Page 9 of Pretty Wild

“Stop! I have to pay you,” she insists, following me to the passenger side of the truck. There’s no missing the big grin on Dale’s face.

“It’s fine, Ryan. Tire fixes like this only cost twenty bucks,” I say, pulling open the door.

She reaches out and grabs the door, stopping me from climbing inside the truck. “Here.” She thrusts a twenty at me.

“It’s not necessary. On the house.”

“I can pay,” she insists, placing her hands on her hips as she levels me with a glare.

“Didn’t say you couldn’t, Princess. This is what we call small-town hospitality. I understand that’s a new concept for a city slicker like you, but around here, we do things for others without having ulterior motives. Just say thank you.”

Her pink, pouty lips gape open before slapping shut. “Why are you so grumpy?”

I climb inside the cab of the truck and close the door. “It’s part of my charm.”

Her dark-chocolate eyes roll dramatically. “Charming isn’t what I’d call you.”

A smirk plays across my mouth. “See? It’s working already.”

“Whatever,” she grumbles, her attention turning to Dale in the driver’s seat. “Excuse me, I’m being rude. I’m Ryan.”

“Dale,” he says, reaching across the cab and offering her a polite handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Dale.” She lifts her chin and adjusts her dress. “I’m about to head to town and buy things for the cabin.”

“How long ya stayin’?” he asks, completely smitten with the woman beside the truck.

“A month,” she replies with a bright smile. “Any recommendations for an out-of-towner?”

“The diner has the best home-cooked food. If you’re lucky, you’ll stop by on meatloaf day.”

She wrinkles up her nose. “Meatloaf?”

“Don’t knock it till you try it, Princess,” I add, inserting myself into their conversation. “Let me guess, you’re a vegetarian? Or maybe vegan? I heard that’s all the rage out in California.” My sarcasm is thick.

“I am neither of those,” she retorts. “But I do limit my red meat intake. It takes the body longer to breakdown and process red meat, including meatloaf.”

I snort and shake my head. “Well, you better get used to red meat, honey, because we’re cow people up here in Wisconsin. Like your shoes.” I leave out the part she can find plenty of fish, poultry, and pork on the local menus too, but I seem to enjoy making her squirm in those fancy calfskin shoes she’s wearing.

“If you’re looking to do a little shopping, we got all kinds of little shops in downtown too, but if you need Walmart or any other big store, you’ll have to head to Hudson or even St. Paul, Minnesota.”

“Good to know, thank you,” she replies, flashing a real charming smile to the old-timer in the driver’s seat.

“We gotta get back. Those oil changes aren’t going to change themselves,” I mutter, ready for him to put the truck in gear and drive out of here.

“Maybe I’ll see you around sometime, Dale,” she singsongs with a smile.

“It’s a small town. I’m certain I will, ma’am.” He tips his dirty ball cap and gives her a grin. “Oh, and if you stop by the bookstore, tell Delilah Dale sent you. She’s my sister.”

Ryan beams and nods. “I will do that, Dale. Thank you for the hospitality and kindness. Maybe it’ll rub off onotherpeople,” she says, glancing my way.

Dale snorts. “Fat chance of that happening. I’ve been working on this one since he was a young boy.” He adds a chuckle, causing me to shake my head.

“We really do need to get back to the shop,” I state, ready to put some distance between myself and her floral scent.

“Before you go, can I ask you a question?” she asks, turning her brown eyes on me. When I nod, she continues, “The water…what’s wrong with it?”

Confused, I start running through all the things that could be wrong with the plumbing. “What do you mean?”

---