Page 10 of Nanny for the Bikers

I pout, tilting my head to the side. “Come on, surely there’s something you can do? I’d be so grateful.” I trail my fingers along the edge of the counter, hoping my body language will convey what my words cannot.

It’s not like I’d sleep with him, but flirting goes a long way.

But Alex just shakes his head, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I appreciate the effort, but I’m afraid your charms are wasted on me. I’m gay.”

My face falls, the rejection stinging more than it should. Of course. Of course, the one time I try to use my femininity to my advantage, I strike out spectacularly. Heat rises in my cheeks as I straighten up, embarrassment and frustration warring within me.

“Right. Sorry. I just…” My words trail off. “Thanks anyway,” I mutter, turning to go. I push the door open and go back to my truck, where Shadow is, impatiently waiting, looking straight out the window.

What am I going to do? What am I going to do?

No money, no gas, and no plan. I’m well and truly screwed.

I close my eyes, the beginnings of a headache throbbing behind my temples.Think, Ayla. Think.There has to be a way out of this mess. Some solution I haven’t considered, some angle I haven’t explored.

But the more I wrack my brain, the more hopeless it seems. I’m out of options and out of time. The sun is setting, and I’m nocloser to a plan than I was when I pulled into this godforsaken gas station.

A wave of exhaustion washes over me, and I sag against the truck, feeling the fight drain out of me. Maybe this is it. Maybe this is where my grand adventure ends before it even had a chance to begin. Maybe I’m just fooling myself, thinking I could ever escape the mess that is my life.

I’ll have to call my mom and she and Kyle will have to pick me up…he won’t give me my money back. No, it’s probably been blown on drugs or alcohol. And if by some miracle it isn’t, he’ll say the money was for his time and energy to come get me. But, at least I’ll have somewhere to sleep.

Shadow’s excited barking jolts me out of my spiraling thoughts. I whirl around, my heart leaping into my throat as I scan the dimly lit gas station parking lot. What the hell has gotten into him?

And then I see him. A man striding towards us with an easy, confident gait. He’s tall and broad-shouldered, with a chiseled jawline and a smile that could charm the pants off a nun. Despite my wariness, I can’t help but notice how damn attractive he is.

“Hey there,” he calls out, his voice deep and smooth. “Everything okay? I saw you struggling with the pump earlier.”

I narrow my eyes, instinctively tensing up. I’ve learned the hard way that handsome strangers offering unsolicited help are rarely as altruistic as they seem. “I’m fine,” I say, my tone clipped. “Just having some card issues.”

He nods, his smile never wavering. “I’ve been there. It’s a real pain in the ass.” He takes a step closer, and I fight the urge toback away. “Listen, I don’t mean to overstep, but if you need some cash to get you back on the road, I’d be happy to help out.”

I stare at him, torn between suspicion and a desperate, shameful flicker of hope. Could he really be offering to bail me out, no strings attached? It seems too good to be true.

“Why would you do that?” I ask, hating the way my voice wavers. “You don’t even know me.”

He shrugs, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “We take care of people here. Call it a town for random acts of kindness.”

I hesitate for a long moment, weighing my options. I don’t trust easily, and every instinct is screaming at me to tell this guy to take a hike. But the alternative is spending the night in this parking lot with no idea how I’ll get back on the road come morning.

Or worse…dealing with Mom and Kyle.

“I would really appreciate that, actually.”

His smile widens, and he nods towards the gas pump. “Let’s get you fueled up, then.” He starts walking, and after a moment’s hesitation, I fall into step beside him, my heart pounding against my ribcage.

As he swipes his card and begins filling up my tank, I lean against the side of my truck, trying to wrap my head around this sudden turn of events. I’m not used to accepting help from anyone, let alone a complete stranger. It goes against everything I’ve learned to rely on in this world.

But there’s something about this man that feels...different. And I’m not just talking about how irresistibly hot he is. Maybe it’s the warmth in his eyes, or the easy confidence in his stance. Ormaybe I’m just so desperate for a break that I’m seeing things that aren’t there.

5

KIP

Idon’t know who this girl is, but I’m captivated by her…instantly was when she jumped out of this old beat-up truck. Dark hair cascades down her back, contrasting with her fair skin. There’s a fierceness in her green eyes, a guarded intensity that both intrigues and sort of intimidates me. She’s got a sort of wild beauty about her, untamed and alluring.

I’ve never seen her before, and the thought of not seeing her again is unwelcome to me.

“Name’s Kip. Kip Harlow. What’s your name?”

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