Page 2 of Under One Roof

I can tell from the sneakers that hit the pavement first, and then my gaze travels up the black sweatpants to the thick torso, and up farther, over the sturdy-looking shoulders to the face.

The face.

Sweet baby Jesus.

I actually whimper.

Because he looks like he should be wearing spandex and a cape, all swinging arms and muscles with a square jaw that could cut glass. With every step he takes, I take one back until I’m up against my Jeep, unable to do anything but watch this superhero approach me.

It’s not until he’s a few feet from me that I see his brow is furrowed under the bill of the hat he wears on his head, and he’s got an actual dimple in his chin.

Slo-mo walking to me and everything, it’s as if he stepped off a movie screen.

Or maybe that’s all in my head.

Probably.

Because I don’t even realize he’s talking to me until he points to his ear. “Can you hear me?”

“Hm? Yeah.” I straighten up. “Yes, I can hear you.”

His gaze sweeps over me from head to toe. “I asked if you need help.”

“Oh. Um. Y-yes. My car… It’s smoking…”

Another full inspection with his dark eyes, and I shudder, myYou Can Do Thisadrenaline taking a nose dive all at once.

“Are you all right? Do you need medical assistance?” the superhero asks, stepping so close, the tips of his sneakers touch the tips of my boots, and it’s only now that I realize I must look ridiculous. My hair’s plastered to my head from the rain, my Allman Brothers T-shirt is white, so it’s become see-through, and I’m not wearing a bra.

I fold my arms over my chest in an attempt to warm up and cover myself. “I’m okay. A little lost and broke down.”

Literally and figuratively.

His attention drifts past me. “Where are you headed?”

I swallow, my throat thick with humiliation. As if my life can’t get any worse, the hottest man I’ve stumbled across in a long time is here to watch not only my car but my life break down in real time. I’m not sure what to say, so I shrug, biting my molars to keep my chin from wobbling.

The corners of his mouth tighten into a frown, and his eyes crinkle like he’s angry. I’m not sure what about, but maybe rescuing a drowned rat wasn’t on his to-do list today.

“I’m sorry, I?—”

“Here.” He unzips his hoodie and hands it over to me. “Put this on.”

“I don’t want to take your sweatshirt. It’s?—”

“You’re freezing. Put it on.” When I don’t immediately take it from him, he drapes it over my shoulders, leaving me without a choice, so I slide my arms inside. While it’s a little wet from the rain and three times my size, it’s warm from his body heat. I wrap it tight around me and tug the soft cotton up to my nose under the guise of being cold, but really, I want to smell it. Breathe in his scent of earth and smoke.

“Go sit in my truck,” he instructs. “You need to get warm.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I don’t know him or where I am. I’m basically living the beginning of aDatelineepisode.

As if reading my mind, he jerks his chin in the direction of his dark blue Ford. “My keys are in the cupholder.”

Meaning, I could steal the thing if I wanted to.

“Are you sure?”

He curls his long fingers around my shoulder, tugging me away from my Jeep, and gently pushes me past him. “Go. I’ll take care of this.”

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