Page 23 of Runaway Road (Runaway 1)

His blue eyes caught the fading sunlight.

Yes, it sure is.

Chapter Five

Brooks

Meggie didn’t know how not to meddle.

I should have know

n she was up to something when she barged into my house, shoved a takeout container in my hands and proceeded to put away all of the fixings for a ham sandwich I’d just pulled out of the fridge.

Meggie had practically chased me out the back door, telling me to take a night off.

I hadn’t argued because I was beat and I knew from the container it was my favorite curry. I’d planned to go back to the garage and catch up on paperwork in the office, but a delicious meal and an evening by the lake had sounded much more appetizing.

Toss Londyn McCormack into the mix and I couldn’t help but smile.

She’d been nervous at the garage earlier. I’d never seen anyone walk that fast in flip-flops. Clearly, she’d stopped in to check on progress. I got it. There were plenty of mechanics in this world who took twice as long as they promised and charged twice as much. Many might see a beautiful woman and think they could take advantage.

That wasn’t how I operated, but I didn’t blame her for being wary.

“I took your car to the body shop today,” I said. “I promise I’m hurrying it along. I know you want to get on the road.”

“Oh, I, uh . . . sorry.” She gave me an exaggerated frown. “That’s not why I came. I don’t mean to hover, really. I was just passing by, realized I was hovering and felt bad for interrupting you.”

“No interruption at all.” She could interrupt me any hour any day of the week. Her face coming through my door had been the best part of my day. Until now.

It was a gorgeous night. The breeze had picked up, softening the heat and adding coolness as the air blew across the water.

“So, Londyn”—I stabbed a piece of chicken—“tell me about yourself.”

“You go first.”

“But I asked the question.” I chuckled. “How about this? Whatever question is asked, we both have to answer. You can ask first.”

“I like that. All right.” She nodded and turned her gaze out to the water.

I expected something easy. Where was I from. How long had I worked at the garage. Coming up with a personal question didn’t seem all that hard, but as the seconds passed into minutes and she remained quiet, I realized why this was hard.

Shit. The reason she wasn’t asking wasn’t because of my answer.

It was because of the one she’d have to give.

“Listen, we don’t have to do this. I didn’t mean to pry. I’ll mind my own business.”

“It’s not that.” She blushed. “I was trying to think of an interesting question, but for the life of me, all I can think of are the boring ones. The pressure got to me.”

I chuckled. “Then I’ll go first. Where are you from?”

“California is the short answer.”

“And the long one?”

Londyn had just taken a bite. She held up her hand as she chewed and my gaze stayed fixed on her profile. It had been a long time since I’d studied a woman’s profile, and no surprise, Londyn was beautiful from any angle.

Her nose turned up at the end, just slightly. Was it strange to think someone had a beautiful forehead? Hers had an elegant curve, not too big or flat. Since I’d seen her earlier at the garage, she’d tied up her long blond hair. It was fluffed at the crown, bunched from the ponytail that draped down the center of her shoulders.