Page 1 of Fall Wedding With the Mountain Man
Chapter 1
Elizabeth
The man behind the counter at the auto parts store droned on, “See, it’s a complicated situation. The way they mounted your battery isn’t standard. We’d have to remove two screws in the back to change it out. Plus, your car’s computer system is attached to the panel. Normally, it’s just one screw, and it’s in the front.”
I was starting to feel panicky. “So you’re saying you won’t change out my battery? Even if I buy a new one?”
“You can still buy it from us. In fact, that makes sense. Then find someone to install it.”
Exasperation bubbled out of me. “Findsomeone?”
“Yup.”
“Should I take out a classified ad? Maybe I can just move in here until Ifindsomeone. It shouldn’t take long. You do realize I’m stuck here with a car that won’t move.”
I pursed my lips and looked at the large floor sign that said, ‘We Install Batteries’.
He sighed as if I were the worst customer of the day. “Do you want the battery or not?”
Taking the vinegar out of my voice, I did my best to sound sweet. “You’re saying I needtwoscrews removed instead of one? How complicated can that be? Can’t you make an exception this one time?”
The man behind the counter looked me up and down, then drawled, “Sorry, ma’am. We can’t touch the computer system. It’s company policy.”
My blood pressure was starting to soar.
I had the sneaking suspicion that if I’d been a size six, the man behind the counter would find a way to make an exception. Sometimes being plus-sized made me feel invisible and overlooked.
A shrill tone crept back into my voice. I was good at being bossy. Bad at being sweet. “But you don’tunderstand. I’m just traveling through. I need to be in Deer Springs for the Fall Festival tonight. And my car won’t drive. So Ican’ttake it to an auto shop. I’m lucky I made it here.”
The man, whose nametag informed me that he was Charlie, shrugged his shoulder as though that was no concern of his and called the person in line behind me forward.
“I’ll take whoever’s next.”
My pulse pounded in my throat. I’d stopped for gas in a town called Fernwood, and when I tried to start my car again it rolled over repeatedly but refused to turn on.
A good Samaritan had given me a jumpstart and directed me here to the closest auto parts store. Nowthiswas happening.
It appeared that I was stuck in a strange town with unhelpful men and a broken-down car.
It was near six p.m. and this place and the other auto parts store in town would be closing soon. So, I shared my plight. “Look, Charlie, my best friend is getting married in DeerSprings. And it’s been a total nightmare getting here. I’m the maid of honor, so Ihaveto be there. You can see that, right? Can you please do it just this once? I’ll sign a waiver saying you’re not responsible for damages if something goes wrong.”
He gave me a fast once-over, not liking what he saw. “You’re pushy for a woman. But I already told you.No.”
This was not the time to be quiet and meek. So I put some grit behind my words and told him, “Look, Ineedyou to help me. This isn’t an option for you. You install batteries. I need a battery installed. I don’t care if I’ve gottwoscrews instead of one. You need to do the job!”
I’d like to say that I roared out my demand, and every cock in the store instantly paid attention to my plight, scrambling over each other to help out a curvy diva in distress.
But what actually happened is I said all of that in a squeaky whisper.
Charlie got a bored look on his face and called out, “Next!”
I felt someone step right behind me, probably waiting for me to vacate the counter, but I refused to budge. Whoever it was, they were big. I could feel them towering over me.
Then a sexy voice right behind me declared, “The woman needs two screws instead of one, and you’re not man enough to handle that? Your loss. I’ll take it from here.”
The auto parts employee looked past me and scowled.
Turning around, I stared straight into a broad chest made of flannel and muscles. Then I looked up, up, up.
