Page 6 of Strike a Chord
Her eyes went wide.“H-how will we get home?”
His lips twisted.“We’ll have to take the long way.”
“The long way?”
She wasn’t overly familiar with the area yet.She knew the area near where she lived, and the highway, but that was about it.
He nodded.“Yeah, we can duck down here, which takes you into Nanoose, then head down into Parksville and take the old highway to Qualicum.”
She exhaled in relief.“At least you know the way.”
That made him grin.“Stick with me, darlin’.I’ll get you home safe.”
It was about half an hour before they were actually able to get to the turn off that they needed to even begin their alternate route, and by that point Jennifer’s bladder was close to bursting.
She must have been squirming in her seat a bunch, because Dax kept looking at her funny.“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“No.You’re not.What’s the matter?Whiplash bothering you?I’m seriously surprised they didn’t give you a collar to wear home.”They turned off the highway, finally, along with a whole lot of other vehicles.It was still slow going, but at least they were moving at a little above a snail’s pace now.
“My neck is sore, but it’s fine.I just need to pee.Like really, really bad.”
“My house is only five minutes away.If you’re comfortable, we can stop there so you can pee.Then I’ll take you guys home.”
She shook her head.“No, no.It’s okay.I’ll be fine.I can hold it.”
He rolled his eyes.“Or, you can not be in discomfort for the next half hour and just go pee at my house.”
It was like her body knew a bathroom was close and her need to relieve herself grew even more intense and painful.
Finally, she gave in and nodded, crossing her legs in the process.
“Good choice.I’m just up here.”They drove another four minutes before they reached a gate on the side of the road that led down a small dirt and grass driveway.
All Dax had to do was hit a button on a fob stuck to the driver’s side visor, and the gate silently swung open.He pulled through, his bright headlights illuminating a quaint little two-story house with blue shake siding, white framed windows and a small barn of the same color right beside it.
“Bathroom is inside the front door.First door on the left.”He handed her his keys, holding onto the one that would let her into the house.“I’ll stay out here with Levi.”
She was torn.
She didn’t really know this man and yet, she was also getting no weird feelings from him, or red flags.Was it safer to leave him outside with her son?Or have him accompany her into the house leaving her son in the truck alone?They could both be hurt.
Even though her bladder screamed at her, she didn’t move, just pivoted in her seat to stare at Levi.
Dax must have realized her dilemma and fear.
So he opened the driver’s side door.“How about this?We both get out of the truck.You lock the truck.Then you go into the house and lock the house.I’ll stand out here.This way, you’re safe in the house, and Levi is safe in the truck.I could tell you that you have nothing to fear with me, but in this day and age that kind of a promise has been ruined by a lot of terrible men.So whatever I can do to make you comfortable, I’ll do it.”
His gray eyes bore into her with earnest.
She paused another moment, then finally nodded and they both got out of the truck.
The wind hammered the rain into them like a million tiny cold bullets all at once.She felt terrible making him stand out in this kind of weather.
He met her around the hood of the truck, the headlights casting his body into an endless shadow along the gravel driveway.“It’s pouring and cold,” she said, having to holler.
“Then best get a move on so I don’t freeze to death,” he said, tilting his head to the side toward his house.“I’m going to go stand under the eaves.But I won’t come into the house.Lock the truck and the house so you feel safe.”The he jogged toward the house and did just as he said, his hands in his pockets as he shook slightly to keep warm under the terrible protection of the eaves.
