Page 2 of Falling for the Mechanic
“Can’t guarantee I can replace it today, but I can make room for a tire change. If you can get it here—”
“Actually, there isn’t any chance you tow vehicles, is there?” My heart skips a beat, and in the silence on the other end, I catchthe fadeout of one song and the start of another. “I couldn’t find any companies online. I just…don’t really have the time to wait for one outside of town.”
Ugh. I sound stuck up. But if he knew what I was heading toward, he’d understand. I feel silly for asking, but hey, it can’t hurt, right?
I count three more seconds of silence before finally, I hear the music stop completely.
“Where are you?” The question is simple, but the answer doesn’t come immediately.
“Uh.” I look around, taking in the wooden posts lining up one side of the road, kept together with metal barbed wire. Unwelcoming. On the other side, some trees have bare branches, and others have reddened leaves clinging on for dear life. “I don’t know.”
“You don’tknow?” I hear the clank of a tool, probably dropped in agitation by this dude’s tone. “Can you give me something? Not a fan of guessing games.”
I bite my tongue to stop myself from telling him that he sounds like he’s not a fan ofanything.
Looking behind me, I squint. “I passed one of the town’s welcome signs. Oh, I think I’m passing what looks like a ranch.” Closing my eyes, I try to remember the sign that was a blur. At the time, I didn’t think to pay too close attention. “Uh, something thorn. Had a gated entrance. Super unwelcoming now that I think about it.”
Without realizing it, I start rambling.
“Blackthorne Ranch?”
Just his saying the name helps clear the fog. I nod despite him not being able to see. “Yeah, that’s the one.”
There’s a sigh on the other side of the phone. Deep andannoyed.Like I’m asking him to give me his first newborn or something.
I’m already regretting the call, but what can I do when my options are so limited?
Do I tell him I’ll pay whatever it takes to get back on the road? No offense to Willowbrook Ridge, but I’m already disliking just how bare it is. To think I haven’t even hit the heart of it all.
“Give me forty minutes.” A simple order. He makes it seem easy as can be.
“What am I supposed to do for that long?” I huff, finally matching his tone. “I have a place to be.”
I’m going to get such an earful, I can already imagine how the conversation will go once I reach my parent’s home. Dread already starts bubbling in my stomach.
“Not my problem.” There’s a pause. “Stay in your car. The owner of that place is an asshole.” His words are gruff and final, and just like that, the line has gone dead. Silence welcomes me as realization hits that I’ve been hung up on.
I’d be more angry if he hadn’t left our conversation with what seems like a warning.
Eyeing those barbed wires once more, I grimace at the reminder that I’m now kind of feeling like a mouse waiting in a trap. Before I let myself think too deeply about the unknown, I slip back in my car and lock the doors for a safe measure.
Clutching my phone, I hesitate before shooting a message to Finn. He can break the news to Mom. I’ve done enough for him during our youthful years to take an earful in like a champ by updating our parents.
Sighing softly under my breath, I lean back and close my eyes.
Maybe this flat tire isn’t an entirely bad thing. Taking off work to come here, I should see this time away from the city as a mini-vacation.
At the moment, I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Right now, I’m surrounded by an unexpected calm that’s the most soothing thing I’ve heard in a long time.
Forty minutes sounds like a lifetime; however, I don’t realize I’m dozing off until there’s a sound of something approaching from behind.
As I crack my eyes open, a glance in the rearview mirrors tells me I’m no longer alone. Still a bit disoriented from my short nap, I forget where I am for a moment.
It’s embarrassing how long it takes everything to come back to me. Sitting a little straighter, I take in the side of the truck, a little relieved to see theSteel Haven Autologo printed as it slowly passes.
My rescuer is here.
I blink at the brake lights as the truck pulls in front of me. It has all the parts and pieces to tow my car, but it has a rustic look that shows its age.
