Every Move She Makes. Jannine Gallant

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      Rachel counted back the months since her last attempt at a relationship, and her jaw sagged. Could it really have been nearly a year?

      “No wonder Kane sent my hormones up in flames. I guess I should make an effort to throw myself into the dating pool again.”

      Exiting the freeway, she drove faster than she should along the two-lane country road that wound through the rolling hills of Napa Valley. It was pushing eleven-thirty, and she was anxious to get home. Her mouth opened wide in a bone-cracking yawn.

      “What the...”

      A fallen limb from a giant oak lay across the middle of the road. She swerved hard left to avoid it. Whump. Her SUV jolted as the rear tire hit the end of the branch. A moment later, an ominous thumping sounded from the back of the car. Swearing under her breath, she pulled to the side of the road, stopped and got out. In the faint moonlight, one look at the rear tire confirmed she had a flat.

      “Five more measly miles and I would have been home.”

      She got back in the car and pulled out her cell phone. Turning on the dome light, she punched in the number for roadside service and waited for the operator to come on the line. Three minutes later, she threw the phone across the seat. An accident had both their area tow trucks tied up. It would be at least an hour before someone could get there.

      “Forget that.”

      Rachel pulled the owner’s manual from the glove box. After reading the section on changing a tire, confidence surged. Not hard at all.

      Until she got started. After she released the spare tire from beneath the car, she took out the jack. Grunting with effort, she managed to pump the jack enough times to raise the flat clear of the ground.

      “All right!” Her fist pumped the air.

      A bird in the granddaddy oak emitted a small chirp.

      “Next, off with the old tire and on with the new. Piece of cake.”

      Except it wasn’t. The lug nuts must have been soldered on. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t budge them. Tired and frustrated, she admitted defeat and went searching for her cell phone. Finding it on the floor of the passenger side, she entered her brother’s number.

      Four rings later, a groggy voice answered.

      “Hi, Will. It’s me.”

      “Rachel? What’s wrong? It’s almost midnight.”

      “I know, and I’m sorry to wake you, but I got a flat coming home from San Francisco.”

      “Did you call the auto service?”

      “Yes, but they can’t get to me for an hour or more. I took the spare out and jacked up the car, but I can’t budge the lug nuts. I’ve tried. They’re on too tight.”

      “They usually are. I’ll come get you.” He sounded slightly more awake. “Where are you?”

      “About five miles south of town. I’m really sorry.”

      “Yeah, well you’ll owe me. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

      “Thanks.”

      She leaned against the side of the car and closed her eyes. The world around her was dark and silent, the moon having sunk behind the hills. Minutes later an engine rumbled in the distance. She shielded her eyes as twin beams of light speared through the darkness.

      The car approaching wasn’t her brother’s Volvo.

      An older pickup pulled to a stop, and a man’s voice called from the open window. “Need some help?”

      In the glare of his headlights, she could only make out a shadowy figure wearing a baseball cap and dark glasses.

      “No, thank you. I have a flat, but my brother is on his way. I appreciate the offer.”

      “A pretty lady like you shouldn’t be out alone this time of night. I don’t mind getting started on the tire while you wait for your brother. Better yet, give him a call and tell him you’ve got it covered. I’ll be happy to change it for you.”

      Rachel shifted from one foot to the other and glanced up the deserted road. The guy made her nervous. Who wore sunglasses in the middle of the night? “Really, I’m fine. Don’t let me keep you.”

      “I insist.” His door creaked as it opened.

      She took a step back, heart racing. Before real fear could take hold, a second set of lights appeared on the road. Her breath whooshed out. “Here’s my brother now.”

      “I’ll be on my way then.” The door shut. Truck gears grinding, he accelerated around the branch and headed down the road.

      “Who was that?” Will stepped from his car into the glow of its headlights. Ten years her senior, her brother was tall and thin with a shock of red hair beginning to recede. He stared after the retreating pickup.

      “Some guy who stopped to help after I called you. I know this isn’t exactly a high crime area, but I was a little nervous out here alone with a stranger.”

      “I’m glad you called when you did. It looks like you made good progress with the tire.” He hunkered down beside it.

      “I thought I could change it by myself. I was feeling pretty cocky until I tried to loosen those damned lug nuts.”

      “They are on tight.” He grunted even more than she had as he threw his weight into the task. Ten minutes later the spare tire was on. Will stowed the flat in the back of her SUV. “Don’t forget to drop it off to be repaired tomorrow. You wouldn’t want to get stuck again without a working spare.”

      “God forbid I should have another flat. Fate couldn’t be so cruel twice.”

      “You never know. Help me drag this limb off the road so the next driver doesn’t hit it.”

      They moved the heavy limb then Rachel gave her brother a hug and slid into her car.

      “Thanks for bailing me out. I hated having to wake you at this hour when I know you’ll be up at dawn.”

      “No problem. What were you doing out so late, anyway?”

      “I had dinner with Grace, and it lasted longer than usual. Her latest boyfriend showed up with a friend, and we talked to them for a while. I should have left sooner.”

      “Grace has someone new?”

      “When doesn’t our sister have a new guy? You know Grace, but she really seems to like this one. He’s a cop.”

      “She hasn’t dated a cop before, has she?”

      “No, but I can see why she decided to broaden her horizons. Nolan is very handsome. So is his friend.”

      “Interesting. Should I assume you dragged this friend off for a round of mad, passionate sex? Is that the real reason you’re late getting home?”

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