Page 46 of Not the Plan

“You said this is your car?” she asked. “I mean, I can tell it isn’ta rental, but I didn’t realize convertibles were popular in Pennsylvania.”

He ran a hand down his face and shot her a glance.

“Promise not to make fun?” he asked.

“Of course. Why would I?”

His squeeze and release of the steering wheel was a surprise. She’d have to get to know him better to be sure, but it seemed like he was nervous all of a sudden.

“Karim?” She modulated her tone, going for light but honest. “I’m…uh…not a car person. I hope you don’t think I’d judge you because of the type of car you drive.”

“No! No,” he said. “I don’t…” Tapering off, he chanced a longer look at her. She wasn’t a fan of the insecurity she caught in his eyes.

“Do you think I would make fun of you?” she asked.

He’d returned his gaze to the road and kept it there, shaking his head.

“No,” he said, sounding more confident. “Youaren’t like that, are you?”

Surprised by the emphasis he’d put on “you,” she shook her head. “I’m not.”

He gripped and released the wheel again.

“I bought it as soon as I got here.”

She checked out the dash, the seats, the gear shift. She was lost.

“Not too much of a cliché? Guy moves to California and the first thing he does is buy a convertible?” He pulled up to a pump at an older gas station.

“Oh. It seems like a nice car. Do you like it?”

“Yeah.” He unbuckled his seat belt.

She shrugged. “Well, there you go, that’s all that matters.”

“Thanks,” he said, giving her his shy-boy smile. His back-and-forth between sexy and shy was beyond unfair.

“Sit tight, beautiful. I gotta go inside to pay.”

“Why don’t you let me pump?” she asked. “And would you mind grabbing a bottle of water for me?”

“Okay. No problem.”

She got out and removed the nozzle, sliding it into the opening for the gas tank. The weather was excellent, and on any other day she would have relaxed into it, but her nerves were getting in the way. It was a good nervousness, though. A curiosity. She fidgeted, rocking on the balls of her feet. The pump clicked, and the gas started flowing. A large pickup pulled up to a pump behind her. There was a whistle behind her and even though she doubted that was Karim’s style, she turned with a smile in her eyes. It was one of the guys in the pickup.

“Hey, pretty lady,” he said, closing the driver’s-side door. She ignored him, facing the street again.

“That is one nice piece of ass,” he said to his friend in the truck. “Where you going this fine morning?” He stepped over to her side of the pump.

“Nowhere,” she said, straightening her spine.

“Now, there’s no reason to be like that,” he said. “Me and my boy over here were headed out to the state park. Why don’t you join us?” His friend got out and joined the man speaking to her. And, as bad luck would have it, the light breeze she’d been enjoying a few moments earlier made her skirt billow up, showing the two cretins too much of her thighs. She took a calming breath, gritting her teeth.

“Morning, gentlemen.” Karim appeared behind her. He fixed the first man in a cold stare, not enough to provoke, but enough to be clear. He slid his hand down Isadora’s back. “Ready to go, baby?” he asked, studying the two men. She didn’t want to go all damsel-in-distress, but she could have fallen into his arms from relief.

“Almost.” The pump clicked. The tank was full.

“Uh, morning, dude,” the first man said as the other scampered back into the truck. Isadora returned the nozzle to thepump. Karim moved around her and toward the driver’s door, studying the first man.

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