Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Bianca?”
She recognized Adam’s voice immediately.
“I’m here,” she shouted back.
When he reached the driver’s side window, he leaned down, rain pouring from the brim of his hat and running along the sharp lines of his jaw. His eyes moved quickly over the scene, taking in the smashed fence, the tilted SUV, and Bianca trapped behind the wheel. “You hurt?” he asked finally.
“I don’t think so,” she said, though the adrenaline still rattled through her. “Um, how’d you know this was my car?”
Adam tried the door handle. The metal groaned under the pressure but refused to open. “It’s a rental, and I know you went out to see the Willoughby’s.” He stepped back and looked along the side of the vehicle, rain sliding down his jacket in dark streams. “You’re wedged against the tree,” he said. “Frame’s twisted.”
“I know.”
He tried the door again, this time bracing his shoulder against the frame and pushing with his full weight. The hinges screeched but didn’t give. Mud sucked loudly beneath his boots as he stepped away. Moving out of sight, he crouched beside the front tire, and then returned. “Okay,” he said after a moment.
“Okay what?”
“I’m getting you out of there.” He jogged back toward his truck without another word.
She watched as he opened his tailgate and pulled out a heavy tow chain. The metal links clattered together as he dragged them through the rain. The guy moved quickly despite the mud, looping the chain around the warped door frame before carrying the other end back to his truck.
Bianca blinked at him through the rain slashing inside her window. “Please tell me you know what you’re doing,” she called.
He flashed her a quick grin that disappeared just as quickly. “Mostly.” A minute later the truck engine roared to life. The chain tightened.
For a moment nothing happened. Then metal screamed. The door jerked outward with a violent snap that echoed across the ditch. Adam cut the engine immediately and ran back toward her to yank the door the rest of the way open. He reached inside. “There we go.”
Cold rain blasted into the cab, soaking both of them instantly. Bianca exhaled in relief. “Thank you. I thought I’d have to spend the rest of my life in this stupid seat.”
“That would be a shame.” Water dripped from the rim of his hat onto the steering wheel. He paused when he saw the awkward position of her leg beneath the steering column. “Can you move it?”
She tried carefully. “Yes, but it feels swollen.”
“All right.” He pushed the column out of the way with one hand. Man, he was strong. Not superhero strong, but with muscled-cowboy strength. He slid one arm behind her shoulders and another beneath her knees before she could protest. With a smooth motion he lifted her from the driver’s seat and stepped back into the rain.
She ducked her head against his chest, shutting her eyes against the blistering wind. Lightning flashed again, illuminating the wreck behind them and the twisted fence posts scattered across the field.
He opened the passenger door of his pickup and set Bianca gently onto the seat. Warm air from the heater washed over her chilled skin.
She dropped back against the headrest and let out a long breath.
He closed the door and walked around the front of the truck. When he climbed into the driver’s seat he studied her carefully. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I think so.” She looked down at her pounding knee. “Um, thank you for the rescue.” She was soaked through, her knee hurt, and still, a soft warmth filtered through her. He’d gotten the door open, freed her knee, and carried her to safety like a guy at the end of a rom-com.
Adam turned up the heat. “No problem. I was hurrying home to get ready for our date.”
She blinked.
“Well,” she said after a moment, “this is certainly memorable.”
He glanced at her sideways, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah,” he said. “I’d say the evening took a turn. Let’s go check you out, darlin.’”
Adam kept both hands on the wheel, but his attention stayed split between the road, the storm, and Bianca. Her scent was warm and sweet, like heated honey.
The wipers fought a losing battle against the rain. Each sweep cleared a narrow view and then the windshield blurred over again, water sluicing sideways in sheets. Lightning flashed often enough that the pasture alternated between darkness and harsh brightness.
He’d lost his breath when he saw her rental car sinking in that ditch.
Bianca sat slumped in his passenger seat, her wet hair dripping onto the collar of the spare jacket he’d thrown over her shoulders. She looked small in his truck, even fragile.
The woman was made for paved roads and city lights. Not darkness and danger from the land all around her. He glanced over again. “You dizzy?”