Page 6 of Jasper

“Is it the money?” His brown eyes flashed with concern. “I’d be happy to take you wherever you want to go.”

“No, that’s not necessary. I…I guess I can order an Uber or something. It’s just a long drive.”

“Where you going?”

“It’s a little town called Watford City.”

He laughed, the twinkle back in his eyes. “Well, it just so happens that’s my holiday destination too.”

It was the universe’s cosmic joke, wasn’t it? Someone upstairs decided that on top of her life being in danger, they had to throw this cocky devil in her path. Sloane assumed he wasn’t a bad guy. He was probably really nice, but then again, her track record with men wasn’t that great either.

“I’ll be more than happy to give you a ride. A friend of mine had his truck dropped off for me in the airport lot this morning so I’d have a ride.”

“You’re not renting a car?”

He shook his head. “No. I agreed to take over the farm duties while I was here and save my buddy some cash. He told me I could have full use of his vehicle while he’s away since I’d need it to keep up with the farm. I can drop you anywhere you want to go.”

“How do I know you’re not a serial killer who picks women up and then does terrible things?”

He stroked his chin and studied her to the point it made her uncomfortable. He looked so serious.Please don’t be a serial killer.

“You’re just going to have to trust me, Miss Collins.”

“Yeah, no. I’m about up to here with trusting men.” She used her hand to wave above her head. “I’ll figure something out.”

“I promise I’m not a serial killer or a rapist.”

A couple going by looked over at them with such shocked expressions, he smirked. He’d bet his entire paycheck they probably didn’t even say words like that around these parts. It was going to be the highlight of their day and spread around the gossip mill in a matter of hours.

“Come on, sweetheart, let a military man help you out. I’ll get you to where you’re going, and then you don’t have to think of me again. At least until we run into each other in town, anyway.” He winked at her again, and despite her best efforts, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. He might be full of himself, but he could certainly be charming.

Her father always told her to never accept a ride from a stranger, but she was out of options. He seemed trustworthy enough, and she’d spotted the dog tags he wore peeking out from his jacket earlier, so she was fairly certain he wasn’t lying about being a Marine. Growing up around the military, she had a soft spot for them and found herself nodding.

“Okay, but I swear to God, if you try something, you’re losing an eye.”

He laughed and picked up his things along with her luggage, leaving her with a duffel bag and her purse. “Come on, gorgeous, let’s go find our chariot before we freeze our asses off.”

Jasper walked out of the airport and turned left toward the shuttle area where a bus would be along to take them to short term parking. He hoped to God whoever was supposed to drop off Jarrod’s truck did so. He’d hate to pull Sloane out into this cold with barely anything on her for no reason. She had a light jacket and his t-shirt with jeans and the thinnest-looking cloth tennis shoes he’d ever seen. The girl did not dress for North Dakota.

“Should it be this cold?” Sloane pulled the thin jacket she was wearing closer. “It’s barely the middle of November.”

“This is the north, sweetheart. It’s always damn cold up here. Plus, we’re right next to Canada. North Dakota gets a lot of their weather patterns. Snows most of the winter. We’re lucky there’s no snow on the ground now.”

“You sound like you’re used to the cold and the snow.”

“I love the snow. We spent our childhood sledding down hills and engaging in epic snowball fights with the neighborhood hooligans. I’m more at home in the cold than anywhere else.”

Sloane snorted and he grinned.

“I take it you’re not a snowbird?”

“No. Born and raised in Florida. I don’t even own a coat thicker than this one.”

Jasper shrugged out of his own coat and handed it to her. “Here, put this on.”

“Oh, no, I couldn’t. You’ll be cold.”

He flashed her a smile. “Trust me, I’m used to it. You’re not, and you’ll get sick, so put the coat on and say ‘thank you, Jasper.’”

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