From somewhere in the front, there’s another low rumble of a growl.
Rolling my eyes, I open the car door. “It’s totally going to affect your rating, you know.”
Ever so slowly, he drags his eyes away from mine and he shrugs. “I really don’t care.”
“You are so rude,” I mumble as I climb out, my phone ringing yet again. This time I press it to my ear while I’m slamming the car door shut. “Hello?”
Spinning around, I’m surprised when I find my brother standing in front of me. Bewildered, I hold up a finger for him to wait as Dylan’s voice comes across the line.
“Where are you?” she inquires, her voice filled with concern.
“Well…” I snort. “It’s a long story, but that Hitch you got me? This guy is unbelievable. I barely…”
“Hitch guy?” Dylan interrupts me. “That’s why I’m calling. Ronaldo has been waiting outside for you for the last five minutes. You’re not with the right person, Riley! Where are you? Who are you with? Oh my gosh, are you safe?”
I’m really confused now, that’s what I am. Like if I had a title, it would be the Queen of Confusion. I’d skip Princess altogether. Fast learner.
“Safe? Define safe.”
Movement catches my eye and I’m horrified, but also kind of proud, as my brother takes two giant steps over to the car, reaching toward the driver’s side door. Travis must have seen the insane way this man came careening down the lane, and now my protective big brother is going to kick his butt. There was a time in my life when this moment would have been mortifying, but today is not one of them.
Standing still, with the phone pressed to my ear, I wait for Travis to fling open the door and drag this guy out of the car to yell at him. Ask him what on earth he thought he was doing driving like a maniac with his sister in the car. But no. He definitely doesn’t do that.
Travis opens the door, and then he shakes the guy’s hand.
SHAKES THE GUY’S HAND?
I’m sure in some other parallel universe this would be a hilarious moment, but I’m so rattled and puzzled that I cannot make heads nor tails of what’s happening. My brother and my maniac driver are laughing together.
“Riley,” Travis calls out, beckoning me over.
Trepidatiously, I take a step toward the death mobile.
“What?” I snap.
“Meet Jake December, my client and the player from the River City Renegades I was telling you about.”
TWO
Jake
When an agitated, pushy, attractive stranger jumps into the backseat of your car, how do you think you would handle it? Me, well, I figured I had two options at the moment: one was to ask her to kindly remove herself from my vehicle before I called the cops. But, I’m a big guy and am known for taking care of myself, so did I consider forcible removal on my own terms?
Of course, but only for a moment. That’s just a natural instinct. Comes with my day job. Playing ice hockey for a team in the American Hockey League, I’ve had to deal with my fair share of players and fans who get a little bit aggressive. Guys usually either want to get a photo with me or fight me, neither of which is something I enjoy, but I’ll take the photo over a fight any day. And the women have pulled some amazing stunts to get my attention. The majority of my female fans are cool, but there’s the one percent that sends me photos of them wearing my jersey and nothing else. The last one I got was a full-on photo shoot someone had gone to the trouble of coordinating, complete withpads, skates, and stick. She put the puck in between her teeth and it was weird.
But, when I realized this one was harmless and only focused on her phone, I made my choice—and today, I chose adventure. The moment those aquamarine eyes slammed into mine, I had to see where we were going and who she was. It’s not every day a feisty, beautiful woman lands in the back seat of my car in a new town and gives me orders.
Now, watching her head swivel back and forth from my best friend and then back to me, I’m really glad I got a ticket forthisride. Better than a roller coaster park.
“Jake who?” she asks, rocking her eyes my way again and taking a good, long look at me, dragging her eyes from my head to my toes.
My best friend also happens to be my agent. “December.” I say it sharper than intended, but thankfully Travis snorts, turning to me and mouthing the word, “Sorry.”
But this one, she’s defiant and reminds me of a wet cat.
She puts a hand on her hip and looks squarely at me. “Is your last name really a month out of the year? And who are you anyway to go around picking people up and acting like you’re their driver?”
Meow.
