Page 5 of Stranded with a Wounded Vampire

My hands shake slightly when I get to the car and take off my purse.

I glance back.

He's still standing there staring at me. Suddenly it feels very important that I leave fast.

I take out my keys and get inside and close the door. Then I start the car and it doesn't turn over.

Oh hell. No.

I try again and again, but there’s no flash of life anywhere on the dashboard or from the engine. I look over at the mansion again and see that Bruce is still standing at the front door, watching.

Dammit. He's going to think I did this on purpose. I did not.

I slam my hand against the steering well. “Oh, come on,” I yell at the car. “Here I am totally humiliated. All I want to do is get away fast so I can go home and lick my wounds. And now you’re not working?”

Chapter 2

Willow

Drops of rain start to splatter on the windshield.

Wonderful.

That’s when I remember I have a jumpstart kit in the back of the car just for emergencies like this.

Thank God.

I shrug on the thin, yellow rain jacket I always keep in the car this time of year because the weather is so changeable, then I get the charger out of the back of the SUV, reread the directions and get going. I pop and lift the hood on my own, proud that I’m being resourceful and scrappy in this moment of need. Hopefully I can get out of here quick and be on my way.

“What are you doing?” a deep voice growls. “Why haven't you left yet?”

Bruce stands next to me, tall and dominating, with a dark frown marring his face. The black hood of his leather coat makes him look even more intimidating than before.

I cry out in surprise.

How the heck did he get here so fast? And he’s so handsome I’m a little stunned and tongue-tied for a moment. I glance down, because I can’t help myself and see his crotch is tented.

I bite my lip to keep from letting out a chuckle of happiness.

Suddenly I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest. All my dark worries from before fly out the window. He does have a reaction to me, but for some reason he's telling me to leave.

Why?

Not that it matters so much right now because I still need to leave. I'm not staying when he says to go. I'm going to try my best to honor his wishes even if they feel nonsensical, but it does feel better knowing that I wasn't completely wrong. The whole premise for me coming up here was still sound. I can jump-start this car and leave but think of this as visit number one. I’ll think of another way to approach him.

“Well,” I say, “as you can see, something's wrong with my battery. I can't get the car to start. It's crazy because I didn't leave any lights on in the car. It was working perfectly while driving up here. Luckily, I have this.” I show him my charging box. “I'm single and live in a small town,” I boldly remind him, “I drive around often by myself, so I figure I’ve got to have these kinds of things. You know, and I live in sort of this country area as well, so I bought this. It’s supposed to restart the battery.” I bend down and clamp it to the right places. “Hopefully this will work and then I can get out of your hair.” I press the button to start the charge. Then I walk over, get in the car and try to start it again, fully expecting it to work this time.

And it still won't start. “Dammit,” I grumble.

He walks over to the open driver’s side door, his arms crossed. “What now?”

“This is bad. I can't jump it either.”

“What does that mean?”

“This means I need a whole new battery.”

“Power source?”

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