Chapter 3

Reminder: Leave the bar at 7:30

Alex had stayed too long, way past when he'd set the reminder on his phone. He should have left thirty-five minutes ago, but Indigo had wanted one more photo, then another. They'd gotten enough shots, and he finally begged off, saying he had to take care of something at the clinic before going home. The little lie made him cringe, but he just wanted to go home and be alone. He'd spent too much time in the bar around other people and needed to recharge.

Indigo was great, but there'd been a little too much time with people today. He needed some silence so he could relax before tomorrow. The auction was making him nervous. There was no way he could plan a date that would be good enough for whatever amount was paid. Well, if anyone bid on him.

The lot was dark, and he frowned, debating turning on the flashlight on his phone. The cracked pavement had little holes that were filled with water, and he realized he should have just parked in front of his clinic instead of over here, but rain had threatened, and he didn't want to run across the street in the rain.

He found his car and stepped between the vehicles, realizing too late that someone was down on the ground doing something between the cars. He might have let out a small scream as he reached out and grabbed the car to keep from falling over the guy.

"What the absolute fuck? What are you doing?" the man on the ground yelled.

"I-I'm sorry."

The guy stood, towering over Alex. Worry and fear pumped through him as the man seemed to loom over him. His gaze flicked down the man's body, taking in the trim waist and the tire iron the man was holding. Alex's nostrils flared as his gaze shot up to the guy's face as panic and fear whirled through him. Light from a car turning into the lot flashed over them, and he swore the man had a chiseled jaw. Though it was dark, he could tell the guy was fit and hot.

"I didn't see you."

"Well, watch where you're going, you idiot."

Alex stepped back, anger rising. His mouth opened, and he almost told the guy to go to hell, but he hated reacting out of anger. Instead of blowing it, he blew out a breath as he counted to ten. His ex had issues with anger and had goaded terrible responses from Alex too many times. It was one more thing to be ashamed about.

He glanced down and saw the flat tire and the spare. Getting a flat always wrecked his day. And getting a flat in the dark was worse.

"Can I help you get that changed?"

The man's nostril's flared as he clenched his fists. "Do you think I'm such an idiot that I can't change my own tire?"

Alex raised both hands, wishing even more that he would have parked across the street. "No, that's not what I meant. You just seem angry, and I can help if you like."

"I don't like. Just leave me the hell alone."

Alex pressed his lips together. Maybe he should stick around, but he didn't want to create more problems. This man wasn't open to help. He wondered what had gone wrong in the dude's life to make him so prickly. It wasn't Alex's problem, so he got into his car, shaking his head.

It felt wrong driving away, but he couldn't find a way to make the situation better. As he pulled out of the lot, he saw the man picking up the flat tire and putting it into the trunk. He should have stayed, but the guy had been ready to fight. Nothing good could have been accomplished by forcing his help onto that man. Besides, he wasn't in the best mood either, and if the guy had gone off again, Alex might have just lost it on him.