knew she shouldn’t have said it, but the words slipped out of her mouth before she could reel them back in.
Blake wasn’t angry. He smirked instead.
“Too bad. Because that’s the only way you’re gonna make it over the bridge.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re renting from Kayleigh Jemison in town, right?”
“How did you know—”
“It’s Magnolia Lake. Everyone knows everyone in this town,” he said matter-of-factly. “And there are flash-flood warnings everywhere. No way will this small car make it through the low-lying areas between here and town.”
“Flash floods?” Panic spread through her chest. “Isn’t there another route I can take?”
“There’s only one way back to town.” He pointed toward the carport. “The ground is higher there. Park behind my truck, and I’ll give you a ride home. I’ll bring you back to get your car when the roads clear.”
“Just leave my car here?” She stared at him dumbly.
“If I could fit it into the bed of my truck, I would.” One side of his mouth curved in an impatient smile. “And if there was any other option, I’d tell you.”
Savannah groaned as she returned her flashlight to the glove compartment. Then she pulled into the carport as Blake instructed.
“Got everything you need from your car?” Blake removed his hood and opened her car door.
“You act as if I won’t see my car again anytime soon.”
“Depends on how long it takes the river to go down.”
“Seriously?” Savannah grabbed a few items from the middle console and shoved them in her bag before securing her vehicle. She followed Blake to the passenger side of his huge black truck.
She gasped, taken by surprise when Blake helped her up into the truck.
“I have a couple more things to check before we go. Sit tight. I’ll be back before you can miss me.”
Doubt it.
Blake shut her door and disappeared around the building.
Savannah waited for her heartbeat to slow down. She secured her seat belt and surveyed the interior of Blake’s pickup truck. The satellite radio was set to an old-school hip-hop channel. The truck was tricked out with all the toys. High-end luxury meets Bo and Luke Duke with a refined hip-hop sensibility.
Perfectly Blake.
A clean citrus scent wafted from the air vents. The black leather seats she was dripping all over were inlaid with a tan design.
A fierce gust of wind blew the rain sideways and swayed the large truck. Her much smaller car rocked violently, as if it might blow over.
Another blinding flash of lightning was quickly followed by a rumble of thunder. Savannah gritted her teeth.
She’d give anything to be home in bed with the covers pulled over her head.
Everything will be fine. Don’t freak out.
Savannah squeezed her eyes shut. Counted backward from ten, then forward again. When she opened them, Blake was spreading a yellow tarp over her small car.
Damn you, Blake Abbott.
She’d arrived in Magnolia Lake regarding every last one of the Abbotts as a villain. Blake’s insistence on behaving like a knight in shining armor while looking like black Thor made it difficult to maintain that position.
He was being kind and considerate, doing what nearly any man would under the circumstances. Particularly one who regarded himself a Southern gentleman.
That didn’t make him Gandhi.
And it sure as hell didn’t prove the Abbotts weren’t capable of cruelty. Especially when it came to their business.
But as he approached the truck, looking tall, handsome and delicious despite the rain, it was impossible not to like him.
Relax. It’s just a ride home.
The storm had Savannah on edge. Nothing a little shoo-fly punch wouldn’t soothe. She just needed to endure the next twenty minutes with Blake Abbott.
* * *
Blake stood outside the truck with the wind whipping against his back and his soaking-wet clothing sticking to his skin. He forced a stream of air through his nostrils.
Parker’s warning replayed in his head.
Don’t think of her that way. It’ll only get you into trouble.
He’d come back to the plant after dinner with his father to make sure everything was okay. But he’d also come back looking for her, worried she’d spent another night working late, not recognizing the dangers of a hard, long rain like this. Something any local would know.
He would have done this for any of his employees—male or female. But he wasn’t a convincing enough liar to persuade himself that what he was doing tonight...for her...wasn’t different. More personal.
Something about Savannah Carlisle roused a fiercely protective instinct.
Keep your shit together and your hands to yourself.
Blake took one more cleansing breath and released it, hoping his inappropriate thoughts about Savannah went right along with it.
When he yanked the door open, Savannah’s widened eyes met his. Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself.
“You’re freezing.” Blake climbed inside the truck and turned on the heat to warm her, wishing he could take her in his arms. Transferring his body heat to hers would be a better use of the steam building under his collar. “Is that better?”
Savannah rubbed her hands together and blew on them. “Yes, thank you.”
Blake grabbed a jacket off the back seat and handed it to her. “Put this on.”
There was the briefest hesitance in her eyes before Savannah accepted the jacket with a grateful nod. It was heavy, and she struggled to put it on.
Blake helped her into it. Somehow, even that basic gesture felt too intimate.
“Let’s get you home.” Blake put the truck into gear and turned onto the road that led across the river and into town.
They traveled in comfortable silence. It was just as well. The low visibility created by the blowing rain required his complete focus.
They were almost there. Savannah’s apartment was just beyond the bridge and around the bend.
Shit.
They were greeted
