Bonus Scene #2
A strong gust of air cooled the sweat along my forehead and down my back.
And brought with it a terrible smell. "Ugh.
" I stopped and turned the direction of the wind.
Burning rubber. Or skunk. “That fucking reeks.” Either someone's being an ass, and I would've heard the engine.
Or…I scanned the area. The waning sunlight cast long shadows that melded with other shadows.
I jogged to the other side of the street where I could see the bend in the road—it ducked behind a small grouping of rock, trees and cactus. Taillights blinked in the darkness.
"Not a good place to pull over." I changed direction, picking up speed. I kept an eye out for any sign of another car heading this direction.
"Hey!" I ran faster. Made the turn and sure enough…an older model pickup truck sat at an angle with a flat back tire. Its hazard lights were flashing, but an oncoming car making the bend would be hard-pressed to see the damned thing in time. "You can't do that."
"Can't do what?" A female voice called back.
The tailgate shuddered and inched upwards.
I peered over the bumper, and there she was—kneeling on the ground, a bright pink sweatshirt beneath her.
She pumped the handle on the emergency scissor jack.
Short auburn hair danced around her shoulders with the effort.
I glanced at the truck bed. A yellow sticker in the back left of the window said, "Baby on board. " I blinked. There's a child?
"What the hell's wrong with you?"
She shot to her feet. "What?" She glanced around wildly.
I pointed at the cab. "You've got a child in the car?"
"Yes? What? Is she OK?” Her eyebrows lifted. “She was asleep." She rushed to the side of the truck cab to peer into the backseat window.
"Where's your emergency kit?” I moved to her side of the vehicle. “Warning triangles, reflective vest, something, you got anything?” I rapped my knuckles against the truck bed. It made a loud, hollow thump. “Otherwise, we gotta move this heap."
"Heap?” She whipped her head in my direction. “Where the hell do you get off?" Dark eyebrows formed a deep scowl. She planted a hand on one hip. "I didn't ask for your help. Get lost."
What? "No one can see you. Idiot kids will take this turn too fast, like always, and then your inconvenient flat tire becomes deadly—for you and your daughter. We either need to cone this off, or we gotta move."
"But I just got it on the jack,” she groaned and gestured at the tire. “And there's no way I'm pushing this up the hill."
I huffed. "You don't push it up the hill. You let gravity do the tough work. We'll let it drift backwards and get it to the shoulder on the other side."
She let out a sigh, but pushed past me to kneel beside the tire.
The truck shuddered again and began to lower.
I ran a hand over my face. Guess she’s got it.
I walked to the back of the truck to keep an eye out.
The sun dipped further. I glanced at the truck.
Crossed my arms. Noticed my own running gear didn’t have much reflective material. And you’re an idiot.
A low, steady hum and the crunch of gravel against rubber caught my attention.
“Car,” I barked out as I grabbed the bright pink sweatshirt from the ground.
I pulled it over my head and barely managed to tug it down over my ribs.
“Fuck it.” I leapt the rocks and ducked the cactus to get down to the highway.
And stood in the center of the road waving my arms. Headlights caught the rhinestones and glitter or whatever the shit that stuff was called.
I swear Barbie must’ve thrown up on this thing.
The car slowed to a stop. I waved and pointed at the bend in the road. The driver’s side window rolled down. "What's going on?"
"Flat tire. Up ahead."
The driver was a man with glasses and mostly silver-grey hair. Headlights blazed straight ahead, providing improved visibility. And rainbow sparkles from my borrowed Barbie-princess-playmate attire. I tried to yank the sweatshirt down. It pulled at the shoulders.
"You need some help?" One eyebrow lifted and his mouth tucked up on one side.
Yeah, yeah, laugh it up.
“No, I think we’re ok.” The chick truck owner appeared behind me and had the nerve to shake her head. "Thank you—"
"Actually, yeah,” I cut her off. Was she serious? “Think you can help me get it down this incline so it's not a death trap?" I tried to hook a thumb over my shoulder, but the arm on the damned sweatshirt was so tight, I didn’t quite manage it. I growled and huffed. I look like a strip club reject.
“Gee, thanks.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Truck’s off the jack. Just needs one person in the driver’s seat”—she turned and scowled at me—"and one to help guide it.”
The older dude nodded. He pulled his car off to the side of the road, into the dirt, then turned on his hazard lights.
"I don't need his help." She shoved at my shoulder. "I didn't need your help. And you're stretching out my favorite hoodie."
"Ugh, I hate it anyway!" I yanked the thing over my head and tossed it back at her.
She hissed. "I almost had it on the jack and then you—"
"Just go take care of the baby," I gritted out. "I'll handle the rest."
She planted her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed to slits—her petite, curvy figure on full display with her tied-off shirt and cutoffs. "How about you take care of the baby, tough guy?"
I chuckled. “I’m good with kids. Bring it.” I didn't think she meant it. Who would give a random stranger her child?
But the next thing I knew, I was on the side of the road with a young sleeping thing strapped to my chest. The mom pointed at me, then pointed at the older dude's wife. "Watch him, will you?"
The wife just looked at me and arched a thin eyebrow. I shrugged, sat down on the bumper of their car and let out a long, frustrated breath. “Your mom,” I spoke to the fuzzy head of the baby and patted her back.
The baby wasn't an infant, but definitely wasn't going for a toddle around the block if I set her down. "Probably what, six months? Eight? You're kinda hefty for a little thing."
Her eyebrows went up and her little fist rose to her mouth. She sucked on her knuckles.
"Eh, don't put that in your face." I maneuvered the hand out from between her perfectly shaped lips. Only to find her fist wrapped around my pointer finger. I moved it up and down, but she held tight. In her sleep. Babies.
"You'll be a great girl dad someday."
Despite my response to Red at the time, the last thing I wanted was a miniature version of me running around. But a little girl? Yeah, I'd raise her to give 'em hell, just like…I sighed. Mom.
Yeah. Former Navy, didn't take any crap. My daughter will be like that someday, no doubt about it.
The loud rumble of a car engine rushed by, pulling my attention from the sleeping child. I glanced over to where older dude and the chick had already moved the truck to the shoulder. She grabbed the jack from the guy and kneeled on the ground by the flat. I groaned.
"You've got your hands full with that one," I muttered to the sleeping child.
Older dude hovered for a few moments, until the truck was up on the jack. Then he jogged across the road.
"Oliver." He stuck out his hand.
I shook it. "Beaux. Thanks for the help."
"Your girlfriend's a force of nature," he said with a bemused smile. "But those tires, they're all in bad shape. If you need some money, we’d be glad to help."
The sedan’s passenger side door swung open, and his wife stepped out of the car. "We know times are tough," she said with a lopsided smile and a furrowed brow. "And with a new baby, you young kids have more important things to worry about.”
I rested my hand on the girl’s back even as she held tight to my other finger. My insides squirmed inside an acidic stew. They seem like nice people. But I can't take their money. I blew out a breath. She probably needs it, though. And I can almost guarantee she won't take it. Stubborn woman.
"Appreciate it, but I can buy her tires. I, uh, just got back from, er, deployment. Didn't realize.” I rubbed at the back of my neck as I glanced away. “I can take care of her." Dammit, what the fuck am I supposed to say? "And her." I stood and patted the baby strapped to my chest.
Older dude's wife moved closer. A fond smile lit her features. "What's her name?"
"Amberine," I replied without even thinking. God, I'm an idiot. Moron. Idiotic moron.
"Amberine. That's just lovely," she crooned. "You seem like a beautiful little family." She patted my shoulder. Tilted her head. “Sweet baby. Just so precious.”
And the next thing I knew, the lady crushed money into my hand, scurrying back around the side of the car like she was rushing for the endzone. She ducked into the car and the older dude waved his hand out the window as they pulled away.
I stared at the waning taillights. Family? Lady’s got some screws loose. I rubbed a hand over my face. “Great, now I'm going to have to get your mom to take their cash,” I groaned.
Little eyelids fluttered. I paused, holding my breath for a moment and watching as her eyes slipped closed again.
"What is your name?" I asked the sleeping thing snuggled up to my chest. I bounced the finger she still held in her grasp as I moved closer to the truck.
The chick had removed the flat tire. It lay in the dirt.
She bent over the spare, her short cutoff shorts riding up as she worked the tire over the wheel studs and settled it onto the hub.
She shifted back to a kneeling position, shapely legs folding beneath her heart-shaped rear.
“How’d you get such a hot mom?” I whispered to the sleeping kid. “Don’t tell her I said that.”
My phone buzzed and chimed in my arm band. I flicked my wrist and read the message on my fitness watch.
Red McMissus: Checking in to let you know Maddox and I will arrive Thurs before the game. He says you’d better not play like
Red McMissus: That's how you know he misses you.
I chuckled. Damned Marine. Course he’ll make it.
Probably some stupid code like, “no brother left behind.” I couldn’t stop the warmth spreading across my chest. Hopefully, that's my insides and not the baby peeing on me.
I let out a sigh and tried to Heisman the urge to smile. Probably stuck with that guy—and Red.
A soft whimper. I wiggled the finger where baby and I were still connected. "You're OK." I shushed in the softest voice I could manage.
Tiny eyelids opened, and stared right at me.
"Hey there." I bounced at the knees. "Have a nice nap?" I ran my thumb over her cheek.
The round baby face scrunched into a series of red folds as she opened her mouth wide.
“That’s a big yawn you've—"
And let out an inhuman wail.
My heart leapt into my throat as the sound kicked my eardrum with a pair of football cleats.
I bounced a bit more, she cried louder. “Too rough? Softer? OK, I’m slowing down.
” I gently jostled and paced. Her scream grew louder.
“Jesus kid, I’m trying. I know I’m not your mom, but she’s right there.
She’s—” I looked up to see the baby’s mom, tire iron in hand. A vicious scowl etched across her face.
My breath caught as fire and ice flashed through my system. "Argh, what the hell?"