He chuckled, running his hand across his trimmed beard. “You’re as funny as you are beautiful.”
“Gee, thanks,” I snapped. “My entire day has been made by your compliment.”
I needed to get out of the bar, away from this guy. He screamed trouble. The type of man you could tell left broken hearts wherever he went. Just the type I’d fall for and then become another casualty in his past.
“What branch?” he asked out of nowhere as if I had a neon sign above my head that flashed “Military.”
“None of your business.” I tore my eyes away from him and took out a five from my pocket.
I was so pissed at Blondie for ditching me, and I was taking it out on the man next to me who had done nothing wrong besides giving me a compliment. But I knew better. Nothing good happened in places like this. The last thing I needed right now was to hook up with a stranger and end up with an STD as a parting gift for my stupidity.
“Where you running off to?” Handsome asked as I threw the money on the bar.
“This isn’t my scene,” I told him, climbing to my feet. “And you aren’t my type.”
“I’m everybody’s type, darlin’,” he said, smirking.
Ugh. He was too.
There wasn’t a thing about him someone in the world wouldn’t find attractive. From his good looks, toned biceps, and probably muscular everywhere else body, his dreamy blue eyes, the sexy as hell smirk…the man could probably bed any woman he wanted.
“I’m all about confidence, buddy, but you’re a little much even for me.”
“Austin,” he stated.
“Austin?”
He nodded. “Name isn’t buddy. It’s Austin.”
“Good to know,” I told him before walking away, heading toward the parking lot.
“Hey, sweet cheeks, want a ride?” a man said as soon as I stepped outside.
I kept walking, not bothering to stop and tell him to fuck off. Now wasn’t the time, and this wasn’t the place.
I continued to ignore the catcalls and whistles from various men as I made my way to my Jeep, climbing inside and slamming the door. I sighed, resting my head against the steering wheel for a few seconds, letting myself cool off before I tried to drive away.
When I was angry, I usually had a lead foot. The last thing I needed right now was another ticket. Two deep breaths later, I lifted my head, placed the key in the ignition, and twisted.
But instead of turning on, the Jeep made the most horrendous sound, like the engine was grinding and nothing else.
“Goddamn it!” I shouted to myself, slamming my palm against the steering wheel. “Not again, you bastard.”
I leaned back, resting my head against the seat, and closed my eyes. I’d give it a few minutes, trying not to flood the engine before I tried to start the Jeep again.
I jumped as there was a tap on my window, and my eyes flew open, my head twisting to the side. “Fucking hell,” I muttered, clutching my chest.
“You need help?” Austin, the hot, cocky bastard from inside the bar, asked.
I rolled down the window because my Jeep was old and didn’t have fancy electric windows. “I’m fine. Move along.”
He laughed, lifting his forearm to rest it against the doorframe. “I’m not leaving until you get her running.”
“It’s a he and he’s a little volatile, but he’ll start.”
“He sounds just like his owner.”
I rolled my eyes, turning my head away from Austin to stare out the windshield. Maybe if I ignored him, refused to engage with him, he’d leave. It was possible, and if all else failed, I’d pull out my big guns and chase him away.
A minute later, with me still staring out the front window, ignoring him, he pushed off the car. I let out a breath, knowing victory was mine and he was finally leaving me alone. But then he turned, his ass moving to the passenger door as he crossed his arms over his chest, staring out across the parking lot.
“What are you doing?” I asked, watching him in my side mirror, my eyes wandering down his muscular frame.
“I’m not leaving you alone in a place like this with a car that isn’t working.”
“I don’t need to be rescued.”
“I’m just here as backup.”
“Don’t need that either.”
“Try it again,” he ordered, turning his head to stare at me.
“What?” I narrowed my gaze, still looking at him in the side mirror, neither of us moving or backing down.
“The engine. Try it again.”
I growled, cursing under my breath and praying the Jeep’s engine would start this time. If it didn’t, I had a feeling Austin was going to make me his mission.
And because sometimes the universe was cruel and unforgiving, when I turned the key, nothing happened.
Chapter Two
Austin
There were girls, and then there were women. The one inside her Jeep, throwing a fit, is most certainly a woman, but acted like a little girl. She was pissed and rightfully so, but for some reason, she was taking it out on me.
No one ever wants to be rescued. Not unless it’s life or death. We all like to think we’re self-sustaining, able to care for ourselves, but sometimes it’s nice to have a helping hand.
“So, darlin’, looks like you need a ride,” I told her as soon as she turned the key and the Jeep didn’t even try to turn over. “Where ya headed?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Just give me a jump, and we can go our separate ways.”
I shook my head and pushed off the car, stepping back to her window. “Although the idea of jumping you sounds fantastic, I can’t. I only have my bike with me.”
She grabbed her phone from the center console, tapping on the screen like the thing was to blame for her problems. “Fine,” she grunted. “I’ll just call roadside assistance.”
“I’ll wait with you, then.”
She snapped her head to the side as she dropped her phone in her lap. “You’re staying?”
I nodded.
“Why?”
I leaned against her window, careful not to put my face too close. This one was a wild thing, and she was liable to bite. “I wasn’t raised to leave a woman alone in a place like this. My grandmother would whip my ass if she ever found out. So, I’m staying. Once roadside is here and your Jeep is running, I’ll go.”
She grunted again, resting her head on the back of the seat, and stared up at the roof of the Jeep. “You have no idea how self-sufficient I really am.”
I shook my head. “Don’t know and don’t care. I was raised old-school, and I stayed old-school. There’re some ways things should go, and a man staying with a stranded woman is one of them.”
“Austin, right?” she asked.
I smiled, liking she remembered my name. “Yeah, darlin’. Austin. And you are?”
“My friends call me Mak.”
“Mak,” I muttered, surprised a girl as beautiful as her had such a manly nickname. “Want to wait inside for them to come? I’ll buy you something to eat and another Coke?”
She wrinkled her nose as her stomach rumbled, liking my idea too.