Page 4 of Guarded Secrets
“Who? Yousef?” At his slow nod, she said, “No. Of course not. I don’t have a boyfriend. At least, at the moment. Things could change.”
She thought his interest sharpened, like he’d been listening before but had shifted suddenly to hyper-focus. But he didn’t say anything more so she asked, “Is there space in the back of your Bronco to put some of my things? Dividing the load is the only way I can see to get to the spare tire.”
He was already shaking his head. “I’ve got equipment back there. We’ll leave your car here tonight. Come back for it in the morning.” He must’ve caught her look because he added, “It’ll be fine.”
A thought struck. “You were on your way down the mountain so you must’ve been going somewhere. I’m sorry.” As much as she loathed the idea, she felt compelled to make the suggestion. “If you want to take off to where you were going, you could make the call to request roadside service for me. I’ll wait with my car until they get here.” She flashed him a smile. “That is if I can keep the sweatshirt you loaned me so I don’t freeze.”
She’d seen Owen pissed off plenty of times; he got especially pissed at the bar when guys were jerks to women. But that was nothing compared to the fire that ignited his eyes now. “What do you take me for? You think I’d leave you alone at night on the side of a mountain with a storm coming in? That’s not who I am.”
His vehemence surprised her. “We don’t really know each other, and I thought you might’ve been on your way to a date or something, and stopping to help me messed that up. Though it’s a little late for a date. But not for a hookup. I’m so sorry if that’s the case. Maybe she’s, or he’s, still waiting.”
“Jesus Christ, the way your brain works. It’s like you’ve got a squirrel up there going off in a dozen directions.” He did the guy chin lift thing. “You like ticking things off in order, so let’s do that. One, I’m not gay. Got nothing against gays or anyone else, love is love and all that, but I’m not gay. If you think I’m gay, then you haven’t been paying attention.” She’d barely had a second to wonder what he meant before he went on, ticking his points off on long fingers. “Two, I wasnotgoing to meet a woman for a date or a hookup. And three, your mom called me after you texted her and asked if I’d look for you. That’s why I was driving down the mountain.”
“She didn’t.” Keeley closed her eyes and breathed through her nose, which she’d read was a calming technique. It didn’t work. She opened her eyes. “I’m sorry. Mom loves you like a long-lost son, but that doesn’t give her the right to bother you, especially on what has to be a busy night at Easy Money.”
“Your mom can call me for anything, any time she wants. It’s not a problem. What is a problem is us standing here in the cold. I want to get on the road and there’s not a chance I’m leaving you here alone.”
Over the years, Owen had avoided her, she knew he had, which limited their interactions. Keeley thought over the past few minutes he’d broken the record for the number of words spoken to her at one time.
With the current situation, he’d come to help her and he was right about the cold, so she’d cut him a break for being bossy. “Understood,” she said primly. “I don’t really want to be here by myself, but I’m still sorry to be a bother to you.”
He shook his head. “Get whatever you need from your car.”
She retrieved her purse and turned off the hazards. Owen handed over her keys. She locked her car and followed him to the Bronco. He turned the heater up and once she had her seatbelt secured, he steered it onto the highway.
She was safe. She leaned back in her seat and screwed her eyes shut against the sudden onslaught of emotion.Stupid, stupid, stupid. She was an idiot to cry when she was safe.She hated that she cried so easily.
In with a deep breath, slowly exhale. She repeated the process, hoping to beat back the tears.
“There a problem?”
He was too perceptive. He’d come to her rescue as a favor to her mom, but still he’d dropped everything to drive down the mountain. He’d saved her from a scary and uncomfortable night sleeping in her car, he’d given her his sweatshirt to wear, and he’d turned up the heater. She’d been feeling scared and alone, and now she felt safe and protected.
Altogether not what she needed to diminish the crush threatening to grow past the tiny stage.
She angled her head to surreptitiously wipe at her eyes and swallowed against the tightness in her throat. “No, no problem.”
Once she had herself under control, she stared into the darkness. Swirling snowflakes danced in the cone of light from the Bronco’s headlights. Owen turned on the windshield wipers.
“Thank you for coming to find me. I didn’t want to spend the night in my car. I could’ve done it, but I’m a wimp, and I’d have been scared.”
“Shit.”
She gave a startled laugh. “That’s not the usual response when someone says thank you.”
“It’s my response. You’re not a wimp. Most people would’ve been scared. Don’t beat yourself up about it.”
“I’m not beating myself up.” His strong profile was silhouetted against the light from a gas station as they passed the outskirts of Sisters. “Youwouldn’t have been scared.”
“I wouldn’t have been happy, but no, I wouldn’t have been scared. Women are more vulnerable than men. You have more reason to be scared.”
“I’ll accept that. Regardless, you saved me from that and I’m grateful.”
“Don’t want your gratitude.” The words were a surly grumble.
“Well, you have it.” She gave his response some thought. “Do you like pie?”
He gave her another one of those all-encompassing looks that warmed her as much as the heated air pumping from the vents. “I like pie.”
