Cameron

My car was getting hot or something was going on. I wasn’t sure what it was, but now that the light was on, there was smoke billowing out of the car. I had to wonder if this was just my luck or if this was a sign. I also had to wonder why it took the light so long to come on. It was apparently a big deal. Shouldn’t I have gotten a little more warning?

Pulling into the off ramp for the rest area, I was surprised at how dark it was. It was scary and the fact that I was sure my car was going to explode didn’t help me much at all. I didn’t want to know what was going on with it. I just wanted it to work.

My phone was almost dead, so I only had enough juice for one call to Triple A. They said they would be out soon and I was just going to have to wait. It was late and I locked myself in my car. I didn’t want to go out there. I wasn’t sure where I was, not really and the last thing that I needed was for someone to walk up or something like that. This was how nightmares and horror stories begin.

My mind was going a mile a minute and I didn’t have anything to distract me from such thoughts. When a car pulled up that had tinted windows and parked next to me, I was sure that I was about to get snatched.

It seemed to sit there idly for some time before it was finally shut off. I don’t know who it was, but the lights were still on and I could hear music coming from the interior. All I could think was that I didn’t want the company. It was better when I was the only one in the tiny rest area. It wasn’t like Georgia where there were guards at night. Here I felt like I was out here in the middle of nowhere all by myself.

A man got out and he stopped for a moment and waved when he saw me in the car. There was a look on his face that told me that he was feeling no pain. The smile was too wide and the way he was walking protested the same conclusion.

I finally breathed out a breath when he passed me. I hated that I was afraid, but this was all new and a little scary. I didn’t like being stuck out here with my car acting up. I wasn’t going to check under the hood, knowing that I had no idea what I was supposed to be checking for anyways. It was a waste of time.

The tall guy was coming back and I saw him pass under one of the lights. His jacket looked expensive and he looked like a business man more than he looked like a predator. I was going to take that as a good sign and when he hollered through the window asking if I needed any help, I felt a little more comfortable to answer than I did before. I did need some help and he looked like the kind of guy that could help me.

“Yeah, I would if you know anything about cars.”

I was still talking through the window, but when he shook his head that he did, I unlocked the door and opened it up a bit. There was a second of fear that he was going to rush the car or something of that nature. When he didn’t, I figured that I was going to be okay.

“Thanks, I don’t know anything about cars. The light came on that it was overheating and then smoke started to come out of it. I don’t know what is going on with it, but Triple A said it was going to be a few hours before they could come out this way. My name is Cameron by the way. What’s yours?”

I was babbling because I was nervous and because I realized how handsome the man was. He was not only dressed nice, but he held himself like he was used to having things his way. The black sports car was worth more than my house back home that I just sold, so I was starting to doubt what he actually knew anything about it. He was the classic tall, dark and handsome with a grin on his face that made him look close to devilish.

“Do you know anything about cars?”

“A little bit. Let’s pop the hood and see if we can figure this out. My name is Grey.”

“Like the color?”

His eyes smiled as well as his lips. “Yeah, like the color, though I haven’t heard that for a long time. I am used to people knowing who I am.”

I didn’t know what that meant, but I didn’t know who he was. “Well I am not from around here. I am just passing through on my way to New York. It’s not too much further, right? I think I am already going to lose the room I booked for the night.”

“You are going to the city?”

I nodded my head as he popped the hood with a lever that I can say honestly that I have never used. I didn’t even know what it was there for.

“Yeah, I just got a job with a big dental office there. I am an assistant. Wanted to get out of the small town I am from. Had to see what the rest of the world is like.”

He chuckled and told me that he did the same thing when he was younger.

“Do you regret it?”

“No, I still live there so I guess not.”

Grey leaned in and took out his phone to get some light. “It looks like you don’t have any coolant in here. No wonder it got hot. Do you have some in the trunk?”

“I don’t think so. Is that something I am supposed to carry with me? I thought they filled that up when I get an oil change?”

“Yeah, but you should carry some with you. You need coolant or your car’s engine will overheat. I think I have some in my trunk and if it wasn’t hot for too long, you might be fixed up and ready to go.”

I was hoping that he was right. I didn’t want to wait any longer and the rest area was creeping me out. I stood by the car, waiting for him to go to his car and push a button to get the trunk to open. I had a feeling that he was more knowledgeable than me, but he still didn’t look like the type. I was trying to figure out what he did for a living while he got the bottle and put some into my car.

“So what are you doing out here in the middle of the night?”

“Well it is almost morning and I figured I might as well get back into the city before work. I have been late the last couple of days and I thought it would be a good time to make it on time.”

“Oh, what do you do?”

“I am a lawyer.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t sound so disappointed.”

I tried not to sound that way, but I didn’t like the idea of him being a lawyer. I hadn’t met many with that profession, but I had met none that I actually liked.

“It’s nothing against you Grey, promise. It’s just that lawyers seem to be a different type of guy. I dated a few and I think I am bias now.”

“I can see that. We lawyers like to get our ways.”

“And you are smooth talking…”

“Yes Cameron, I guess we are. That is what our job is so at least the good ones are.”

“And are you a good one Sir?”

That got me a grin and my heart flopped a little in my chest. Yeah, I bet he was one that was really good at convincing people. The man was a charmer. It hadn’t taken me but a few minutes to see that. He was one of those that could talk you out of anything he wanted and I knew that men like that were dangerous.

But he was not just a talker. He actually fixed my car and when it started up and didn’t start smoking again, I was delighted that I would be able to get out of there sooner, rather than later.

“Thanks Grey. That was so nice of you. Maybe if I hightail it to the city I will still have a room booked.”

“If not, give me a call and you can stay with me. Sometimes it is hard to get a room on a Thursday night in the city, well a good place anyways.”

I thanked him, but I wasn’t going to take him up on his offer. I had planned everything out so I wouldn’t become a damsel in distress and once a night was enough for me. I got in my car and waved to the man, wondering thoughts that I pushed back in my mind. What would it be like to wake up to a man like that in the morning? So kind and helpful. He really was a godsend. But I had a feeling there was a darker side to Grey, like his name suggested, everything wasn’t quite black and white.

I waved one last time and drove away with mixed emotions. Why hadn’t I given him my number? We were in two different worlds, but I wouldn’t have minded too terribly seeing him again. Maybe if it was meant to be I would, though even as I thought that, it felt like a cop-out and an excuse to not pursue it any further.