Chapter Three

 

Natalie pulled into the gas station and parked alongside the side of the building. She slid out from behind the wheel and stepped outside.

Damn it!

She had thought her tired looked a little low earlier that day, but now there was no denying it. Either she’d run over something or the tire had gotten damaged somehow. Barely at a drivable level she reached inside her car and rummaged through her drink holder, sorting through gum wrappers, bobby pins and coins to come up with the dollar in quarters she needed for the air machine.

The sound of a car pulling in distracted her for a moment, but she didn’t stop to look up. A moment passed and she heard footsteps coming toward her. With her ass sticking up in the air she spun around to find a man towering over her.

“Shit!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Well for not trying you sure did a bang up job.”

He stepped backward and gave her some room. “Again, I apologize. I…”

She cocked her brow up and waited for him to finish. “Yeah?”

“Sorry, I just –.”

“Yeah, you said that already. Look, if you don’t mind, I’ve got to find another quarter and fill my tire.”

“Oh, right. That’s why I came over here actually.”

“To give me a quarter?”

“No. Your tire. I saw it was low. I thought you might need a hand.”

“Thanks. But, I’ve got it under control.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind –.”

She held up her hand to stop him from saying another word. “Listen, thanks for offering, but, I can handle it.”

“It really wouldn’t be any trouble.”

For crying out loud. Seriously? First Gerri Wilder has the audacity to call her and now this guy?

“Look –.”

“Nikko,” he held out his hand and waited for her to take it. “Nikko Farkas.”

“Right, Nikko. Like I was saying… I appreciate it. It’s really not necessary though. I just need to put some air in it and I’ll be on my way.”

“Yeah, but –.”

“No buts!” she was really starting to get annoyed by his persistence. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be rude. I’ve just had sort of a craptastic day and I really would just find another quarter and be on my way. So if you don’t mind?”

To her relief, he finally nodded and took the hint. “Thank you.”

He began to turn away and stopped. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a quarter and tossed it in the air.

She caught it, genuinely surprised by his kindness despite her just biting his head off. “Hey, thanks.”

“Sure.” He shrugged. “Who knows, maybe we’ll meet again someday.”

It wasn’t until that moment that she’d stopped being annoyed and really took a good look at him. His tall and muscular body was hard to miss. So much so that she wondered how she had done just that.

His hair was short, blonde, and seemed to be the perfect cut for him. Being a hairdresser that was usually the first thing she noticed on people but, as we walked away she got a rather enticing look at his ass and had a new appreciation for the other end of him.

He glanced over at her direction and she quickly fumbled with the quarters, putting them in the air machine one by one. Heat filled her cheeks as she felt his eyes on her.

She’d been caught checking him out and now she couldn’t help but feel his eyes bearing down on her.

She turned on the air and unscrewed the cap to her tire. Bent over she still sensed his presence. He was watching her. She could feel it as sure as she was looking right at him.

Suddenly she was very aware of the size of her ass. She’d never had body image issues. And the truth of the matter was that she didn’t right then either. It was just remarkable, though how much one could almost feel it’s ass literally growing by the pound when it was being stared it.

Shit. I shouldn’t have been such a bitch to him.

Why had I been such a bitch to him?

Oh that’s right, I’m an idiot!

Damn it! I spent months meeting jerks and once I finally meet a nice guy I blow him off. I wonder if I could blame Gerri for this.

Ugh.

Gerri Wilder. Best matchmaker, my ass!