by Olivia Harp
Raiden looked at her and smiled. It was just a matter of minutes before she started snoring. Her half open eyes rested on the horizon, the sound of the engine and the faint drizzle were a soft lullaby, she was almost gone.
Her eyes bolted open.
“Dad, what’s that?”
She straightened up on her seat.
Miles away, a car was stopped on the side lane, but he couldn’t see as well as she could. Her eyes were even better than a bear’s.
“Someone’s having problems with their car darling.”
“Should we help?”
Damn it. If he was alone he’d stop, but he didn’t want his daughter stopping every time she saw someone in trouble.
Yeah, he knew. Dee driving was still a long way from today, but still, if something ever happened to her he’d remember this exact moment and blame himself.
“I’m sure help is on the way,” he said “they probably got a phone.”
“No signal, dad.”
“Huh?”
“I was playing Draw-All with Jo but I lost my connection.”
He thought about it.
“Okay, I’ll see if there’s anything we can do.”
The vehicle was still far away, but he could recognize a woman with several tools on the floor, trying to change a tire, apparently.
“Dad, it’s the woman from the restaurant.”
His heart flinched, his bear growled in satisfaction.
He tried to lie to himself, tried to convince himself she was just another woman, but his bear knew she wasn’t.
She was hot, very, very hot. Her curves and voice... the way she carried herself. She was polite, educated.
That put him on edge. He was a berserker. A warrior. He balanced his will to fight and destroy with art. That way, his mind could be busy, calm.
But he couldn’t deny he was anything but calm. He wanted her the moment he saw her.
He had to stop. He had to help her.
Even if he didn’t want to —which he did— what would Dee think of his dad doing something like that to a person they knew?
Okay, they didn’t know her, but in a child’s mind she was one of the good guys. And she was in trouble.
He smiled.
Yes, he’d given himself every excuse in the book. Even though he didn’t need to. He wanted to talk to her again. To hear her voice say his name.
He lowered his speed and stopped in front of her car.
“Wait here, buddy,” he told Dee, “I’m going to see what’s up.”
He stepped out of the truck, smiling as Dee jumped from the front seat back, her drowsiness gone.
Cassie stood up and walked around her Toyota when she widened her eyes, recognizing him. It was as much a surprise to her as it was to him. He smirked and nodded up.
“I see you’re having problems,” he said.
She blushed.
“I... yes, I’m so embarrassed.”
He got closer to her, the inside of her car was crammed with boxes and a bunch of suitcases.
“Embarrassed? Why?”
“Well, I should know how to change a tire, but I’m useless.”
He went to the passenger’s side of the car and saw a tire iron, a jack, and the ripped apart tire still in place.
“Damn, what happened?”
“I don’t know, I ran over something and next thing I know I’m almost dead.”
Fire burned inside him. That thought was abominable. He looked back at the road. Far in the distance, a few rocks were scattered in the pavement.
“You probably hit those rocks,” he said, kneeling next to the tire, “you got a spare?”
***
Cassie pressed a button on the car’s remote and opened the trunk. Raiden pulled up the trunk mat and took out the spare. She took a step aside but his bulging bicep grazed her naked arm when he set the tire on the ground. Her whole body tensed. She felt butterflies on her stomach. Oh God, what’s happening to me?
The huge man took off his t-shirt and laid it on the ground.
“Sorry for this,” he said, kneeling on it.
Her sex moistened instantly, she turned away to prevent him from seeing her face flush red.
Holy crap!
He was an Adonis. His chest was hard and the muscles on his neck going down to his shoulders sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t count the number of abs on that man but they were more than enough for her to know she’d be dreaming about this guy for years to come.
She was almost glad she had that accident.
When she turned back to him, he was loosening the lug nuts. She thought he was hot before, but now that she could take a better look at him she was positively speechless.
Every inch of his torso was ripped, as if carved out of wood, his eight-pack looked as if it was about to burst. He looked like a shirtless super hero from the movies... but taller, and definitely more mature.
Just as she liked them, she thought, snickering.
He put the jack beneath the car, used the lever and lifted it, but as he did, the wind picked up, and the drizzle turned to a light rain. She was kind of embarrassed to have him helping her in those conditions, but he wasn’t taking that long, maybe—
Thunder roared above, and suddenly rain poured down hard.
“Oh my!” She said, raising her arms and covering her head as much as she could. He stood up and picked his t-shirt.
“Let’s go to my car!” he said and took her hand without thinking. Her heart was about to explode but he turned back, surprised at what he’d just done and released her.
“Sorry,” he said, running and opening the passenger’s door on his truck, then going around to his side, completely drenched.
“Shit!” he said coming in, “I can’t believe this weather!”
“Dad, language!”
Cassie turned around and saw Dee, all happy and energetic as she was in the restaurant.
“Sorry, buddy,” Raiden said, “it just came out.”
“All right,” Dee said, leaning forward as she rolled her eyes, “hello, miss!”
“Hello, there!”
“You’re in trouble?”
“Yes, flat tire.”
Rain poured down thicker than ever, a flash of lightning lit the cabin, thunder cracked close behind. The little girl seemed unbothered by the whole thing.
“I love the rain,” Dee said.
“Me too.”
“Yeah,” Raiden said, “unless you’re soaking wet and—”
His words got caught up in his throat, she turned to him, and saw his eyes widen in surprise. He closed up his mouth and turned away. She didn’t understand what was going on.
Then she realized.
She slowly looked down in terror to see her white shirt practically transparent with how soaked it was.
Her arms raced to cover herself as much as she could, but he’d already seen her. She tried to look away but she accidentally noticed a thick bulge in his pants.
You didn’t see that. Oh gosh. No. He didn’t see you. It’s a coincidence. No, no, no, no. Stay professional. It’s natural. Act cool.
“So...” Cassie said without thinking, “you... come here often?”
Gosh, I said come, what am I thinking?
“Not very often,” Dee said, “a few times a year, to see my grandparents, right dad?”
Raiden was looking out the window. He took a deep breath and turned to her, she could tell he was making a conscious effort to keep his eyes on the child. She almost giggled. Well, at least he desired her.
She didn’t remember the last time a man like him looked at her that way —or if it ever happened. It was flattering to say the least.
“We come visit her grandparents,” Raiden repeated, “just outside Seattle.”
“That’s great, so you’re—”
Thunder clapped above like an explosion, Cassie gasped and jumped on her seat, but Raiden put his hand on her leg for a second.
“Don’t worr
y,” he said, “electric storm, we’re safe.”
Deedee laughed, “it scared you, right?”
She was still a bit scared, but her mind was chaos. The way he grazed her thigh and looked at her felt so... intimate? Yes. That’s the word.
“Thank you,” she said turning to Raiden.
“Don’t laugh Dee, that’s not polite.”
“I didn’t laugh at you Cassie, I’m sorry, you jumped super fast that’s all.”
“No problem,” she said turning to Dee.
There was a moment of silence inside the car. Raiden held the wheel very hard, he leaned and looked up through the windshield.
The rain kept falling hard, lightning everywhere. He seemed kind of tense, but she was certain it wasn’t because of the thunder. Was it because of her?
“You live in Seattle?” he asked.
“Yes, well, I’m originally from San Antonio, Texas, but you know how life is.”
“How?” Deedee asked.
Both of them smiled.
“Well,” Raiden said, “full of surprises, one moment you think you have everything under control and the next...”
“Everything changes,” she finished.
“Sounds fun.” Dee said.
Raiden and Cassie looked at each other.
“Most of the time it is,” Cassie said, “at least it isn’t boring.”
“You were taking photos this far south?” Raiden asked.
“Well, I went to see a client in Portland, I love road trips and the countryside is beautiful so I took all of my equipment.”
“Oh, so it’s not just a hobby.”
“Oh no! Not at all, I have a small studio back in Seattle.”
“Take a picture of us!” Dee said.
“Dee, she doesn’t even have her camera here, besides, it’s bad manners to ask things like that.”
“Don’t worry, it’s not a problem!” Cassie said, “I’d love too.”
“See, dad?”
“Let’s wait for the rain to pass, and I’ll take your picture, that okay, Dee?”
“Sure!”
“Looks like it’s finally breaking off,” Raiden said.
He was right. Rain turned to drizzle and little by little the weather was getting better. Just a few more minutes and they’d be able to go back and fix her car.
“I was stranded there for at least forty minutes at least, I’m glad you found me.”
“It was destiny, I guess,” he said.
“I can’t believe I never learned how to change a tire, I feel so dumb!”
He laughed, “don’t worry, we got to talk see to you again, I think it’s a fair trade.”
“I wish these kind of trades happened more often.”
His face turned serious. Damn it, Cass, what the hell are you thinking?
“I mean. I...”
“It’s fine,” Dee said, “women are aaaaaaalways flirting with him, don’t worry.”
Her face turned bright red, her stomach clenched, she was positive sweat came down from her forehead.
“Deeandra! That’s not true! And you don’t say that to people, that’s not what happens.”
Cassie didn’t know what to say, she was flabbergasted.
“Don’t worry,” Dee continued, “he’s not married.”
“That’s enough! You want me to tell grandpa how you’re behaving? He might not take you to the Forest after all.”
“Dad, no, please, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Cassandra said, “she’s just a child.”
Raiden sighed and shook his head.
“Sorry, she doesn’t know when to stop.”
“I stopped,” Dee smiled.
Raiden just looked at her, his eyes boring into hers, making her sink into her seat, pretending to play with her cell phone.
“I think it’s over,” Raiden said looking out.
“Wait here.”
He opened the door and darted back to her car.
Dee was completely silent.
“It’s okay Dee, I’m sure your dad is pretty popular, he’s very good looking.”
Her eyes brightened up.
“I know right, he’s the best! But he never goes out.”
Okay. This is interesting. But she really shouldn’t hear it. It was inappropriate.
“Thank you for being so honest, not many people like you out there.”
Dee smiled.
“I’m going to see how’s he doing,” Cassie said, “wait for us here, okay?”
Dee nodded.
Cassie got out of the car, “don’t go out of the car, it’s dangerous.”
He was already finishing up, placing the old tire on the ground.
“Won’t take long,” he said, his arms black with dirt from the tire.
“Thank you,” she said, “I really appreciate this.”
“No prob. Sorry about my kid there, she’s a bit too forward at times.”
“I think that’s great.”
“I think so too,” he said with a smile, “she’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Her heart warmed. This hulking badass of a man, with his silvery hair and muscles so big she could picture him lifting the car by himself, had a heart so big he couldn’t even hide it.
“You know,” he said in that deep, guttural voice of his, “in a way I’m glad we found you.”
She flushed. He turned to her, the spare tire in his hand as if it weighted nothing.
“I don’t get to talk to women that much, despite what Dee said.”
“Oh, now you’re thanking me for helping? No sir, I won’t let you, I have to repay you, somehow.”
“There’s no chance I’ll let you do that.”
“There’s no chance I’ll let you say no. Unless...”
“Unless what?”
“Well... you’re going to her grandparents, I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with your wife, or ex—”
“She passed away,” he said, matter of factly, then put on the new tire and started tightening the nuts. The whole business had taken him less than 10 minutes. His hands, chest and biceps were dirty.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“Don’t worry about it, it was a long time ago.”
“Sorry for your loss,” she said, unable to think about anything else to say.
He was done.
“Thank you,” she said.
“No problem, Cassie,” he said, wiping his hands on the dirty t-shirt, “well... I guess this is good bye?”
She nodded. Then stopped and shook her head.
“No, we need to take your picture, remember?”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“It’s for Dee,” she said, opening the car’s door, searching for her camera, “come on don’t be a party pooper.”
“Let me get another shirt.”
“You’re fine, come on, call you daughter, the light is amazing right now.”
He called Deeandra and lifted her up in his arms for the picture.
Cassie snapped a few pictures of them against the green countryside. Their smiles were so natural, they loved each other’s presence. The loss of his wife probably got him even closer to his daughter.
“And... perfect,” Cassie said.
“Go back to the car, Dee,” Raiden said after they looked at the pictures on the camera’s screen.
“I’ll send them to you, okay?”
“Sure, my number is—” then he stopped, rising his eyebrow, “wait, this was a trick to get my number, right?”
She laughed, shaking her head and said “Of course!” shaking her head.
“I mean, you could have just asked, I would have given it to you in a heartbeat.”
“Oh, stop it! As if...”
“As if what?”
She blushed. As if you would have ever asked for my number.
“Nothing,” she said, “so, big guy, what is it?”
He gave it to her and waved good-bye, “nice
meeting you, Cassandra, have a great trip.”
She got on her car sighing. This had been a fun meeting.
Raiden and his daughter drove behind her for a while, then took an exit and just like that, they were out of her life.
Chapter 4
Raiden grabbed the last suitcases and elbowed the trunk close. Dee hadn’t waited, as soon as he parked, she bolted out, running to her grandparents yelling “Nana, nana!”
Elizabeth and Deric waited for them at the main entrance, looking out at the driveway. Raiden looked up and admired the mansion once again.
Its old English style was beautifully preserved, and the surrounding gardens —filled with bushes, pines and trees, all maintained to perfection— served as an excellent contrast to the manor. He never got tired of its beauty.
He carried the two suitcases on each shoulder, and walked to the porch, were Dee was jumping to her grandmother’s arms, hugging her hard.
“You’ve grown so much!” Elizabeth told her.
“You need some help with that?” Deric asked him from afar.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Raiden replied as he climbed the marble steps towards them.
The old man smiled at him. He was past his prime, yes, but he was still strong. The crevices in his face a reminder not of frailty, but of wisdom.
Raiden put the suitcases on the floor and shook his hand. His grip was as firm as ever.
“Good seeing you here, Ray,” he said.
Dee skipped to them with her arms open.
“Papa Der,” she said, giving him a peck on the cheek “I missed you.”
He took her in his arms and Raiden nodded towards Elizabeth.
“Elizabeth.”
“I’m glad you arrived, Ray. How was your trip? Are you hungry?”
“We had lunch about—”
“I made cookies...” she continued.
“Yay!” Dee said, running inside.
“Don’t spoil her too much,” Raiden said with a smile, “we just ate.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes.
“Are you saying you don’t want some?”
“Beth,” he laughed, “I’m talking about the kid, not me.”
She smirked. No one could resist her cookies and she knew it.
***
They snacked on the big, rectangular table, then moved from the dining to the living room.
Dee played with her cell phone, it was dark outside, almost time for her to go to bed.