Chapter 3
Scout
I’m screwed.
That’s all I can think as I stare at the smoke billowing from my engine. I’m afraid to do anything besides watch it. It’s not like I would know how to fix the issues, anyway. I know nothing about cars or engines.
So screwed.
Heavy footsteps crunch on the dirt road behind me, and I let out a yip as I turn around. I’m not sure if I was expecting to see one of Leonard’s men there or my dad, but luckily for me, it’s neither of them.
I lock eyes with the handsomest, tallest man I’ve ever seen. My body reacts to the attraction instantly, my core tightening and my cheeks flushing.
“Hey there. Car trouble?” he asks, giving me an easy smile that has me relaxing slightly.
“Uh, yeah,” I mumble.
“Want me to take a look?”
“That would be great.”
Maybe he can fix it, and I can get back on the road again. I need to put some more distance between me and those men.
“I’m Carter,” the guy says, holding his hand out to me to shake.
“Scout,” I say, shivering as his big hand engulfs mine.
“Nice to meet you, Scout.”
“You too.”
He releases his hold on me almost reluctantly. I turn and watch as he looks over the engine. He frowns, and my stomach sinks.
“Bad news?”
He glances at me. “Maybe. I need to check something first.”
I nod, trying to hold back the tears. I need to get out of here. I can’t let them find me.
“So, what’s with the getup?” Carter asks with an easy grin.
I burst into tears.
I can’t remember the last time I cried. I’m embarrassed to be doing it now in front of this hot stranger, but I can’t stop now that I’ve started.
“Whoa!” Carter says, looking alarmed. “I’m sorry, I—”
“No, it’s not you. It’s been the worst day,” I sniffle.
He nods, still looking worried as I continue to sob. I cover my face with my hands, trying to get it together, but it’s no use. A second later, a pair of strong arms wrap around me, and I’m tugged into a sturdy chest.
“It’s okay,” Carter whispers. “Let it out.”
I drop my hands, wrapping them around his waist, clinging to him as I cry. It takes me a few minutes to get all the tears out. I grab one of the ruffles on the wedding dress and wipe my eyes and nose on the fabric.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Carter asks gently.
“It’s a really long story,” I warn him.
“I’ve got time.”
Something about Carter makes me trust him, some intuition that tells me he’s a good guy. So I nod and tell him everything that’s happened.
“So I crawled out the bathroom window and ran to my car. I should have known it wouldn’t get me far, but I knew that I couldn’t stay there. I had to get out of town,” I finish.
Carter looks pissed. His whole body tensed when I told him that my dad was trying to force me to marry some dude to repay his debts.
He looks like he wants to murder someone, and for some strange reason, that has me relaxing even more around him.
Something tells me that he would never hurt me. Other people maybe, but never me.
“I’m so sorry you went through that, Scout,” he says sincerely.
“Thanks. Do you think you can fix my car? I really need to get out of here. I can’t let them find me.”
“They won’t,” he promises. “I’m sorry, but I can’t fix it. Not today anyway. You need a new head gasket.”
My body deflates. “Oh.”
“We can order the part.”
“I don’t have time for that,” I whisper.
“You can stay here. I’ll hide your car so no one passing by sees it.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask. I’m offering. Come on. Are you hungry?”
My stomach growls and my cheeks heat. “Starving,” I admit.
“I’ll make us dinner, and you can change and get settled. You can stay until you figure out your next steps.”
I want to say yes so badly, but I still hesitate. Should I stay? I don’t know this guy. Sure, he seems great, but what if he’s crazy or something?
What other option do I have? I have no ride out of here and nowhere safe to go even if I did have my car.
“You’re not a murderer or anything, right?”
He hesitates. “Uh…”
“What?” I shriek.
He holds up his hands. “I mean, I have killed people, but I was a Marine. I would never hurt you.”
I let out a big breath, my shoulders sagging. “Oh. Are you still in the military?”
“No, I got out a few months ago.” He studies me. “So? What do you say, Scout? Want to crash with me?”
“I…Yeah,” I say finally. “That would be great. Thanks, Carter.”
“Of course. All right, hop in and you can steer us over there to the garage,” he says as he closes the hood.
I climb back in the car.
“Shift it into neutral!” he calls, moving to the trunk.
I follow his orders, watching in the rearview mirror as he pushes the car. His muscles bunch against his shirt sleeves, and my nipples tighten into stiff peaks. My pussy clenches, and I feel my panties growing damp with my arousal.
Gosh, he’s so hot.
“Steer a little to the left!”
I jerk in the seat, twisting the steering wheel when I realize I’m about to steer into a tree.
Great, he’s going to think I’m an idiot now.
My body feels like it’s on fire, half from the embarrassing blush, and half from watching his feat of strength.
I climb out of the car once we get it hidden in the garage, glaring at the poofy skirt as I slam the door shut.
“Come on, let’s get you a change of clothes.”
“And maybe a shower?” I mumble hopefully.
Carter nods. “Sure. Whatever you need. You can make yourself at home here, Scout.”
I will my body under control as I follow Carter up the porch steps to the front door. I need to get my head on straight, or I’ll do something embarrassing like fall for the kind man who rescued me.
It might be too late, I think as I follow him inside.