Page 8 of Starcrossed Colorado

“You don’t. And that’s the issue.”

I laughed. “But how does that reassure me?”

He shifted into Park, threw open his door, and got out. The truck was still running. The guy rounded the front bumper, hands on his hips. Black-ink tattoos stretched over his forearms, and his T-shirt saidO’Neal Martial Arts.

Stella backed up, getting closer to me. I patted her head. But my other hand was ready to grab my pepper spray. “I’m armed. Just to let you know.”

“Glad to hear it. I wouldn’t recommend getting into the cars of strangers. Even my daughter knows that, and she’s six. But Ialso wouldn’t leave anyone in my family out here alone, and I assume you have a parent or friend who’d say the same.”

My eyes really wanted to roll at his scolding tone. But he was correct.

I glanced through his backseat window and saw a child’s booster. Plus a variety of toys and food wrappers littering the upholstery. So he couldn’t be that bad. Some serial killers had daughters, but they’d probably be luring me with kind promises and candy. Wouldn’t they?

He held out his hand, beckoning impatiently. “Up to you. Just make up your mind. If you’re coming with me, I’ll put your stuff in the cab. Is it yes or no? I don’t have all night.”

“Okay, Mr. Grumpy. Geez. But if you mess with me, my dog will tear your face off.” That was wishful thinking. But Stella would, at the very least, give him a stern growl.

“If I mess with you, then I hope he does.”

“She. My dog’s a she.”

“Even better.”

I almost laughed again. This guy was something else.Whatexactly, I couldn’t tell.

But at least he’d get me to Silver Ridge. That had to be progress.

I took off my guitar case and handed it to him. He studied it for a moment before placing it in the backseat. After I gave her a nudge, Stella jumped in next. Immediately, she started rooting around the floor mats for dropped Cheerios or whatever else was down there.

I climbed into the front. “It’s not like I was out here on purpose. My car broke down.”

He slid into the driver’s seat. “The sedan on the shoulder about a mile back?”

“Yep, that’s me.”

He squinted at the violin in my lap like it might be filled with drugs or weapons. “Are you new in town?”

“I’m new, yeah. Here for the summer. I’m Emma.”

The guy grunted, face pinching like he was in pain. No clue whatthatwas about. Stomach issues?

“I’m Ashford.” He put the truck in gear and took off down the road. But to my surprise, he made a U-turn and started heading the opposite direction from Silver Ridge.

“Hey, where are you taking me?” I wasn’t panicking yet, though I tightened my hand around the pepper spray.

“Back to your car.” He said it like it was obvious. “You must have a suitcase or something. You’ll need it tonight.”

I relaxed against the seat. “Oh. That’s true, yeah.” I had no idea when I’d get my car towed into town. That would cost money, and most of mine was spoken for.

When we reached my Nissan, he made another U-turn and pulled in behind it. We both got out, and he waited for me to unlock the trunk. He squinted suspiciously at the keyboard case.

“You want all this?”

“Yes. That’s why I brought it with me close to a thousand miles.”

We transferred the rest of my stuff to his truck. Whichwasprobably what a serial killer would do if he planned to erase evidence of my existence later. But Stella was sitting happily in his backseat, so I decided to roll with it.

“Where are you staying in town?” he asked.

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