Page 36 of Claimed by an Alien Warrior

“If you don’t mind,” she replied. “I have a suitcase.”

“Toss it in back and hop in.” He smiled, flashing straight teeth.

Zoey moved to the back of the truck. “He’s going to give us a ride,” she whispered. “Climb in as I toss my bag in.”

She lifted her bag over the edge of the bed and dropped it in. The rear end of the truck rocked slightly, and she heard the gentle scrape of cloth as Rendash settled himself in.

“Be safe, little human,” he whispered.

Zoey untied the blanket from her shoulders and dropped it into the back of the truck. “I will be. It shouldn’t take more than an hour to reach the next town. We’ll find a room there, okay?”

The blanket moved and then faded away, like it had been erased from existence. “An acceptable plan. I will await our arrival in the next town.”

“You need help back there?” the man called.

Zoey hurried back to the cab, opened the door, and lifted herself in. He’d removed his jacket from the seat. “Thank you for this.”

“No problem,” he replied. “Heading the same way, right? Toward Green River?”

“Yeah,” Zoey said, holding her hands up to the sweet, hot air blowing from the vents. The window beside her rolled up.

“What’s your name?” the man asked as he eased back onto the highway.

“Zoey. Yours?”

He turned his head and smiled at her. “Matt.” He slouched slightly, leaning on the armrest with his right arm while he kept his left hand draped over the top of the wheel. “Green River your final stop?”

“Just passing through,” Zoey replied. She glanced in the side mirror, knowing the angle would be all wrong but longing for a glimpse of Ren anyway.

“Was that your car back there on the side of the road?”

“Yeah. All the power just suddenly cut out, and it wouldn’t start.”

“Sounds like it might be a timing belt.”

Zoey arched a brow. “You a mechanic?”

“Nah. I know just enough to get me in trouble.”

Zoey chuckled. “Trouble? Sounds more like you’d be useful in that kind of situation.”

“Knowing what’s broken isn’t the same as knowing how to fix it.” His smile hadn’t faded, hadn’t changed at all.

They drove in silence for a time before his hand moved to the radio on the dash. “Music?”

“Sure.”

“What do you like?”

“I’m good with anything.”

He nodded, pressed a button, and the radio lit up. He flipped through the stations, stopping on theGolden Oldies. The same kind of music Bud played in his diner toset the atmosphere.

“This good?” he asked.

Zoey smiled. “Yeah.”

He could’ve put anything on without objection from her; she was just grateful to be out of the cold and moving forward. They’d be in Green River soon, and from there… Well, they’d figure something out. Rendash had made no indication that he intended to leave her, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. She couldn’t blame him if he moved on alone.

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