Roadside Service by Jo Matthews, B. L. Wilde

tight schedule this week. You need to focus.”
    “I’m aware of that. I just need a few days to get my head straight.”
    “You don’t have a few days!”
    “I know,” I winced.
    “You really liked that mechanic, didn’t you?”
    “His name is Blake ,” I glared. “And it doesn’t matter if I did. We wanted different things.”
    “Men are a distraction, anyway. You’re better off without him.” Allie had no idea what she was talking about. She hadn’t dated in years; she was too focused on her career. “You’d need a guy who would give up everything to be with you, and Violet, those men don’t exist. They’re all selfish pricks.” I got the feeling Allie had been burned by a man in the past. She was ruthless with any man, which was one of the main reasons I hired her as my agent.
    “Not all men are pricks, Allie,” I chuckled, shaking my head.
    “Then where is your mechanic?” I looked around the airport, silently hoping that he would suddenly appear in front of me. We were almost at arrivals at that point. “He hasn’t made any attempt to rush to you and admit his feelings. He already got his fill of you, and by next week, he’ll be moving onto the next woman.” My heart deflated at her words. I didn’t want Blake to find anyone else, but what could I do about that? He’d made his feelings very clear earlier. He hadn’t even asked for my number or a way to get ahold of me once I was gone. Maybe Allie was right. Had Blake used me?    
    The one perk of being a Supermodel was the quick check-ins at airports. There wasn’t much I loved about my job, but that definitely made traveling easier.
    I was about to collect my personal belongings when I heard my name being called behind me, and for once, it’s didn’t sound like a crazy fan.  
    I turned, feeling slightly dazed at the sight that greeted me—it was Blake, and he was making his way toward me. Not trusting my eyes at first, I tried to shake myself. Was I dreaming? That kind of thing only ever happened in movies.
    “Blake?” I breathed when he was finally standing in front of me, completely out of breath. “What are you doing here?”
    “I couldn’t…let you…leave this…way,” he panted, trying to catch his breath.
    “I’m fine, Blake,” I sighed, turning away from him. If that was all he had come for, he shouldn’t have bothered.
    “I know we decided it was just a fling,” he continued, grabbing my arm softly and making me face him. No, Blake. Y ou decided that, not me. “But, well…something my sister said to me made me think that I might mean more to you than that, Violet.”
    “What would it matter if you did?” I whimpered. “It could never work.”
    “Why not?” Blake’s voice broke as he spoke. Oh my! Was I reading the situation all wrong, or was he really trying to tell me something?
    “Blake, I’m not someone who can settle down yet. To be with me means traveling the world, never staying in one place for more than a few weeks. Long distance relationships don’t work for me, and I won’t ask you to be someone you’re not. Nebraska is your home. I can’t ask you to leave all that behind for me.” I knew I was making my feelings for him too clear, but I didn’t really care at the moment. I figured I might as well lay it all out on the table.
    “You think I wouldn’t want to follow you?” he murmured. His eyes were bright with a new understanding.
    “Don’t, Blake. You have no idea what this life is like for me. Guys like you only show up once in a lifetime, and in my line of work, I can’t offer you what you deserve. Yes, I’m a supermodel. I have this fame that follows me everywhere and opens doors for me, but that’s not who I am. You saw the real me these last two weeks, and I’ve never felt so alive. I know I would be asking too much of you, though, by asking you to come with me.”
    “Violet…” Blake took my hands in his. “Beautiful, I would follow you anywhere. Why the hell do