Page 29 of Stuck With You
I rest my wrist on the steering wheel, gathering my patience. “What are you doing?” My frustration builds at the annoying part of me that doesn’t like her sitting here alone, where anyonecould—
One foot starts to bob over her crossed legs. “Uh, as far as I know, this isn’t a launch pad, but if a spaceship lands, I’ll be sure to snap a pic before climbing aboard.” Her eyes grow wide. “I might even send it to you.”
My molars grind together. I will my leg to release my foot from the brake, but the damn thing doesn’t move. I have things to do, and I don’t have time for. . .this. “Where’s your rental?”
Her shoulders roll back, and her neck lengthens. “I didn’t reserve one.” There’s a momentary pause. “As you can see,” she says, one hand extending before her. “I’m taking the bus.”
I inhale long and slow, returning my gaze to my windshield and the road beyond. The sun casts an illuminating haze that must also be clouding my cognitive processing ability.
“You didn’t reserve a rental?” I ask calmly and cooly, mustering all of my strength.
She ignores me, her eyes traveling down the street as if I no longer exist.
“Sarah.”
Her bright blue eye peeks at me from the corner.
“Get in,” I order, moving my stuff from the passenger seat to the back. I glance at my watch.
She doesn’t move, and another car passes.
“Get in, Sarah,” I say as delicately as possible, needing her to hurry up so we can both get to work.
She sets her backpack in her lap and wraps her arms around it, gripping her phone. A complete act of stubborn defiance.
“You’re so kind to offer, but. . .no. The bus will be here any second.”
I want to lift my foot off the brake and let my truck carry me away from the beautiful threat sitting before me on a cold ass bench. A vision of the little boy with the ugly, fat fish and the baby in the carrier flashes through my mind.
She stares at me, those hypnotizing eyes burning into me. Eyes I might be able to stare at all day.
Fuck.
My body temperature escalates. I run a hand over my face.
My damn boot stays put. “Get in the truck, Sarah. You’re not riding the bus.”
A smile tugs at her lips. The kind that tells me I just waged war.
“Do you get away with telling everyone what to do?”
My teeth grind together. “Sarah.”
“Slaaaaade.” My name rolling off her tongue shoots tingles up my spine in the most uncomfortable way. “I don’t know you. I’m not getting in your truck or going anywhere with you. I don’t know how you found me, but you need to leave. The bus will be hereany second.”
If she thinks I’m afraid of her or this bus, she’s out of her damn mind.
I yank my foot off the pedal and roll forward, drifting to the curb. I shove the gear shift into park and push my door open, letting it close behind me.
I march back and stop in front of her. “You are not riding the bus. Have you heard about things happening to people on buses? I have a twenty-four-year-old sister, and there isn’t a chance in hell I’d let her sit out here. I live across the street from you. I saw you on my usual route to the shop, and given that you work with Kat, I know your office is just a few blocks from the garage. So,pleaseget in the truck.” I point to make myself clear.
She cranes her neck to glower at me. “Would you let your sister get in a truck with a strange man who ordered her to do so?”
I inhale, hoping a strong dose of patience is in the air. I let it out as the bus rounds the corner three blocks down. I have no doubt that if she had a chain available, she’d lock herself to this bench.
“We’ve met twice, spoken once on the phone, Kat was a reference,andyou now know we’re neighbors. You can call my sister if you need further background information.”
She perks at the offer. Shit. No man would survive the two of them.
