Treachery

My eyes scan down to the chain that hangs from his belt loop to his back pocket, my gaze dragging up again to eye his wavy brown hair that is long enough to dust his shoulders. I still can’t see much of his face, not with the sun behind him.

The man reaches up to run his hands through his hair and tug it back, his biceps bulging from the effort.

“I’m fine,” I say, smiling politely even though ma

I turn to stare at the engine again with not one damn clue what I can do to fix it.

“What did the car sound like when you turned the key?” he asks, an accent to his voice that makes me think of the Midwest.

Breathing out, I glance at him again. “It clicked. But I’m sure it’s just the battery. I’ll call someone.”

The man pushes away from where he’s leaning to stand next to me and stare down. Like I’d already done, he wiggles the battery terminals, but then begins exploring other tubes and wires in and around the area.

“Mind if I give it a try? I might be able to help.”

I step away from him, finally able to see a set of kind brown eyes above sharp cheekbones. He has a strong jaw dusted with stubble, his mouth full beneath a straight nose. Glimmers of gold gleam in his gaze against the sunlight, and I assume he’s my age or younger.

He’s also gorgeous, if you’re into the rough around the edges type.

“I don’t even know who you are.”

He smiles a crooked grin, a dimple indenting his cheek. “I’m Priest. I was walking to work and saw you from the sidewalk. Thought you looked like you needed help.”

Priest jabs a thumb over his shoulder to show me where he works. I flick a quick glance behind him, but all I see are cars jammed bumper to bumper.

“There’s an auto shop about two blocks down,” he explains when it’s obvious I have no idea what he’s talking about.

Voice a deep tenor, he grins again, steps back to place distant between us and crosses his arms over his chest.

“Maybe I’m just trying to drum up business,” he admits.

Laughter bursts from my lips. “I think it’s just my battery-“

“Let me give it a try.”

While he rounds the car to climb inside, my phone vibrates in my pocket. My eyes are still locked on him when I grab it and thumb the screen to answer.

“Care to explain why I just got a call that you’re fleeing the state?”

The smooth cadence of Ta

“That’s none of your business,” I answer, stepping back as Priest returns to look at the engine, my eyes tracing more tattoos down his forearms and on his fingers.

“I think you’re right about it being the battery. I’m going to check a few other things first.”

“Who the hell is that?” Ta

With a nod of my head at the man helping me, I step away to let Priest have full access to the engine, my fingers clutching the phone as my lips curl.

Cars whiz by on the street opposite the thin sidewalk, their wind lifting the loose strands of my hair around my face.

“That’s also none of your damn business. Why are you calling me? And how do you know I’m going out of town?”

I hear a faint voice on Ta

“I’m looking at an email right now that says you’re not available for the hearing on Wednesday due to plans to be out of town. Which I find fu

With a roll of my eyes, I glance back at Priest to see him walking my direction.

“You mean when you broke into my apartment and had me trapped? I recall plenty of complaints.”

“Definitely the battery,” Priest says, stepping up to me. “I’m going to run down to the shop and grab a jumper pack.”

“If you don’t tell me who that is, I swear to God, Luca-“

Pulling the phone from my ear, I ignore the asshole attempting to destroy my life to smile at the one who just might save it.

“I hate to ask this, but will there be a charge for that?”

It’s embarrassing to admit I’m broke, but what else can I say? I’m not just pinching pe

Priest’s full mouth pulls into such a charming smile that I grin in return. “Nah. I’m happy to do it.”

He glances down at the phone in my hand, undoubtedly hearing Ta

A wicked glimmer is in his eyes when he meets my stare again. “Boyfriend problems?”

“More like a complete douche that doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.”

His crooked grin widens, two dimples indenting.

Priest is so not my type, but there is still a vein of attraction. How can any woman resist this man? He’s stu

This man is the polar opposite of Ta

It only makes me like him more.

“Goddamn it, Luca, if you don’t answer me in the next second, I’m driving over there-“

Slamming my thumb against the screen, I end the call, Ta

Silence descends. Well, except for the rush of traffic, but between Priest and I, there isn’t much said for the first few seconds.

His brows pull together as I tuck my phone back in my pocket.

“Tell you what: I saw some other issues with your car that could use a little help. After I get it started, we should take it over to the shop. Give it a good tune up.”

“I don’t have the money for that.”

“On the house. Just stay right here. I’ll only be a few minutes.”

My phone rings as he starts to walk away. Spi

“Don’t answer that. A guy that won’t take no for an answer isn’t worth your time.”

He winks, and I damn near melt over the pavement. This man is a charmer, and he knows it. A knight in shining armor...or a knight in t-shirt and jeans, but either way, he’s saving my damsel ass at the moment.

“Wait,” I call out, another issue coming to mind.

When he turns, I run up to him. “I hate to sound unappreciative, but how long will this take? I’m leaving to go out of state.”

There wasn’t much time already for this trip, not before the hearing. And given how my phone hasn’t stopped ringing since I hung up on Ta

Priest flashes me that panty-melting smile again, a feeling of ease relaxing my shoulders to see it.

“I’ll bump you to the front of the line. It won’t take longer than an hour or two. And it’s a good thing your battery died before you left. That car is not in the best condition for a long trip.”

He turns to walk off, but I call out to him again. “Wait!”

This poor guy. He was just i

Pausing to glance back at me, he lifts his brows in question.