Page 3 of Accidentally on Purpose

Awesome.

I snagged my bottom lip between my teeth. While I was glad he was here, I wasn’t exactly sure what help he could be since he clearly didn’t have a tow truck or any tools.

“I take it you don’t have any coolant with you that you could just top it up?” It was an unrealistically hopeful question.

“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “What I’ll do is head back to my shop, grab my tow truck, and come back for your Jeep. Then I can take a look and see where the leak is coming from and fix it.”

My chest deflated with my exhale.

“Okay.” But that wasn’t going to help me now. “I really have to get going, so I’ll just give you my number and call an Uber. Actually, I’ll give you the number of the owner of the car, so you can call him directly about the problem—”

“Where do you need to go?”

My mouth opened and shut. “Just on the other side of Jackson.”

“Don’t call an Uber. I’ll take you,” he said. “I go through town on the way to my shop anyway.”

I was about to protest—the first syllable of refusal actually escaped my lips before I clamped them shut. It would take an Uber at least fifteen minutes to get here and then another twenty to Mom’s. I couldn’t risk it.

“Okay, yeah.” My head bobbed. “That would actually be really great.”

* * *

Within minutes, Decker had moved my luggage into the back of his Bronco, and I was climbing into the passenger seat, the veryuncoolJeep parked and locked up in the rearview. I’d left a voicemail and sent the owner of the Jeep a message about the problems with the car and that I was having it towed to a local garage.

“Okay, where to?”

“Just head through Jackson, and I’ll tell you when to turn.” I slumped into the seat and chewed on my bottom lip.

“Okay.” He put the car in drive and turned back onto the highway.

We rode in silence for several minutes, my gaze locked on the mountains rolling by. Every time I came home, I wondered how I could’ve forgotten how beautifulhomereally was. Sure, New York City had its own staggering skyline but here…Wyoming was Big Sky country, and every breath felt like it reached just a little deeper inside my lungs.

“Where’d you come in from?” Decker broke my trance.

“New York,” I said, letting myself steal a glance at his profile. Straight nose. Strong jawline. And something about the way he drove with only one hand on the wheel and the other on his thigh…almost like how you’d ride a horse. I’d bet he was good at riding with those muscled thighs and—shit.I cleared my throat and offered,“But I’m from Jackson originally.”

I’d sunk to a new low—ogling the mechanic who was giving me a ride home. Maybe taking all those extra night shifts at the hospital before I left hadn’t been the best idea.

“Ahh…home for a visit.” He flashed that crooked smile, and something fluttered in my stomach.

I nodded and folded my arms;I was just hungry, that’s all.

“My mom had her knee replaced yesterday, so I’m on nursing duty for the next four weeks.” I wasn’t sure why I was telling him this except that I was grateful for his help, and I was preparing myself to be Mom’s only company.

The National Elk Refuge passed by on the left. Now, the vast plains seemed almost empty, but during the winter, it would be filled with one of the largest elk herds on earth. The sight was something to behold.

“Oh, that’s rough,” Decker replied with a grimace. “My dad had both of his done last year at the same time. Something about insurance. He’s doing good now, but those first few weeks were tough. She’ll be fine. She’s just gotta keep pushing.”

“Well, she’s good at that,” I muttered under my breath.

Pushing me to find a boyfriend. Pushing me to get married. Have kids.

Pushing me toward a life I had no control over—a life I could lose.

Our eyes collided, his stare questioning my comment.

“She’s stubborn,” I tacked on with a quick smile. “Her doctor told me she should’ve had this knee done five years ago, and she put it off because she didn’t want to have to bother anyone to take care of her.” I pointed at the window. “At the second light, turn right.”

---