Cage stayed for longer than he’d intended. He enjoyed talking tech with Ian; the guy spoke his language and had similar interests. By the time Cage left, the back of the SUV was filled with cool new gadgets, and he was looking forward to getting them set up and operational.
* * *
A road closure forced Cage to return to Sanctuary a different route than he had come. It wasn’t a big deal; Cage was familiar with all of the back roads in and around the area, and it had been a while since he’d been on that particular stretch.
He was over halfway to Sanctuary when he spotted the small sedan on the side of the road, listing heavily to the right. He slowed down as he neared, noting the rental company sticker on the back, and then eased the SUV onto the narrow shoulder in front of the vehicle.
Exiting the SUV, he moved along the right side of the vehicle, whistling when he got a better look. Not just a blowout, but also a broken axle and significant frame damage to the right front end. Not surprising, if the tiny car had hit one of the monster-sized potholes on the remote mountain road—a natural and hazardous result of the region’s thaw-refreeze cycle. It took a while for road-patch crews to make it out as far as Sumneyville, and by the time they did—if they did—the cycle was already beginning again.
Cage peered in through the passenger side, confirming there were no occupants. A purse sat in the passenger seat, however, and there were two pieces of luggage in the back.
The rustle of brush behind him had him turning around to find a woman emerging from the tree line, muttering to herself as she climbed her way up the slope and back to the road. She didn’t seem to be injured, just put out.
She stopped when she spotted him, keeping a healthy distance between them and warily eyeing him.
The first thing he noticed was her hair—a riot of shiny black curls that she was trying to wrangle into some sort of band or clip at the back of her neck. His hands flexed with the sudden urge to touch to see if it was as silky and soft as it seemed.
The next thing he noticed was her eyes. They appeared just as black as her hair, framed by thick, glossy lashes, and currently regarding him with laser-like intensity. The bright flash of a diamond stud piercing in the side of her nose intrigued him.
If the rental-agency sticker on the back hadn’t suggested an out-of-towner, the woman herself would have. Even in jeans and a casual top, she looked too polished to be a local.
“Is this your vehicle?” Cage asked, glad when his voice sounded relatively normal. For a moment, he’d felt as if he’d regressed back to the shy, awkward teen he’d left behind more than a decade earlier when he joined the Navy.
“Unfortunately,” she confirmed with a frown.
Now that her hair was tamed, her hands went to her hips. His eyes were drawn to the movement. She had nice hands. Delicate-looking fingers tipped with professionally manicured nails. Her hips were pretty nice, too. Slim but curvy.
The clearing of her throat made him lift his eyes back to her face.
“Do you need assistance?” His heart thumped against the inner walls of his chest while she considered him and his offer. One beat turned into two then three.
“I’ve already called for a tow, but thanks.”
He nodded. She remained at a distance, cautious while somehow managing to project an air of confidence. She seemed to have everything under control. So, why was he so hesitant to leave?
“You’re not from around here.”
Her lips quirked, as if she could sense his inner struggle and was amused by it. “No, I’m not.”
Cage rubbed the back of his neck, vaguely registering the fact that it had been months since he’d last had a haircut while biting back the barrage of questions on the tip of his tongue. What’s your name? Why are you here? Can I buy you dinner?
What actually came out was even worse. “Right. Well, is there anything I can do for you?” He winced, and the quirk became a grin.
“No, I’m good.”
“Okay then.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets and reluctantly forced his feet back toward the SUV. If she didn’t want or need his help, he had no reason to stay.
“Hey.”
Cage stopped and looked back over his shoulder. The woman had closed some of the distance between them. Not all, but some.
“Thanks for stopping.”
“You’re welcome. You have a nice day, ma’am.”
“You too, sir,” she called after him.
He chuckled but resisted the urge to turn around again. He didn’t need to look to know she was checking him out. He could practically feel her eyes on his back. Even more surprising, he didn’t mind.
He checked the mirror one last time before pulling away on the off chance that she changed her mind. She leaned against the hobbled rental, eyes on his SUV, her head tilted slightly to the side, as if curious. When their eyes met in the side view, he offered what he hoped was a friendly smile and a wave, pleased when she returned it.
He drove away, but his protective instincts wouldn’t allow him to abandon her entirely. Who knew how long it would take for a tow truck to arrive? Anything could happen. A bear could wander out of the woods, or a snake could happen by. Worse, someone less honorable than himself could spot her out there by herself and try to take advantage of the situation.
At least, that was how he rationalized his decision to pull off near a natural spring about a half mile up the road, where he then climbed the slope on the side and doubled back on foot. From his higher position, he could watch over her until help arrived.
Because that wasn’t creepy at all. He was
