“What is it? Are you okay?” The genuine concern in his tone made her heart gallop offbeat.
“Why do you keep asking if I’m okay? Of course I’m okay. Everything’s fine.” Aubrey gulped some mountain air. “Except that I’m broken down on a dirt trail in the middle of the forest.”
This time, the silence lasted longer.
“Hel-lo-oo?”
“Do you have water? Anything to eat?”
“Yes and yes.” Just because she’d gotten herself into a stupid situation didn’t mean she was stupid. Temper crept into her voice. “I have all my camping gear with me. I could live happily as a wild woman for weeks if I wanted to.”
“Okay. Stay put, and I can… Shit. I can’t come for you until I know where the hell you are.”
“Wait. We’re talking on the phone,” she said with relief and excitement.
“I’m aware of that,” he said flatly.
“It means I finally have reception.” She pulled her phone away from her ear and went into her map app. “Bingo. Here, I’m sending you my GPS location.”
“I got it.” They both sighed into the phone. “I’ll be there in three hours.”
“You can just send a tow truck tomorrow. I’m okay to stay the night.”
“I’ll be there in two hours and forty-seven minutes.”
“Fine. I don’t have plans to go anywhere.”
Her wry response was met with silence. They’d been disconnected. If she’d lost connection three minutes earlier, she might’ve been stranded indefinitely. A shiver jerked its way down her torso. That was a close call.
Aubrey went to dig through her trunk for a paperback she’d seen rolling around. She’d probably read it already, but a good romance deserved multiple reads. Once she knew help was coming, the day went much better. The birds forgave her and came back to sing. The breeze rustled through the leaves in harmony. Aubrey had always loved the mountains. Her surroundings filled her with serenity, and she was quite content tosit on the roof of her Jeep, munching on some white chocolate cranberry cookies.
Aubrey looked up from the book as the sun yawned after a long day and the shadows stretched their tired limbs. The beautiful love story had fast-forwarded time. Putting aside her book, she inhaled the mountain air, appreciating her serene surroundings until a steroid-overloaded muscle car came roaring toward her, barely missing her Jeep.
She gagged and spat out her lovely snack as a dust storm engulfed her. Between herpeh-peh-pehand stinging eyes, she didn’t see Landon until he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her off the roof. She reached and clung to his shoulders.
“What the hell’s the matter with you?” he said, his eyes dark as the night forest.
Her feet dangled as he held her hostage in the air. Angry Landon was downright intimidating. He’d probably welcome a throwdown with a mama black bear to burn off his fury. His face was inches from hers, and his rough breathing heated her skin.
She was so turned on.
Aubrey wasn’t right in the head, but lord have mercy, she wanted him. His lips were pressed into a straight line, and she wanted to kiss them until they resumed their usual shape—wide, generous, andnom nomon the bottom.
Her tongue flicked out to wet her lips, and she clasped her hands around his neck without conscious thought. Landon’s eyes widened, the anger and relief behind them withering in the heat of desire. His palpable yearning entwined with hers, leaving her winded.
Without breaking eye contact, Landon lowered her to the ground, letting her body slide down his. She bit her lip to stop from moaning. He leaned in, and her eyes fluttered shut. Fora long moment, there was only silence and stillness. Aubrey opened one eye to see what was going on, and her cheeks heated up. Landon had pulled away and was staring intently at her. Was he wondering why the hell she had her eyes closed? She quickly stepped around him to create distance.
“What’s the matter withme?Nothing. Except you tried to kill me with your dust storm–generating muscle car and insane stunt driving.” Aubrey rubbed her face with her hands to pull herself together. “You scared the crap out of me, and you almost flattened my Jeep.”
“It’s an Alfa Romeo Giulia, and it’s nowhere near your car.”
“Is she an old flame?”
“What?” He looked thoroughly flummoxed.
“You named your car ‘Julia.’ I figured she was your first love or something.”
“Giulia with a G, not—never mind.” A vein near his temple was pulsing ominously, and Aubrey was enjoying herself immensely.
