Chapter One #2
“Don’t bother with the medics. It’s not the first spill I’ve taken.” The stranger’s dark gaze swung in her direction. “Unless you need them?”
His deep voice reverberated in every cell of her body.
She unconsciously leaned closer, wanting him to speak again.
“I’m fine,” she managed to get out. Or she would be.
While she wasn’t hurt, she’d had a shock.
Nothing compared to the man she’d collided with.
She pressed her hand to her midsection, but the sick sensation didn’t abate.
If anything, it grew. She’d actually struck someone.
“Can you tell me your name?” Cal asked the stranger.
“Alexiares Blackwell. Alex.”
“Mr. Blackwell, you should sit down and take it easy until the paramedics arrive.”
“Believe me, I’m good.” He removed his helmet and tossed it aside.
Straight, silky black hair fell to his shoulders, adding to his bad boy persona.
One knee of his dark jeans was ripped. Whether that had happened during the accident or had already been there was impossible to tell.
His leather jacket was scuffed and scratched, but it had protected his upper body from the worst of the road rash.
“Can’t say the same for my bike.” He shook his head as he studied the bent frame.
“Adrenaline might make you think that, but it’s for the best if you take it slowly until you’re checked out.” Cal glanced over his shoulder as the sound of sirens got closer. “What happened?” he asked her.
She dragged her fingers through her hair, dislodging it from the bun she’d put it in for the appointment with her lawyer.
What had happened? She’d been distracted, thinking about what had transpired at the meeting she’d just come from.
“Ah, I’m not sure. I rounded the turn in the road and there was a motorcycle coming straight at me. ”
“It was my fault.” The stranger’s mouth twisted up into a wry smile. “A deer darted in front of me. I zigged when I should have zagged and ended up in the wrong lane. She swerved to avoid me but I clipped her car.”
It surprised her that he took full blame for the accident. In her experience, most people did their best to avoid admitting any wrongdoing. “It was no one’s fault. It’s one of those things you can’t predict. Since I didn’t see it, I assume the deer was the only one to make it out unscathed.”
His smile momentarily deepened, giving her a glimpse of a dimple in his left cheek. Her stomach fluttered and her breath caught in her throat. “That’s kind of you, but I’m at fault. Any damage to your car?”
“Ah, I don’t know.” She hadn’t thought to check, too concerned about getting to him.
She walked toward the vehicle and frowned when she ran her hand over the bumper.
“I don’t understand.” Puzzled, she checked the other side, in case she was misremembering.
It had all happened so fast. “There’s no dent. Not even a scratch.”
And from the force of the impact, she’d expected the vehicle to need at least minor repairs. Obviously, it couldn’t have been as hard as she’d thought. Likely another reason the driver was on his feet, walking and talking.
“Guess it’s only my bike that’s going to need a garage.” The ambulance pulled in before he could say more, and the paramedics hustled over.
Cilla moved aside to give them room. When the trembling worsened in her arms and legs, she leaned against the side of her car. Lightheaded, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“You okay?” Cal lightly touched her arm. “You hit yourself anywhere when you stopped?”
She shook her head and immediately regretted it when the world blurred.
“What about the seat belt?” He canted his head toward the paramedics. “You should have them take a look at you once they’re done with him.”
“I wasn’t driving fast when I hit the brakes. The air bag didn’t even deploy.” Another sign the collision wasn’t nearly as bad as she’d first believed.
“You’ll likely have some mild bruising from the seat belt. You need to be checked out in case of internal injuries. Better safe than sorry. If nothing else, you’ll be stiff and sore tomorrow. You stay here.”
No worries about her going anywhere. With her hands still trembling, she was in no shape to drive yet.
While she waited, she studied the biker.
He towered over the other men. Had to be about six and a half feet tall.
The black hair and eyes, the broad shoulders and long legs, all made for one impressive package.
It also reminded her of another man she’d recently met.
Alexiares Blackwell, she silently repeated.
Everything clicked into place. “Are you related to Samael Blackwell?”
Alex’s head snapped toward her, his gaze narrowing. “You know Sam?”
“He was a recent guest at my bed-and-breakfast.”
“Mr. Blackwell.” One of the paramedics pointed to the ambulance. “You really should let us take you in for X-rays and a full examination.”
“We’re done. I’m fine.” Leaving them, he strode toward her. “You run a B&B?”
“Ivy House. Five luxury suites in a quiet part of town.” It wasn’t exactly lying to call them luxury. Four of them had been completely refurbished, but the remaining one needed serious updating. It was on her never-ending to-do list.
“Any rooms available?”
“Sorry to interrupt.” Arms crossed, Cal studied them with unabashed curiosity. “I need statements from both of you. Then you need to decide what you’re doing with your motorcycle. Tow truck is on the way. And to follow up on Cilla’s question, are you related to Sam Blackwell?”
Rather than answer the officer, Alex canted his head toward her. “Cilla?”
“Cilla Wainwright.” She held out her hand. His larger one swallowed hers when he took it. The olive tone of his skin appeared even darker next to the paleness of hers. Tingles raced up her arm.
“Good to meet you, even under the circumstances.”
Cal cleared his throat. “Mr. Blackwell.”
Sighing, Alex released her hand. She immediately curled her fingers inward.
“To answer your question, I want my bike taken to a garage. If they can’t fix it, I’ll figure something out from there.”
“And Sam Blackwell?” Cal wasn’t giving up.
Alex’s jaw tightened. “He’s my brother.” Ignoring the officer once again, he focused on her. “Do you have a room I can book?”
Considering she’d run him off the road, it was the least she could do. “Of course. And you can stay for free for a couple of nights. Until you find out if your motorcycle is able to be fixed. It’s the least I can do.”
“Cilla.” There was a warning note in Cal’s voice.
“He’s Sam’s brother, and Chief Johnson vouched for Sam. You’re not an axe murderer or anything like that, are you?”
The corners of his mouth twitched. “Not an axe murderer.”
She noted he left it at that and didn’t deny the “anything like that” claim. Made her even more curious about him.
“I’m going to take your statements.” Another officer had arrived and was busy photographing the scene. Cal motioned to Alex. “I’ll start with you.” He pointed his finger at her. “I’m sending the paramedics over to have a look at you.”
Giving into the inevitable, she allowed herself to be poked and prodded, after which time the professionals declared her to have minor bruising from the seat belt but she was otherwise fine.
As they packed up and then left, she watched Cal continue to question Alex Blackwell.
When he was done, he strolled over to her.
“Let’s run through your story one more time for the record. ”
Feeling steadier, she went over the events again.
When she was done, he nodded. “That’s basically the same thing Mr. Blackwell said.
It’s one of those accidents where the only one at fault is the deer—and Mr. Blackwell for swerving into your lane instead of onto the shoulder—but, since neither of you are seriously injured, all you can do is let your insurance companies fight about who pays for the repairs. Are you okay to drive?”
The adrenaline dump had left her shaky, but she was steadier than she’d been. “I’ll take it slow, and it’s not far to town.”
He hesitated. “You sure it’s wise to let him stay at Ivy House?”
“He needs a place to stay, and I run an inn.” Not to mention she felt somewhat responsible for the shape of his motorcycle, even though the accident technically hadn’t been her fault.
“He gives you any trouble or if you have any concerns, you call me, you hear?”
“I will.” She crossed her finger over her heart. “Promise.”
“I’m going to get your car back on the road for you, make sure everything is working as it should.”
“Thanks, Cal.” She straightened away from the car as he slid into the driver’s seat. He pulled forward, steering the vehicle off the gravel shoulder and onto the pavement.
Alex strolled over to stand beside her. He’d been watching them the entire time. “That’s personalized service.” He canted his head toward her car. “You two seem close.”
“I’ve known Cal since we were kids. Redemption is a small town. Everyone pretty much knows everyone.”
A tow truck pulled in behind the police car. “Once I take care of arrangements for my bike, I’ll need a ride to town. Since I’m going to be staying at your place do you mind if I catch a lift with you?”
The butterflies in her stomach were back. Not because of a delayed reaction to the accident, but at the thought of being in close confines with Alex. There was something magnetic about him. He wasn’t traditionally handsome—too rough around the edges for that—but something about him drew her.
And he was waiting for an answer while she was busy staring at him. “Sure. Okay. Of course, I don’t mind.”
She pressed her lips together to stop the spew of words. Handling people was part of her job, and she was usually good at it, but Alex had her addled. Or maybe it was the accident. Either way, she needed to pull herself together.
The smile he flashed took him from ruggedly handsome to downright gorgeous. “I won’t be long.” Loping down the road, he met the tow truck driver and motioned to the motorcycle lying off to the side.
Cal came to stand beside her. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Cilla.”
She shielded her eyes against the glare and studied her new guest. “So do I.”