Movement in the rearview mirror caught her eye. Someone was walking toward her, though the rain and fog were so thick she couldn’t make out much. The figure was tall and broad, so it was probably a guy. Other than that, she had no clue.
She reached into her glove box and grabbed her pepper spray. After every late-night walk, every dark alley shortcut, and every skeevy bar she’d been to in the last two years, she never used it. She clutched it close and made sure her car doors were locked.
He approached the driver’s side door. He was so tall she couldn’t see anything other than his dark jeans, gray T-shirt, and red flannel.
“Of course, he’s wearing a fucking flannel,” she muttered. She knew it was the style in Oregon, but she thought she’d get more than fifty miles into the state before the stereotypes started ringing true.
He knocked on the window, making her jump.
“If I just ignore him, he’ll go away,” she whispered, nodding to herself. Everything was going to be fine. She wasn’t sure if her car still ran or not, but she’d cross that bridge as soon as the stranger at her window went away.
“Hey!” He knocked again. “Are you okay in there?” He kept knocking and knocking.
With a shaky sigh, Holly rolled her window down a few inches. “I’m fine, thanks. You can move along,” she said without looking at him.
“I don’t think you’re fine.” His voice was smooth, velvety, and sexy as hell. Before she could stop herself, Holly looked up at him.
At first, all she saw was his eyes. Intense, gray-green like the foggy forest around her, and breathtaking. It took her a moment before she was able to take in his other features. His strong, square jaw was covered in stubble. Normally, she hated that, but on him, it worked. His skin was surprisingly tan for a place that’s cloudy all the time.
He must spend a lot of time outdoors.
His dark, wavy hair was shaggy and glistened with droplets of mist.
“Your car is in bad shape,” he said.
Holly flinched. She was staring. “I’m sure it’ll be fine,” she stammered.
Those gray-green eyes looked so serious. “It won’t,” he said. “My cousin is the mechanic of the family, but I know a thing or two. That thing isn’t going anywhere.”
“Fine,” she said. “Where is the nearest town?” She immediately regretted those words. Now he knew she wasn’t familiar with the area. She was definitely going to be taken to a cabin in the woods...and not in a fun way.
“About twenty miles in the direction you were going,” he replied with a sympathetic smile.
“Fuck,” she muttered.
“I can give you a lift,” the stranger said. “I don’t mind.”
“But you were going the other way,” Holly pointed out. “Why were you driving in the center of the road in the first place? That’s why I crashed, you asshole.”
Maybe insulting the stranger wasn’t the best idea, but Holly always had a little trouble holding her tongue. The one time she had gone to visit Grandmother, Pearl had chastised her for it.
Damn it, Pearl. This is all your fault. That doesn’t count as cursing the dead. I’m simply stating facts.
“I wasn’t driving in the center of the road,” he said. “I’ve lived here all my life. I know how to drive on these roads blindfolded. I’m sorry you crashed, but you’re clearly not used to driving in these conditions.”
“Your headlights were blinding!” Holly argued.
“Look.” The stranger ran a hand through his hair, knocking some of the droplets loose. “If you want me to call a tow truck, I can. I know the guy who owns the towing service. He’ll give you a good rate. Sound fair?”
“Fine,” she muttered.
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. “Hey, Mac. It’s Johnny. I need a favor.”
Holly heard a man’s voice through the speaker but couldn’t make out the words.
“What’s your name?” the stranger, Johnny, asked her.
“Holly,” she said.
Johnny gave her a strange look.
“Last name?”
“Smart.”
“Mac, I’m going to have to call you back,” Johnny said quickly before disconnecting the call. “Are you related to Pearl?”
“She was my grandmother,” she replied. “I’m here for the service and to see to her affairs. Did you know her?”
“Everyone in Silver Spruce knew Pearl.” His smile was filled with kindness as he talked about Pearl. “She was a real pillar of the community. We’re all going to miss her.”
“So am I,” Holly said. She left out the part where she never knew Pearl that well.
“How about this,” Johnny said. “I’ll give you a ride into town. It’s the least I can do for Pearl’s granddaughter.”
Something about him drew her in. She didn’t understand it, and she couldn’t resist it. Surely, someone who knew Pearl couldn’t be that dangerous, right? It’s not like she had much choice, anyway.
“Sure.” She nodded. “What about my car?”
“Mac can still get it for you if you want,” he offered. “I probably should’ve thought of that before hanging up. Your name caught me off guard, that’s all. I wasn’t expecting to run into Pearl’s granddaughter today.”
“You were expecting me on another day?” she asked with a wry smile.
“The whole town figured Pearl’s family would be showing up sooner or later.” He shrugged. “Come on, let’s get you to town. I’m Johnny, if you didn’t catch it. Johnny Walker.”
“Pleasure.” Holly grabbed her purse and her overnight bag and bolted out of the car. His truck, a beat-up old thing that might’ve once been yellow, was parked across the road. Together, they dashed through the rain. Holly was soaked by the time she reached the passenger side. She yanked on the handle. It was locked.
She had to wait for Johnny to reach across the passenger seat and unlock it manually.
“Sorry about that.” He grinned
