Hayden wrinkled her nose as she squinted at Austin, who marched toward the truck. He towed a suitcase behind him. She might have figured he’d needed it himself if it hadn’t been holographic pink. Not exactly his style, she guessed, as she took in how it clashed with his ripped jeans, boots, and cowboy hat.

What had he done?

Her heart galloped as wildly as the horses he’d told her about, which waited for him in an idyllic pasture back home. She’d already taken far more from him than she should have. Gotten too comfortable with a stranger. Was it because of how fucking scared she was? Their jaunt was only delaying the inevitable. Soon enough she’d truly be out on her own in the world.

Every minute she spent with Austin made that thought as terrifying as it had been while she prepared to leave Bobby Joe. She had to do this. Stand by herself. At the next halfway decent town they passed through, she’d ask him to let her out.

Her chest tightened, squeezing painfully and making it tough to breathe properly.

Austin’s long legs erased the distance between them before she could do more than rub the ache between her breasts. He opened his door, hefted the suitcase inside, then stepped up behind it. His grin combated some of the toughness his tattoos lent him. It made him seem younger, much closer to her own age.

Was he that glad to see her? Had he expected her to vanish?

If they’d been somewhere she could have set down roots, she probably would have. Now that he’d returned, it was hard to remember why it was important for her to establish her independence when it was so much easier to stay sheltered under his wing.

“Were they out of plastic bags?” she asked with an arched brow. Hopefully she didn’t seem ungrateful. It was just that he was going so far above and beyond that she felt like she was starting to take advantage of his kindness.

Definitely leaving at the next stop, she swore to herself.

He chuckled. “Nah, I figured you’d need at least enough stuff to make it through the next week or two until you can find your dad. This seemed easier. Just pretend you’re on vacation or something.”

She’d never gone on that sort of trip, purely for the fun of it. However, it did seem like she’d taken a major detour from her old life, so she might as well enjoy the scenery on this road they were briefly traveling together. Especially since it included a sexy cowboy trucker with an enormous…heart. His devotion to his family and his concern for a complete stranger told her everything she needed to know about his capacity to love.

“Go ahead. Open it. If there’s anything I didn’t think of, I expect you to say so.” He stuffed one hand in the pocket of his jeans as he nudged the suitcase toward her with his knee. Then he got behind the wheel and said, “I’m going to fuel us up while you see how good of a personal shopper I’d make if this truck-driving shit doesn’t pan out.”

Though he was obviously joking, she realized she’d delayed him yet again.

“I’m sorry I cost you more time.” She hesitated, biting her lip.

“Don’t be. Nobody’s expecting me on a particular schedule. I mean, sometimes I take the long way home when I’ve got an empty trailer like this. See the world a bit. Meet new people.” The way he adjusted himself in the seat without looking at her when he said that last part made her sure that was secret code for sometimes-I-shack-up-with-women-I-meet-on-the-road. A man as generous and compassionate as him could probably devastate any woman he took to bed.

Maybe if they’d met under different circumstances…

She shook her head to clear that bit of wishful thinking when he said, “You’re not going to get all stubborn about this, are you? My sister warned me you might—”

“You talked to Hope about me?” She tilted her head. “When?”

“Oh. Uh. Yeah. She called while I was in the store.” He shrugged. “I didn’t think you would mind since I pretty much told you her life story.”

“I don’t except that I’m pathetic compared to her.” Hayden wished she could afford to decline his help. “And no, I’m not. Going to dig in my heels, I mean. This is a huge help. Seriously, thank you. Again.”

“Don’t mention it.” When the truck rumbled to life, he guided it to the gas station. She might have sat there and admired the flex of his inked arm muscles or his striking profile some more—as she had for hundreds of miles—except when she unzipped the lid of the suitcase and flipped it open, she gasped.

Austin hadn’t only bought her clothes, though there were several pairs of jeans and a selection of soft, pretty tops that she could mix and match into any number of outfits. He’d also tossed in a couple packs of socks and underwear, a pair of sneakers, and a light jacket. He must have a lot of experience or had checked her out more closely than she realized because he’d nailed everything, right down to her bra size.

She rummaged through the mesh pocket on the inside of the lid. A toothbrush, deodorant, a comb, soap, shampoo, and some first aid supplies like he’d used on her the night before rounded out his picks. The fresh baby powder scent of the toiletries made her realize she probably didn’t smell anywhere near as good as they did.

“Are you telling me I need a shower?” She sniffed her pits, figuring he was probably right.

“What? No!” His face blanched. “I spend most of my days around cow shit. You can’t possibly stink as much as that.”

Hayden cracked up at his brutal honesty. She’d take that. “A low bar, but…okay.”

He wiped his hand across his brow as if relieved she wasn’t pissed as he parked the truck near the fuel pump.

“I really do appreciate this, Austin. It’s too much.” She stepped closer to the driver’s seat, bent over, and hugged him. Hayden added a quick peck on the cheek without thinking about it first. If she had, she might have kept her hands and lips to herself. Would he have preferred a more rewarding kiss instead?

Though part of her was curious about how it would feel to make out with someone different after all this time, she was relieved he didn’t pressure her or seem to expect anything in return for his assistance.

“It’s not a big deal. I’m glad there’s something simple I can do to make things easier for you. I’m going to pump the gas. Why don’t you try that stuff on and make sure it fits while I’m gone?”

“I sort of like my quilt dress. You’re right, though. Real clothes will make it look less like I just busted out of an insane asylum or something.” She smiled at him as he mumbled something beneath his breath.

It sounded suspiciously like, “I think you’d look better naked.”

“What was that?” she asked, oddly flattered rather than offended.

“Nothing. Be right back.” He didn’t turn around before shutting the door and leaving her to herself again.

Hayden tore off tags and slipped into the first thing she put her hands on. It felt so freeing to be quasi-normal again. Even better, she discovered the receipt for her new possessions at the bottom of the suitcase.

She winced. It would take a while to pay Austin back, though the total wasn’t too bad considering it was the price of everything she owned in the entire world. Flipping the receipt over, she returned to what she now thought of as her seat, dropping into it cross-legged. Then she nabbed a pen from the dash and started making notes on the back.

The total from the receipt went at the top. Next she listed everything Austin had paid for her. Dinner, breakfast, gas… Then she rounded up a bit. She wrote interest next to that figure but in her mind she thought of it as a bonus for being an awesome man.

Austin rejoined her about the time she finished tallying everything. She drew a circle around the total as he leaned over to see what she was doing. “What the hell is that?”

“My bill.” She proudly showed him her calculations.

In a flash, his hand darted out and snatched the paper from her fingers. He’d already started ripping it to bits by the time she could shout, “Don’t!”

Hayden lunged toward him. Her hands wrapped around his wrists in an attempt to reclaim the confetti he’d turned her IOU list into. No use. “It’s only fair. Please. Let me salvage a shred of my damn pride, would you?”

He froze at that. “Shit, I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“Whatever. I know where you live. I’ll send a check to your mom and tell her to buy you something nice for Christmas.” She stopped fighting but left her hands resting lightly on him for a moment more. Hayden squeezed, then forced herself to let go and retreat to her side of the cab.

“You’re going to stay a little longer, right?” he asked. “At least until we get to a bigger town. I think we should be somewhere that works better for you around dinnertime.”

There really wasn’t much opportunity for her here. So she nodded. “That sounds perfect. Who are you going to tell me about next?”

She wasn’t stupid. She knew what he was up to. But somewhere a few hundred miles back, she’d stopped caring and allowed herself to enjoy his distractions. Why silence him when she didn’t really want to? Why object when she had nowhere else to go anyway?

Austin was right. She needed to end up someplace she could start over. This roadside pit stop wasn’t it. She needed some actual civilization. Preferably someplace she could work a few jobs and find a place to stay for a bit. A town with a public library and free internet access would be ideal.

As she deliberated her options, she started humming along with the radio as she often did during her shift cleaning the motel. Music transported her to a place without problems.

“Do you like this song?” Austin asked as he turned it up.

She did. So she sang, softly at first, in case he shushed her as Bobby Joe had always done.

Louder when he beamed at her before pulling the truck back onto the highway.

He added a decent enough harmony to her melody until commercials interrupted their karaoke session. Austin shot her an appreciative glance. “You have a great voice.”

“Thanks. You’re not too shabby either,” she answered reflexively.

“Nothing like you. You remind me of my aunt, Leah.” Just like that, he was regaling her with more of his family history. The next several hours passed in a blur, no matter how often she wished she could slow the ticking of time.

All too soon, they were turning into yet another roadside establishment. The lights of a mid-sized city flickered behind the easy access.

This was it.

Her stop.

She drew a deep breath and steeled herself to say goodbye. Before she could find the right words to express her gratitude, Austin took charge.

“Maybe you should stay just a little longer and have dinner with me. This place has decent food and live entertainment. There are shower facilities, too.” His voice dropped, both in volume and pitch, as if he was afraid this time she’d decline his invitation.

She didn’t have the heart to ruin their running joke. “Hmm, I guess I could grab a bite to eat, clean up, and then be on my way.”

This time for sure.

Her stomach knotted as she thought of losing her only ally in the world. Acid splashed the persistent soreness inside her guts, making her groan softly. She’d gotten incredibly lucky crossing paths with someone as honorable as him. Someone who appealed to her in a variety of ways. A few of which she chalked up to years locked in a stagnant relationship.

There was no way she could have as much chemistry with him as it felt like, right? It was just his decency that made him seem so much more attractive than Bobby Joe, wasn’t it?

Hayden had one last supper to figure it out.