meaning to take back
to the library for days now. “It’s a tow truck, Avery! It’s not as if we’re calling
the state troopers.”
“Stop yelling at me! I don’t know what his problem is, but he wants you to bring the
Beast out there. I’d do it, but the antique lamp I bought at auction last week will
be at my shop in twenty minutes and I’m the only one who can sign for it. He can use
my winch to haul his ass out of the ditch.”
She glanced at the book and cup of tea she’d just settled down with and resigned herself
to going out into the storm that had rolled through earlier this morning. It wasn’t
one for the record books by any means—the snow came down in a steady stream that indicated
there’d be a few extra inches on the ground by the time it was done—but it wasn’t
going to be pleasant driving. At least she’d be in Avery’s enormous Jeep, which everyone
referred to as the Beast. “I’m putting my shoes on right now.”
“You’re the best! The keys are on the table at my house. I’ll text you directions.”
Bri sighed and tossed her book into her purse. “Drew owes me big-time for this.”
“You be sure to let him know that when you see him.”
With another, longer sigh, she stood and went in search of her of travel mug. If she
was venturing out in this mess, she wasn’t doing it without her tea. To make matters
worse, the Beast had spotty heat at best. It was famed for never having met a ditch
it couldn’t get out of and, with a résumé like that, Avery claimed she didn’t need
little things like a working thermostat or accurate gas gauge.
She was tempted to call the tow truck, regardless of what Drew wanted. Driving there
would take at least forty-five minutes from town, maybe longer if the snow got any
worse. She’d be lucky if she didn’t end up in the ditch, too.
She grabbed her keys and coat, and headed for the door. Damn Drew for getting into
this mess while his brother was with him. She didn’t want to see Ryan again. It didn’t
matter how she seemed to lose all sense of control when she was around him—he was
no good for her on any other level. Which was fine, because she definitely wasn’t
traipsing out into the painfully cold and wet weather just so she could spend a little
more time with him. She was just going to help a friend in need.
That was it.
…
Ryan stared at the text his fool brother had just sent, trying to force a logical
reaction even though all he wanted to do was jump from his chair and race to his SUV.
Bri was in an accident. I can’t get out to help her and all my guys are busy with
other calls. Need you to. Worried she’s going to wander off. Here’s the address.
Of all the times for the goddamn sheriff’s office to be running low on manpower, now
was seriously shit. He hoped to God his brother hadn’t shared who was coming to help
her out. If Drew told her to sit and wait for Ryan, she was more likely to stomp through
a snowstorm if it meant she could avoid seeing him again.
Hell, two days ago when he’d waited at the diner across the street for her to close
the library, he’d seen her peek her head out of the front door, take one look at his
SUV, and disappear. Five minutes later he’d watched her sneak out the side exit—which
was in the direct line of sight of the booth he’d taken. It was goddamn stupid. They
were both adults. And, yeah, the date had been bad—ridiculously good sex on her porch
excepted—and then they’d gone and added to the History of Ryan Flannery the night
of Avery’s party. But that didn’t mean she had to avoid him. Though, if he had a lick
of sense, he’d avoid her like the plague.
Which did nothing to explain why his idiot self was throwing on his ski jacket, grabbing
his keys and emergency bag, and heading out into the weather to rescue her ass.
Ryan drove out of town, windshield wipers flying across his line of vision as he
to the library for days now. “It’s a tow truck, Avery! It’s not as if we’re calling
the state troopers.”
“Stop yelling at me! I don’t know what his problem is, but he wants you to bring the
Beast out there. I’d do it, but the antique lamp I bought at auction last week will
be at my shop in twenty minutes and I’m the only one who can sign for it. He can use
my winch to haul his ass out of the ditch.”
She glanced at the book and cup of tea she’d just settled down with and resigned herself
to going out into the storm that had rolled through earlier this morning. It wasn’t
one for the record books by any means—the snow came down in a steady stream that indicated
there’d be a few extra inches on the ground by the time it was done—but it wasn’t
going to be pleasant driving. At least she’d be in Avery’s enormous Jeep, which everyone
referred to as the Beast. “I’m putting my shoes on right now.”
“You’re the best! The keys are on the table at my house. I’ll text you directions.”
Bri sighed and tossed her book into her purse. “Drew owes me big-time for this.”
“You be sure to let him know that when you see him.”
With another, longer sigh, she stood and went in search of her of travel mug. If she
was venturing out in this mess, she wasn’t doing it without her tea. To make matters
worse, the Beast had spotty heat at best. It was famed for never having met a ditch
it couldn’t get out of and, with a résumé like that, Avery claimed she didn’t need
little things like a working thermostat or accurate gas gauge.
She was tempted to call the tow truck, regardless of what Drew wanted. Driving there
would take at least forty-five minutes from town, maybe longer if the snow got any
worse. She’d be lucky if she didn’t end up in the ditch, too.
She grabbed her keys and coat, and headed for the door. Damn Drew for getting into
this mess while his brother was with him. She didn’t want to see Ryan again. It didn’t
matter how she seemed to lose all sense of control when she was around him—he was
no good for her on any other level. Which was fine, because she definitely wasn’t
traipsing out into the painfully cold and wet weather just so she could spend a little
more time with him. She was just going to help a friend in need.
That was it.
…
Ryan stared at the text his fool brother had just sent, trying to force a logical
reaction even though all he wanted to do was jump from his chair and race to his SUV.
Bri was in an accident. I can’t get out to help her and all my guys are busy with
other calls. Need you to. Worried she’s going to wander off. Here’s the address.
Of all the times for the goddamn sheriff’s office to be running low on manpower, now
was seriously shit. He hoped to God his brother hadn’t shared who was coming to help
her out. If Drew told her to sit and wait for Ryan, she was more likely to stomp through
a snowstorm if it meant she could avoid seeing him again.
Hell, two days ago when he’d waited at the diner across the street for her to close
the library, he’d seen her peek her head out of the front door, take one look at his
SUV, and disappear. Five minutes later he’d watched her sneak out the side exit—which
was in the direct line of sight of the booth he’d taken. It was goddamn stupid. They
were both adults. And, yeah, the date had been bad—ridiculously good sex on her porch
excepted—and then they’d gone and added to the History of Ryan Flannery the night
of Avery’s party. But that didn’t mean she had to avoid him. Though, if he had a lick
of sense, he’d avoid her like the plague.
Which did nothing to explain why his idiot self was throwing on his ski jacket, grabbing
his keys and emergency bag, and heading out into the weather to rescue her ass.
Ryan drove out of town, windshield wipers flying across his line of vision as he
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