One Night in Jersey

by Tianna Xander

  She stared at the car, and then down at herself before shaking her head. They are not doing this to me. Spinning on her heel, she marched back to the counter and gave the twenty-something girl behind the counter a narrow-eyed glare.

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Excuse me?” The girl glanced up from her computer screen and tilted her head in a disgustingly perky, homecoming-queen way. “Serious about what?”

  “Have you seen that car?” Hayley waved her arm toward the lot. “I can’t make a six-hour drive in that thing. I’ll be packed inside it like a canned ham.”

  The girl mumbled under her breath. It sounded suspiciously like, You said it. I didn’t.

  “What did you say?” Hayley rested her elbows on the counter and leaned forward. The little tramp had better watch her mouth or she’d kick her size-zero ass to hell and back.

  “I didn’t say anything, ma’am.” The clerk pasted a smile on her face and acted so perky Hayley wanted to puke. “That is the last car we have left. If you don’t want it, I just turned away a gentleman who asked to rent a vehicle. I can see if he’s still here.” She held out her hand as though expecting Hayley to surrender the keys.

  “Not on your life, sweetheart.” She held the keys and rental contract tight to her chest. “I’ll cram my fat ass in that car and drive to Atlantic City if it’s the last thing I’ll ever do.” With renewed purpose, she made her way out to the car, buckled in, and headed south.

  Three-and-a-half hours later, she steered the little tin can onto the side of the road. Checking the gauges for the umpteenth time, she sighed. According to the GPS, she was ten miles from anywhere with nothing but hills and trees surrounding her. Hell, if there’d been a field, she could have hiked across it to a nearby farm or house for help, but found nothing except Mother Nature and the pavement beneath her feet. Tears burned when she glanced at her watch. She hadn’t had a moment to spare before her date, but with her rental broken down, she’d definitely run out of time.

  “Damn it!” She slammed the heel of her hand on the steering wheel. The car had plenty of gas, and it hadn’t overheated, yet the little piece of crap wouldn’t start again. “I should have just waited for the damned plane.” Reaching over to the passenger seat, she pulled her purse onto her lap, fishing for her cell phone. She checked it and sighed.

  No signal.

  “Great.” She threw the device back on the seat.

  Just her luck. Stuck in the middle of nowhere with no way to call for help. She rolled the windows down and turned off the ignition.

  What would Dad say?

  A veteran backyard mechanic, her dad would have already fixed the thing with a stick of gum and a paperclip or something equally as weird. He’d suggest she check the fuses first. Perhaps the one for the fuel pump had blown and the engine couldn’t get fuel.

  She hunted around the interior for a square of plastic that could be the cover of the fuse box. When she didn’t see a likely-looking candidate, she popped the hood, pried herself from behind the wheel, and rounded the front of the rental.

  After spending several moments fumbling for the latch, she finally raised the hood and stared at the foreign machinery inside. Black plastic and metal filled the tiny space, and she could make neither heads nor tails of what she saw. It was nothing like her baby. Manufactured in 1967, Hayley’s car didn’t have nearly the number of hoses and wires. Not only huge, it had once been her dad’s pride and joy.

  Ignoring the few vehicles screaming by, she stared under the hood, her elbows resting on the bright blue fenders. The air filter had been easy to spot, stored in a huge square box with an equally large hose trailing over to what she assumed must be the fuel and air injection unit. She narrowed her eyes at a medium-sized square black box with clips all the way around it. Reaching out, she flipped the clips holding it closed and tried to lift the lid.

  Six sore fingers and two broken fingernails later, she let out a stream of curses colorful enough to make a sailor blush.

  “I take it you couldn’t figure it out.”

  Hayley jerked upright at the deep voice with the sexy Scottish accent. Her head hit the inside of the hood, and she stepped back onto someone’s foot. “Holy hell!” Turning, she glared up at the most beautiful man she had ever seen. “You scared the crap out of me.”

  At least six and a half feet tall, the man appeared to be in his early to mid-forties. Thick dark hair curled around his collar as he gazed down at her with eyes the same light-blue as the Virginia sky in the summer.

  “I’m sorry, lass. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I stopped to offer assistance.” He smiled at her—a wonderful, all-male smile that almost left her panting with need.

  To keep him from finding out what he did to her quivering insides, she turned toward the car and shrugged. “I was distracted. And no, I didn’t figure out why this piece of sh…shiny metal won’t start.”

  Resting her hand over her midsection, she hoped to keep her stomach where it belonged before it took flight with all of the butterflies fluttering around in there.

  The man was a god. Perfect in every way that mattered, aesthetically, anyway, he could have been on the cover of a gentlemen’s fashion magazine. How could anyone be so downright attractive? From his impeccably tailored suit down to his wing-tipped shoes, he dripped class, and money.

  Taking off his jacket and studded cufflinks, he rolled up his sleeves. “Shall I have a look, then?” He met her gaze with his striking blue eyes and smiled.

  She did her best not to melt into a puddle at his feet, or worse, faint. Hell, if she had to miss her date, at least she’d do it with style. Though she had no delusions about the stranger’s intentions, it didn’t mean she couldn’t watch the guy as he tried to figure out the issue with her car.

  “It’s just a rental. The only reason I was trying to fix it was because I don’t have a signal on my phone out here.” She shifted her attention back at his vehicle before indicating his suit. “It’s obvious you weren’t planning on fixing a car tonight.”

  “Aye, you’re right. I wasn’t.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone and frowned. “I don’t have a signal, either.”

  “Well, crap.” She bit her lip and met his gaze. “You don’t have to stay here and try to fix this hunk of junk. If you could just call One Star Rentals when you reach civilization and tell them where I am, I would appreciate it.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” he said, his face blank. “Do you really think I would leave you alone out here in the middle of nowhere when it’s going to be dark in less than an hour?”

  Chapter Four

  Jamie smiled down at the gorgeous woman standing before him. Glossy-black hair hung down to her waist, caressing the top of her wide hips and curve of her lush ass. She met his gaze with eyes as green as new mountain grass.

  What he wouldn’t give to have the right to reach out and cup her fleshy ass. He licked his lips and wished he’d met her somewhere other than the side of the road.

  His cock shifted in his slacks as he inhaled and took in her wonderfully sweet smell. A mixture of strawberries and Highland heather, her scent alone brought his entire being to full attention.

  Dusky-red lips curved in a smile before she laughed. “Please. Like anyone is going to bother me out here.” Pausing, she shoved the mass of hair out of her face and it shocked him how much he wanted to touch it—to run glossy strands between his fingers to see if it was as soft as it looked.

  A large truck sped past. The air it displaced ruffled a few of the strands against his cheek. The silky lock tangled in his short beard and connected them for a moment. It felt right.

  “Sorry.” Stepping away, she tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’ll find an elastic to wrap around it.”

  “No!” His exclamation startled her and she stopped, her hand midway to the car’s door handle. “I mean, don’t bother. You won’t need to do that if you climb into my car an
d I take you to the next town.”

  “I don’t think that’s wise.” Taking a step back, she walked to the other side. “I don’t know you. You could be an axe murderer or something.”

  Jamie watched her for a moment before cocking a brow. “And you’d feel safer with some other stranger out here in the middle of nowhere?”

  Her cheeks reddened and he almost grinned. He loved a woman who could still blush in times like these. It spoke of an innocence not yet lost. Her rosy cheeks aroused him as much as her intoxicating scent.

  “Good point.” Opening the door, she reached in and grabbed her cell phone and purse. “I should roll the windows up and lock it, though, don’t you think?”

  “It couldn’t hurt.” Moving to the back, he enjoyed the view as she bent and inserted the key into the ignition to roll up the power windows. He stuck his hands in his pockets, effectively hiding the hard on—a result of watching the seductive sway of her amazing ass.

  “Ready?” he asked as she straightened and faced him.

  “I guess.” She glanced at him and then quickly looked away. “We should introduce ourselves. I kind of draw the line at accepting rides from complete strangers. I’m Hayley Pittman.”

  As a werewolf, he had an exceptional sense of smell. Not only did he arouse her, she feared him a little, as well. The scent of her desire permeated the air as she moved to join him, her hand outstretched.

  He took it in his for a moment before releasing it. “I’m all for fixing the part about us being total strangers. I’m James Campbell. My friends call me Jamie.” Jerking his thumb toward his car, he added, “That’s mine. It’s not a rental and, at the moment, it will run when I start it and it has air conditioning.”

  She eyed the vehicle with trepidation. “I don’t think I’m going to fit in that thing very well.”

  “What makes you say that?” He gave her a once over, leaving little, if anything, to her imagination about how attractive he found her and then smiled. “I think it’s perfect for you.” Taking her elbow in a light grip, he grinned and led her to the passenger side, opened the door, and helped her in.

  “See? You’re perfect in there.” He frowned. “I just thought of something—do you have any bags you would like to take?”

  “I guess I should bring my clothes in case I have to spend the night in town before they can fix it. They’re in the trunk.” She sighed and reached for the door handle.

  “Don’t get out. Just hand me the keys, and I’ll get them.”

  He strode back to her rental and removed two small bags. After storing them in his trunk, he slid into the driver’s seat. “We’ll head to the nearest town to make your call.”

  Jamming the transmission in gear, he slammed his foot on the gas and his vehicle fishtailed onto the road.

  “Sorry.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “I don’t usually have people ride with me.”

  “I’m sure your dates would disagree.”

  “Dates?” He shook his head with a laugh. “I haven’t been on a date in twenty years.”

  Hayley frowned. “Your wife, then.”

  Damn. Such a hot accent and he’s married. I can’t even fantasize about having a fling with him now. She may want to have a one-night stand with a stranger, but she drew the line at luring married men into her bed.

  “I’m not married, either,” Jamie said.

  She kept her eyes forward for a few seconds before turning his way and holding up a hand. “Stop spreading the manure. Please. Either you date or you’re married, but no man who looks like you, with that accent, is going to be celibate for twenty years. Not in this country.” Reaching out, she adjusted the vent, pointing the air at her face, which burned as she thought about what she’d just said. Maybe she should change the subject. “That feels good. It was warm out there.”

  “Ye like my accent?” Jamie smiled again before he reached over and turned the fan up a notch. “I wasn’t aware it was attractive to American women. As a matter of fact, I’ve been busy the last couple of decades. I worked for a man who is in the spotlight more than not and I haven’t dated because I’m never sure if women are really interested in me or if they just want to get close to Jared.”

  “Jared?” She frowned. “I’m sorry. I’m a bookaholic, and I don’t get out much. Should I know who you’re talking about?”

  “You can’t be serious!” He glanced at her from the corner of his eye before turning his attention back to the road. “Do you really mean to say you have no idea who I am or who Jared Harwell is? He’s only one of the most sought-after action heroes in Hollywood.”

  “Oh. That explains it. I read more than I watch movies, and action flicks just aren’t my thing.”

  “Stop pulling my leg. They’re long enough already.” He stared through the windshield his lips pressed tight and a muscle jumping in his cheek. “Practically every woman in the world under seventy knows who he is.”

  “Well, I don’t. I don’t even have a TV right now.” She paused. “Well, that’s not entirely true. I have one, but it hasn’t worked for the last couple of years. It broke when I was still with Carl. Since he wasn’t a big TV person, I didn’t bother to get it fixed. I never used it much. I didn’t see the point in wasting the money when I was too busy trying to meet deadlines to watch it, anyway.”

  “You really have no idea who Jared Harwell is?” His eyes widened.

  “None.”

  “Hell.” He rubbed his jaw before reaching back to rub the back of his neck. “I think I’ve just met the lass I’m gonna marry.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing. Just talking to myself.” He cast a smile her way. “Where were you headed? I might have been heading there myself.”

  “I doubt you’re going as far south as I am.” No way would she be so lucky.

  “Try me.”

  “I’m going to Atlantic City. I-I have a date.” She hesitated to tell him that. Hell, he seemed interested and the man was hot sex walking. The last thing she wanted to do was chase him away.

  “You’re dating someone?”

  Was it her imagination, or did he seem disappointed? “It’s…kind of a blind date.”

  “Did a friend set you up?” He curled his lip. “I hate that. It’s not like you don’t feel bad enough about being alone, but your friends think they’re helping by setting you up with people you’d sooner throw in a cesspit than kiss on the lips.”

  “Well, um…no. I kind of hired someone to find me a date.”

  “Ye hired someone to find ye a date?” Hayley suppressed a grin. His sexy accent grew more pronounced when he became upset or surprised. Reaching out, he patted her thigh. “You’re a beautiful woman, love. You have no reason to pay to find a date.” He smiled. “Why don’t you ditch the man and go out with me instead? I’ll wine and dine you for free.”

  She rested her hand over her middle. That strange fluttering sensation settled in her stomach again. Closing her eyes, she prayed she could have met this man under different circumstances—any circumstance other than the situation she found herself in at the moment.

  “Why?” She was curious why he felt that way. Why he seemed to find her so attractive.

  “Because, darlin’, you have no idea what it’s been like living with a celebrity. To have every minute of every day watched and scrutinized. I haven’t dated for so long because I didn’t want people to butt their damned noses into my private life.”

  “I get it. I’m the first woman you’ve met since having this newfound freedom. Did you quit your job?”

  “No.” He grinned. “Jared quit acting and made me redundant.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “In a sense, he fired me. He doesn’t need a publicist and bodyguard anymore. Now that he’s married, he just needs his privacy, and I intend to give it to him. God knows he’s had little enough of it over the last several years.”

  The car slowed, and he pulled off the road into the lot o
f a small gas station. He stopped at the pump. “If you need to use the facilities, now’s the time. I’ll fill up and buy us something to eat and drink. Try to use your phone, too.” He took his wallet from his pocket and handed her his driver’s license. “Call someone close to you; tell them you’re with me. It will make you feel better if someone else is aware that you are travelling with me.”

  “I should just call a cab or something.” She bit her lip, undecided.

  “Lass, a cab ride into Atlantic City will cost you a fortune. Why should you pay another stranger to take you when I’m headed there myself?”

  He was right. Just because she called a cab, didn’t make her safer than she would be with him.

  Taking the proffered document, Hayley headed into the little store in search of a bathroom. She really did have to go, if only to wash the dust and grime she’d likely gotten from under the hood of the little piece of crap rental off her face and neck.

  She studied his driver’s license. A tiny replica of his handsome face stared back at her from the little square of plastic. James Alexander Campbell with an address in L.A. appeared to be a nice guy.

  Leaning against the wall, she sent a text to her sister telling her about her day, including Jamie’s full name, address, and driver’s license number. She even included a photo of the document. After sending the long text, she turned her phone off. The last thing she needed was her sister calling and harassing her and telling her she was a first class idiot for trusting a man she didn’t know.

  She was aware of the risks involved with accepting a ride from a stranger, yet something told her that Jamie Campbell had no intention of harming her. Something told her, if he made her scream, she would be enjoying herself.

  ***

  An hour and a half after leaving the gas station, Jamie steered into the parking lot of a restaurant somewhere near New Jersey. He’d frequented others in the franchise and knew they had a great menu.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.” He hadn’t been able to find a suitable place to stop before then. But he not only wanted food, he wanted ambiance, and this chain of restaurants had it in spades.