the space between us. There’s no logical reason why I’m putting in so much effort with a woman who doesn’t want the attention, but I can’t stop myself.
I’ve become used to difficult women. I’ve been surrounded by them since birth.
“Babe. Talk to me.”
She doesn’t look up or speak, just keeps chewing with her eyes on my boots.
Lifting my hand, I place my fingers under her chin and force her head upward. “Talk.”
Her breathing almost stops as she stares up at me with those wild eyes I first saw six months ago. Her hand falls away from her lips, and our gazes lock. “I don’t know how I’m going to get home or back to my car tomorrow. I haven’t made too many friends since I moved here. At least not any I can call for something like this.”
“Well, you got me or Uber.”
“I can’t Uber,” she whispers, her gaze still locked with mine. “They’re not safe.”
“They’re safe, Arlo, but you still got me,” I tell her, but I like the idea that she doesn’t feel comfortable riding in a car with a random stranger. I’d much rather have her fine ass on the back of my bike, even if it’s just for a few rides. She’s cute as hell and quirky as shit, reminding me of half the crazy women in my family. “I’ll bring you home and pick you up tomorrow to take you to Mammoth’s garage.”
“Why?” She blinks.
“Why what?”
She furrows her eyebrows. “Why would you help me?”
“Are you suspicious of everyone?” I ask her, loosening my hold on her chin but still keeping my hand there.
She stays silent.
What would cause someone to be afraid of almost everything? She seems strong, but there’s something about her that causes her to pause or see the worst in almost everything.
“Because I’m nice and don’t like to see a woman in trouble.”
Her response is to stare at me, blinking and confused. “But what do you want out of it? I’m not sleeping with you,” she says softly.
Normally, I’d lean forward a little, trying to lure her in, but I don’t know this chick—and from the little bit I do, she wouldn’t dig it. I’m not the type of man who pushes my way into and onto people, especially not scared little creatures like Arlo.
“If I wanted pussy, I’d go on my way to the one waiting for me. I’m not here to get you into bed, babe. I’m here to help, which is what I’m offering and not my cock.”
She blinks a few times, all in rapid succession. “Well, I…”
“So, you want a ride or not?”
She stares at me for a second, her eyes searching mine as I do the same. “Yes,” she whispers, and I drop my hand.
“Good. Fuck, you’re difficult. Was that really that hard?”
She crosses her arms, guarding herself from me or the entire conversation. “More than you’ll ever know.”
“Why do you always say you can do shit yourself and you’ve been alone your entire life?”
She shrugs one shoulder. “Just have.”
“You’re alone?”
She unfolds her arms, spreading them wide and looking cute as fuck, along with a bit crazy. “See anyone else around here?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Babe, by your logic, I’m alone too. See anyone around here for me?”
“Well, no, but you had a Mammoth to call.”