Page 7 of Link (Dragon Riders MC 1)
“All right! Crank ‘er up for me again,” I said.
“You sure it’s going to be okay?”
I stuck my thumb out. “Yep. Try again.”
When she cranked the car, the engine almost sputtered to life this time. And at one point in time, I thought it might take. But the car eventually wound down and stopped making noise despite the fact that I heard her turning her key. That mindless click no one takes into account until that click isn’t accompanied with anything.
I knew exactly what the problem was.
However, it wasn’t fixable on the side of the road.
“Well,” I said as I leaned back up, “I know what the issue is.”
I heard her heel touch the pavement. “It’s the spark plugs, isn’t it?”
I blinked. “It could be. That was my first thought. However, I’d be more inclined to check the fuel pump before trying to get to the spark plugs.”
Her heels clicked against the road as she came around to face me. And damn it, she was gorgeous. Thick raven hair like mine, seated atop dark brown eyes that swirled with pools of amber. Her porcelain skin was softly sun-kissed, twinkling in the glow of the moonlight. She had long legs beneath that skirt of hers that were toned with muscles that made my cock ache. And the luscious curves her body donned called to the crevices of my hands.
But when my eyes darted to her left hand, I didn’t see a ring on her finger.
Which made me grin.
“Well, whatever the issue is, it’s not fixable right now,” she said.
I pulled myself out of my trance. “Afraid not.”
She sighed. “Great. Just grand.”
She leaned against her car and ran her hand through her hair. And I’d never been so jealous of someone’s hand in all my life.
“Well, I could always give you a ride,” I said.
She shook her head. “Nope. I’ll be just fine. I’ve got roadside assistance. I’ll give someone a call to tow this piece of shit somewhere and I’ll catch a ride home that way.”
“In a tow truck.”
“Yep.”
“This late at night.”
She nodded. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
I paused. “Not sure the driver of the tow truck is going to do that for you.”
She shrugged. “Then, I’m sure there’s a taxi or Uber driver somewhere willing to make some money tonight.”
I chuckled. “You’re new around here, aren’t you?”
She paused. “Been here for a while. Why?”
She was still playing that card. Trying to convince me she had all sorts of connections surrounding us, as if I were about to hurt her. Then again, I knew what I looked like. Big. Broad. Tattoos everywhere. Of course, the woman was scared out of her mind.
She did a damn good job of not showing it, though.
I closed the hood of her car. “How about this: I drive you to the nearest—”
“No.”
“Will you just let me get it out?”
“No. I don’t need a ride. Thank you for stopping, but I’ll be fine.”
“So, what are you going to do? Wait for the next person to wander down this road and see you? You don’t even know if they’ll stop for you.”
She shrugged. “You stopped for me.”
I snickered. “Because you’re a beautiful woman on the side of the road. Hell yeah, I stopped for you.”
She stared up at me for the longest time, and I wondered what ran through her mind. But as she watched me, it gave me more time to watch her. She was obviously a professional in an important job. Her outfit told me as much. The heels and the tight skirt. Her shirt tucked into her skirt with this little leather belt wrapped around her waist. Her makeup was impeccable. Not a speck out of sight. And her hair seemed to glisten as if she’d put so much product in it to tame it that it cried out for mercy beneath the moonlight. Her plump, full lips were coated in a deep violet color. Her brown eyes were lined with this makeup that had a cat sort of look to it. It made her look mysterious. It made her look strong.
And damn it, I wanted this woman on the back of my bike.
I always get what I want, too.
I sighed. “Look, if you want to try starting up the car one more time—”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to flood the engine if I haven’t already done that in the first place.”
I nodded. “Understandable, then. How long have you been out here?”
She tucked her arms around her chest. “Uh, maybe about ten or so minutes before you came along.”
“You’re lucky, then.”
“Lucky?”
“Mhm. The last time one of my guys was stranded on this road, took someone damn near an hour to come their way.”
She furrowed her brow. “Your guys?”
I nodded. “One of the guys I work with.”
“Why do you call them ‘your guys?’”
“Because I’m in charge of them.”
