Lila was pleased she had finally been able to decide between the Pilot and the Subaru Tribeca. Family, friends and co-workers had teased her for years about her crap car, telling her that she needed to shoot it and put it out of its misery. Although she had her new car, she still had Lancelot and wasn’t planning to give him up. He’d been with her through many of her life’s journeys and had been a gift from her dad, who was no longer alive. She clenched the wheel and didn’t go down that memory lane—instead she focused on the road ahead.
The sun was just setting on the horizon and Lila was so glad to be heading home at a decent hour. Lately work had been so busy, she hadn’t been arriving at her house until well into the night. Not wanting to hit heavy traffic, Lila turned onto one of the quieter streets. Driving, Lila grinned when she didn’t see anyone else on the road. Pressing the gas, Lila estimated she would be home in less than half an hour. She turned the sharp curve then slowed when she spotted the SUV before her. She appreciated the lines of the black Land Rover Discovery 4—she knew what vehicle it was because Lancelot was a Discovery 1. While shopping, she hadn’t even considered another Land Rover, not wanting to feel like she was cheating on Lancelot.
Suddenly the Rover in front of her swerved then flew off the side of the road. Lila slammed on the brakes, jerking forward against the seatbelt, her heart pounding. She was unable to believe what she had just seen. The sound of crunching metal reached her, then she saw the smoke coming from the ditch. Lila unbuckled her seatbelt with shaking hands. She clenched and unclenched them before she pushed open her door and got out. Breaking into a jog, she headed to the edge of the road. She paused at the top looking down at the Rover, which was smashed against a tree. She took out her cell then called it in.
“ME Jarvis, I want to report an accident off…”
She gave dispatch the details of where they were, as well as her credentials as the Head Medical Examiner of this area of Singleton. When the emergency operator said help was on the way, she disconnected the call. Although she knew they were coming, Lila wasn’t going to wait—she needed to check on the driver. Lila kicked off her high-heeled shoes then went down, ignoring the gravel, grass and other things digging into the bottom of her stocking-clad feet.
She approached the driver’s side, calling, “Are you okay?”
Lila cautiously went to the door and peered into the open window. A man was crumpled over the wheel, his face turned away from her, but she could see his blond hair. She frowned at the sight of feathers in his hair. A crackling sound made her look, then Lila’s eyes widened as she realized the smoke was flooding out of the hood. She turned and reached into the car and unlocked it before opening the door. For a second, she wondered about moving him if he was hurt, but she couldn’t take the chance of the Rover catching fire with him still in it. Lila glanced down and was glad she had worn a pantsuit today instead of the skirt suit she’d planned. She flexed her hands and prayed she would be able to pull the muscular man up the hill and away from danger. She was willowy but strong, and people usually underestimated her because of her stature.
Lila checked his pulse and, grateful it was steady, she started to move him out of the car. The man was silent and when his head flopped back, Lila scowled at the war paint that covered his entire face. Although the designs of the feathers looked Native American, from his hair color she didn’t think the man was of that ethnicity. His features confirmed it, but she had no idea why he would have those types of feathers in his hair or have on war paint. She pushed away her curiosity and focused on getting the man removed from the vehicle. She tugged him out and when he fell toward her she let him drop to the ground but braced him so he didn’t hit his head. Lila grunted at his weight, squatting low to hold him. She gently laid his head on the ground, noticing that his hair was braided in two and beads were throughout his hair. She checked him over for more injuries but couldn’t find any that were visible, so she breathed out, relieved.
Rolling her shoulders, she again clenched then relaxed her hands before sliding them under his shoulders to grip him before she started the painstaking task of getting him up the slope.
“Don’t you fucking die on me,” Lila chanted as she dragged the man up the incline, leaning low to get leverage.
“Christ, just let me die,” the man groaned.
She let him go, startled, not even knowing he had woken. He stared up at her with glazed dark blue eyes. He slid back down and Lila grabbed him before he got too far and started moving backward, pulling him along toward the top. His words made what she’d seen come into context—he’d deliberately driven off the road. Lila didn’t know why the man was trying to kill himself, but he wasn’t going to die on her watch.
“Not with you yelling at me in such dulcet tones,” he said dryly. “My head aches, you know.”
“What?” Lila screamed then blew out a breath, realizing she’d yelled.
“Maybe you don’t know it, but you said you thought I was trying to kill myself and that I wasn’t going to die on your watch.” The man blinked, his curly lashes briefly shading his eyes. “Although the sentiment is nice, you’re not able to predict if someone will die or not. Also, just for reference, if I wanted to kill myself, I wouldn’t do it in a car.”
“Why not?”
“Because there are many other more interesting ways to go.” He smirked. His full lips and that rakish tilt to them gave him an air of trouble.
“I don’t even want to know what you mean.” Lila continued her upward trek, breathing out slowly as she worked to get him up the incline.
“You know you want to ask,” the man taunted.
“Stop talking, I’m trying to save you.”
“And doing a stellar job too.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “For a willowy woman, you sure are strong.”
“Humph… I work out and eat my veggies.” She chuckled then stopped, frowning before glaring at the man. “Wait, you’re awake so why am I breaking my back pulling your heavy ass up a hill?”
“I thought you were working on your strength or cardio training or something.” He laughed then winced. “Fuck, my head. Help me up and I can walk up the hill.”
The demand in his tone made her stare at him then say softly, “You want to rephrase that in a more requesting manner?”
“Ohhh… That cold tone and look makes me so afraid.”
Although he said it, she didn’t buy it because of his mocking tone. Lila waited, holding him steady so he didn’t slide down.
“Can you, oh so strong, willowy woman, help this poor injured man up so he can regain his dignity by walking up the hill under his own steam.” He narrowed his eyes. “That’s the best you’re gonna get.”
Lila believed him and she shifted her hold then helped him. He didn’t say a word or make a pained sound, but she could see it hurt him by the clench of his jaw. It was then she saw the network of scars under his war paint on one side of his face. When he was on his feet, he let her go then took a step and wobbled. Lila went to catch him, but he pushed her hand away and righted himself then walked slowly upward holding onto his side. Lila matched him step for step.
“Stop hovering and grab the cat,” he growled.
“What cat—?” She stopped as she heard the meowing.
Lila glanced around then spotted a kitten cowering in the bush at the edge of the road.
“Never mind.” The man squatted down and sang softly.
Lila gaped, not sure what he was doing. The kitten slowly came toward them and when it was close, he put out his hand then waited. It came to him unhesitatingly, pressing against his fingers, purring.
“What are you, some kitty whisperer?” Lila couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“Hardly. The kitten knows people and isn’t wild or it would have bolted. I’m just showing it kindness. I’m glad I didn’t hit her or him.” He scooped up the kitten then slowly rose. “That’s a lovely hair comb you have in your hair.”
“My hair comb.” She touched i
t then lowered her hand scowling. “We’re not gonna talk about my hair ornament. You can’t possibly want me to believe you noticed then swerved off the road to not hit the cat?” Lila asked.
“Believe what you want.” He rubbed long fingers along the head of the kitten softly. “Maybe I did have a death wish and decided to do an Evel Knievel and see if I could jump to the other road from here.”
Since the road in question was so far away, Lila didn’t believe him. She didn’t know what to make of the man. He was strange and somehow familiar, but she couldn’t place where she knew him from. The paint on his face made it difficult to identify him. Lila lowered her gaze, studying his frame for clues as to who he was. She paused to read his dark gold T-shirt, which had ‘Ask me. Come on, you know you want to’ written on it and there was a swirling design below. She lifted her gaze and the smile on the man’s face let her know he was waiting for her to ask.
“Nope. Not falling for asking.” Lila again went back to observing his muscular yet lanky frame.
His T-shirt stopped mid-thigh and he had on black jeans with sneakers. It gave her no clue as to who he was. She looked back at him and his eyebrow was lifted.
“Like what you see?”
She didn’t reply to that, instead said, “Let’s get up to the top. Help should be here any moment.”
He walked beside her. “Driscoll.”
“Huh?”
“My name is Driscoll, but people close to me call me Dris.”
“Oh… Lila,” she replied.
“Nice name. The meaning of it is night.” Driscoll studied her. “Fits you. When I think of night it always makes me think of something mysterious with many hidden facets.”
“Are you flirting with me? You just had an accident and hit your head.”
“Nope, not flirting, just having a conversation.” He lowered his lids. “If I was flirting, you’d know it.”
Lila opened her mouth then closed it—she wasn’t going to ask. She glanced at his shirt then at him and his lips twitched. They reached the top and Lila led the man to her Pilot.
“Take the cat.” The urgency in his tone made her do as he said without question.
“Tha—” His eyes rolled back in his head and he dropped to his knees before falling to his side.
Lila tucked the kitten inside her shirt and prayed it didn’t scratch her. She knelt by him and patted his cheek.
“Driscoll.” She shifted him onto his back then leaned over him. “Driscoll!”
“God, let me die. Because your yelling at me is making my headache worse.” His gruff, raspy baritone again brought a tinge that she should know him.
“Fuck you.” She stroked his face, so relieved he was okay.
“I could say so many dirty things about you feeling me up while I’m too weak to reciprocate, but I’ll resist.” Driscoll opened his eyes. “But be warned, when I’m feeling better, look out.”
“Hush.” She kept stroking his face then lifted her fingers, frowning at the paint on them before shrugging and going back to touching him. “You talk too fucking much.”
“Do you always curse like a sailor?” Driscoll smiled. “Not that I mind. But coming from someone who looks like you do, it is interesting.”
“I don’t usually swear that much.” Lila scowled, because she had been. “I blame you. You bring it out in me. Why would it be interesting coming from someone who looks like me?”
“You have this innocent look to you.” Driscoll lifted his hand and touched the side of her cheek. “But in your eyes I see the mischief waiting to be unleashed.”
“Humph, innocent my ass. Don’t let this fool you.” She gestured to her face. “I’m far from innocent.”
“Do tell.”
“Nope.” She touched his cheek. “Are you nauseated?”
“A little.”
“You probably have a concussion,” Lila said.
“Are you a doctor?”
“Yes.” She didn’t clarify that she was a medical examiner. People tended to get squeamish when they found out what she did.
“My brother is a doctor.” Driscoll closed his eyes. “He’s gonna be hovering when he finds out I was in another car accident. At least this time no one will blame me.”
Lila frowned, not sure what he meant. “Explain.”
“I—” Driscoll passed out.
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About the Author
Taige Crenshaw has been enthralled with the written word from the time that she picked up her first book. It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance.
Her novels are set in the modern day between people who know what they want and how to get it. Taige also sets her stories in the future with vast universes between beautiful, strange and unique beings with lots of spice and sensuality added to her work.
Always hard at work creating new and exciting places, Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun and frolic, with interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels.
Email: [email protected]
Taige loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.
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Blackstone Haven: Power of Instinct
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Singleton: Perfect Fit
Singleton: More Than Temptation
Singleton: Unexpected Encounter
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Indigo Rain
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Silken Inferno
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Dark Callings
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Immortal Bloodlines
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Totally Bound Publishing
Power of Rhythms Page 11