Library

2. Oh, Those Abs

* * *

"Tourists."I rolled my eyes at the Jeep in front of me with the frame around the license plate showing a national car rental agency's logo emblazoned upon it. The scenic route around the lake at Steele Valley this time of year hosted slow-moving vehicles, their occupants intent on taking in the view, gawking at every pine tree, boulder, and lakefront property, and stopping at every scenic overlook.

Long ago, I was a tourist, too, during the last trip Dad and I took with Mom before she got sick. We came here and stayed at the world-renowned Steele Valley Resort, playground for the rich and famous in the mountains of New York. The luxurious accommodations familiar to me already at a young age thanks to Dad's business dealings and his frequent travels.

He treated Mom and me to spa pedicures and manicures, our pink toenails matching. We rode the merry-go-round in the town square at least a dozen times. Mom laughed as the wind blew her golden hair while holding on tightly to a gray carousel horse.

Those memories stayed locked away in my heart forever, keeping her happy and smiling, never sick, never saying goodbye.

I smacked away a tear that dared roll down my cheek. I didn't have time for this. Up ahead, a short straight-away appeared where I could pass this slowpoke, so I took the chance and zoomed around him.

A brief glance at the man behind the wheel told me exactly what I imagined, and I summed him up quickly. Gorgeous out of towner, here for a weekend, gawking at the scenery because his office in downtown Manhattan imprisoned him for the past couple of years. If he had money and status, he might have been someone I would have flirted with in my former life.

"Here's a dose of reality, buddy." I hit the gas pedal hard and passed him up, leaving him way behind in my rearview mirror. "Stick to the resort side of the lake."

I'd stick to mine, where I hid away from the world, hoping no one found me. I wouldn't even go to town except to pick up weekly supplies and groceries, and Steele Valley provided the only place to shop locally. So, I made my quick weekly jaunt there, keeping an old Steele Valley Dogs baseball cap low over my eyes and not engaging with anyone unless necessary.

I took the curves faster than I should, with a to-do list a mile long reciting in my head. Two cabins needed to be cleaned, the ashes in the fire pit and barbecues cleared out, and the lid to the trash bins tightened, at the campground I managed. With any luck, I'd get in some sunbathing on the dock before check-in time with a new arrival later.

Suddenly something popped, like a pin to a balloon, and my car swerved. "Shit!" Engine trouble? Flat tire?

I gripped the steering wheel to bring it under control. Up ahead, a scenic view parking area appeared, and I pulled off the road, then slammed the car into park. I launched out, toured the vehicle on all sides, proving it was, indeed, a flat.

"Dammit, I didn't need this." I'd bought the white hatchback second-hand with cash when I got here earlier this year, taking the previous owner's word about what good shape it was in. I only needed it to get me to and from town—or out-of-town if someone found me. "Please let there be a spare," I prayed.

I took everything out of the trunk and peeked under the lining, confirming a tire there. "Thank God." Only I'd never changed one a day in my life.

Up until the past year, I would have had a driver taking me around NYC, never giving a thought to the condition of the car. I'd have been worried to pop a fake nail if I had to use a tire iron.

But recently, there were plenty of things that I never had to do before, and I tackled each the best I could.

I leaned in and pulled on the tire, but it wouldn't budge. After a few minutes of fighting with it, a car honked and parked behind me. The sound of a door opening and closing meant someone stopped to help, and here I was with my ass in Daisy Duke short-shorts, bent deep into the trunk.

"Need some help?" A guy's voice called out, deep and sultry.

"Oh," I exclaimed, knocking the back of my head on the hatch door. And now I had to match his hospitality and be nice. "Uh. No. I think I got—" I pivoted and locked eyes with the most gorgeous man I'd seen in some time. "—this." The end of my voice squeaked.

Holy hell. My breath hitched at his bright blues. Wow. And he was the guy in the Jeep I'd passed.

"Hm. Suit yourself." He shrugged, about to walk away, but stopped, bringing his thumb to his chin and a fingertip tapping on his plump bottom lip, showing off a veiny muscled forearm. "Of course, it'd be no trouble at all if you'd let me help you. Plus, I'd probably get it done faster, so you're back on the road. Seeing how you passed me like your hair was on fire."

Fuck him and his sly, sexy grin, tiny dimples appearing, and his biceps and pecs filling out a pale blue t-shirt with, of course, a faded Steele Valley Dogs baseball team logo on it. Given the faded jeans with holes in them. A local, I figured, not a a Wall Street guy here on a vacation.

I should let him do this, too, just for annoying me today. "Okay. Fine. Have at it." I held out the tire iron, even though as an intelligent woman I could totally figure out how to change one. But time was of the essence…and damn, here was the opportunity to see this hot guy in action.

Male companionship was strictly against my rules, entanglements and attachments the type of complications I didn't need right now, especially if I ever had to leave town fast. A guy changing my tire wouldn't hurt, though.

He stepped up and wrapped his hand around mine, holding the bar. Oh…the shock of electricity from his touch burned my skin. I let it go with a gasp.

"My name's Wyoming, by the way," he said, his voice continuing a seductive assault on my ears.

"Like the state?" I blinked, confused. Why would someone name their kid after a state? Although, the name and the sight of this guy fit so well together. Yeah, okay. I liked it. But that's as far as this went.

"Yep." He didn't move, waiting for me to respond. Several seconds later, I still hadn't. He arched a brow. "And you are?"

"I'm late. That's what I am. You promised a quick change, I believe?" A little bitchy, but that's the wall I needed to build between us.

"Sure. Be done in a few."

I started fanning myself and licking my lips halfway through the process. His ass in faded jeans was the crime of the century. Combined with his muscles flexing at every tug of the bar to get the nuts off. Mm…the way his eyes flitted back to me, checking me out, sliding down the front of me. Yes, I caught every second of his attention, and the shocks continued running up and down my spine.

I walked to the driver's side and bent through the window, pulling out my water bottle to quench this dire thirst. Like the best tire-changing porn, the man had me sweating and wet with desire…damn, it'd been way too long. A woman my age, in my prime baby-making years, should attract a man to marry and settle down with, not hide away like I was. At least, that's what all my friends were doing the last time I was in touch with them.

To his credit, he finished faster than I figured he would. And my entertainment for the day—hell, for the year—concluded. He stood and wiped his palms slowly down the front of the shirt, dirtying it. Oh my God…then he lifted the hem and brought it up to his forehead, wiping away the sweat, revealing a sporty six pack glistening in the sun.

I held back a moan. What I'd give to follow the ridges of his muscles with my fingertips, to take his happy trail down to his V-shape?—

"Are you okay? I said all done." He jolted me with a cocky smile out of my fantasy with this dirty boy.

"Oh. Right. Thank you." I took back the tire iron, careful this time to avoid his touch. Tossing it into my trunk, I quickly repacked my things and slammed the lid down. His hand leaned against it, his body just a foot away from me. I hesitated, when I really wanted to jump him.

"You're not going to tell me your name, then?" he asked.

"No."

"Well, how can I ask you out on a date or for drinks or coffee or something if I don't know your name?"

Ouch. My heart lurched. God, I'd love that, but the timing in my life couldn't be worse, to meet a sexy man like him. "Guess you can't. Thanks again." I rushed into the driver's seat, buckled and watched him fade smaller and smaller in my rearview mirror.

With the air blasting, cooling me down, all fantasies of one night with a stranger were left behind with him. Because I had plenty of other problems to worry about.

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.