Liam insists on driving my car the first leg of the trip, since he knows these rural roads.

After I tell Liam about my dream of starting a diner in a small town, he laughs, but surprisingly doesn’t make fun of me.

Instead, he asks if I grabbed the number of the property manager. I nod, and he has me dial the number. We find out the price of the place: ten thousand dollars.

That’s like a clearance sale compared to what a spot like that would cost in New York, but nevertheless, I’m not the kind of girl who just has ten thousand dollars socked away. Heck, I’m still paying off my damn student loans for a degree that I never even finished.

After we find out the price of that property, the ride turns quite silent, almost awkwardly so. I ask Liam if he wants to listen to music. He shakes his head. He likes to listen to the road, he says with his hands on the wheel, his face focused.

I smile a little, because while his behavior is a little peculiar to me, it’s true that I’ve never spent much time with a small town guy.

I pull out a book for a while and read it. It’s a romance novel about a girl from a city who ends up in a small town to care for her dying father. I have a lot in common with the female lead. Except, you know, for that happy ending thing.

I shut my book and let out a big sigh. As much as I’m adopting to Liam’s tendencies, I’m not about to do the entire ten hour car ride in silence.

“What are you thinking about?” I finally ask Liam, breaking the silence.

“Nothing.” He replies.

“Oh, come on. It’s impossible to think about nothing. Even the Buddhist monks who are trained to clear their minds can’t think of nothing. The human brain must keep thinking. If your mind is totally clear, that’s considered enlightenment.”

He glances my way as the cornfields whip by on either side of the car on the two lane highway.

“Well consider me enlightened, honey,” he growls.

“So we’re just gonna not say a word to each other during our fake relationship other than when you’re giving me toe curling orgasms?” I snort.

He takes a big breath like he’s about to finally cave and give me some background on him.

“Yup.”

“No.” I retort. “I’m not going to stand for this. Look, Liam, I refuse to go the whole car ride and not talk with you. I’m not your fucking therapist and have no interest in that--trust me. But, I do think if you’re going to be my wedding date we had better get our basic story straight and learn a little about each other. Don’t you think?”

“No.”

“Dammit Liam, quit being such an asshole.”

“I am an asshole, though.” He smirks. “It’s one of my best qualities.”

I sigh. “The sad thing is, you remind me of my ex with how closed off you are. I guess I just attract your type.”

He rakes a hand through his hair. His eyes dart from side to side on the road, like he is experiencing some sort of internal struggle.

He clears his throat. “You want to chat? Fine. How about you tell me about your family.” He finally says, like it’s some kind of mortal struggle to get the words out.

I shake my head. “Because you sound so genuinely excited to learn about them.”

Eyes still half on the road, he turns his head a little and examines my body from head to toe with a side glance.

“Trust me. I’m curious as to what ridiculous set of events were put in motion which eventually resulted in you driving through Blackwell. Genuinely.” He says, his tone even. He returns his gaze to the road. “Work with me here, Haley. I didn’t get much sleep last night. Someone interrupted my quiet night to have me come fix her car in the pouring rain, and then, well, you know what else happened. It wasn’t my ordinary night. My mind may or may not be in a thousand places right now.”

“Do you do that a lot?” I ask.

“Do what? Fix cars? It’s my job.”

“No. Have one night stands?”

“Used to.” He says. “But lately, I’ve just kind of given up on women, if I’m being honest.”

“Me too.” I say softly. “Well, on men.”

I connect my gaze with Liam’s deep amber eyes. He slaps a hand down on my thigh and squeezes, a little hard, like he did yesterday after our car got nailed by a deer. My gut does flips a little--in a good way, I think--at his strong touch.

“Now tell me about your damn family.” He says.

I take a deep breath. “Well, if you really want to know, I have a sister who is a few years older. Like I said, we grew up in a small town called Boone, North Carolina in the mountains until I was twelve. Then my Dad got a new job and we all had to move to New York. I’ve been living there ever since.”

“Just one sister?”

“Yeah just the one. How about you?”

“I’ve got an older brother.”

“Where does he live?”

He lifts one corner of his mouth in a kind of half grin. “His businesses are all over the U.S. now, and he travels to be with them. But he mostly lives in Blackwell. He’s kind of a dick, but in the end I can’t hate him. I mean he is my brother after all.”

“Your brother is more of a dick than you? How is that possible?”

He laughs. “Oh honey. I’m a blue collar dick. My brother--he’s got money. That makes him a special brand of asshole. But we weren’t born rich. He earned it. So I can’t hate him too much.”

“I think I can relate. I’m not a huge fan of my sister.” I say. “She’s not rich, but she’s still spoiled.”

“Spoiled how?”

“You’ll see.” I say. “She’s just got this aura of entitlement around her. I’m glad she’s finally getting married. Maybe her fiancé will set her on the straight path to not being so selfish all the time. But, somehow, I doubt it.”

He nods, still looking at the road.

“Damn. You probably think I’m quite the hater here, dishing out insults to my own sister.”

He shrugs. “Say whatever you want, Haley. I don’t judge.”

I put my hand on top of his, and somehow, I feel at least a tiny bit more comforted. It’s been awhile since I connected with anyone.

“So Haley.” He asks. “How are we telling your parents we met, by the way? I’m guessing you can’t just tell them you hooked up with a mechanic on the side of the road and it was true love at first sight.” He says, then winks.

“You’re right. Well, you can’t do anything about that twang, so we’ll have to say you are a transplant to New York and we started dating.”

“Okay. So I’m a New Yorker now. What do I do? And how did we meet?”

“How about you’re a writer. And we met at a friend’s party.”

“I’m a fucking writer? No one’s going to believe that.”

“Why not?” I shrug.

“Oh come on. Guys who look like me aren’t writers. Guys who look like me are either convicts or football players. Not intellectual types.”

“Or mechanics.” I giggle. “You know, why don’t we just tell my family we met when you were helping fix my car on the Brooklyn Bridge?”

He raises an eyebrow. “Seems far-fetched, don’t you think?”

I shrug. “About as far-fetched as having a one night stand with Blackwell’s sexiest mechanic, then inviting him along in case you have more car trouble.”

Slowly, the corners of his lips spread into a grin. He wraps his arm around me.

“You know Haley. I don’t care what your family says about you. I think you’re sweet.”

“You do?”

He leans over and whispers in my ear. “Yes. Incredibly sweet. And I can’t wait to taste that delicious little pussy whenever and wherever the fuck I desire.”

Goosebumps float over my body, and I kind of want him to pull over the car right now and have his way with me.

I clear my throat, trying not to indicate to this man the pure power he has over me. “We’ve been dating for two months,” I say. “That gives me enough time to have gotten over my ex and started dating you, and, wow, I meant to tell everyone about my new boyfriend but I just forgot!” I say sarcastically.

Liam shrugs. “Works for me. This is great. I feel like I’m going to be in the movie Wedding Crashers or something.”

“Liam, don’t do anything stupid though. Okay?”

“What, like drink ten whisky cokes and get into a fight?”

“I shouldn’t even have said anything,” I sigh, and rub my face a little.

“Just kidding. I can’t wait to hang out with all y’all city folk.”

I bite my lip. There’s no doubt Liam’s a loose cannon. In more ways than one.

My tummy growls, and I realize it’s been awhile since I’ve eaten. “Are you hungry?” I ask.

“Truckstop diner coming up in about a half hour,” Liam says. “Wanna stop and eat there? I can hear your stomach all the way over here.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I nod, and I have a weird flashback to a moment with my ex, when we were on a road trip. I’d asked him if he was hungry one time, and he simply said ‘nope.’

Liam, on the other hand, at least has the basic humanity to ask me about my own hunger.

Maybe he’s not such an asshole after all.

Hey, a girl can dream, right?

About a half hour later, we pull into a place with a big marquee sign that says, simply “Truck Stop Diner.”

“After you, Miss,” Liam says to me, holding the door and smiling.

That’s the thing about the country boys from around Blackwell. Maybe a guy is an asshole, but he’ll still give you toe curlers and hold the door for you.

My city-boy ex-fiancé? Not so much. He had a serious “him first” attitude. And hey, I’m all for equal opportunity, but would it hurt to hold a door open for a girl when you can?

Inside, Liam orders waffles with eggs and I order an omelette.

I get up from the table to use the bathroom. Connected to the diner is one of those half convenience stores/half gift shops, and I have to go through it to use the restroom. Before I get to the restroom, a novelty trucker cap catches my eye. It’s a dark camouflage cap and on it says the words “I’m sweet like a …” with a pineapple icon to fill in the blank. I chuckle at how ridiculous the thing is, and at the current pineapple craze that has even camouflage caps being made with the sweet fruit. I buy the cap at the register, put it on backwards, then head to the restroom area.

The bathroom is locked, so I wait for a minute until a middle aged woman slips out.

I start to close the door behind me, but something stops it.

“Excuse me,” I hum. “I’m trying to use the bathroom, please.”

I try to push the door closed, but it’s like I’m pushing against a brick wall. My heart hammers, and I’m worried that one of these creepy trucker guys is on the other side.

I’m considering screaming when the one pushing the door finally speaks.

“Dagny,” Liam says. “Open the door.”

I relent. Liam comes inside, closes the door behind us, and locks it.

“What are you doing in here?” I gasp.

He smirks. “Oh please. You know what I’m doing. I’m taking advantage of our pact.”

I swallow. “The pact…” I trail off.

Right. I told Liam we can hook up whenever and wherever he wants.

“Take your shirt off.”

“Here?” I whimper.

Liam walks toward me slowly, a hulking figure. I sink back, leaning against the wall as Liam holds his two arms out extended on either side of me.

“Right fucking here.” He raises an eyebrow, and even that simple move makes me wet.

Or should I say, wetter.

“Th-they’ll hear us though,” I protest feebly, in spite of the fact that just his proximity turns me on so much.

“Who will hear us? The truckers? Dammit Dagny, just do as I say.”

I take my shirt off as he says and hand it to him.

“Good. Now your shorts. Slip them down.”

I wiggle out of my denim short shorts until they are almost on the floor and hand them to him as well.

“Now what?” I whimper.

“Turn. Face the wall,” he says.

I do as I’m told. “Good girl. Dagny, if I’m going to spend a few days on this wedding with you, you’re going to have to get used to taking orders from me. Like you said, you’ve made yourself available at any time to me. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes,” I groan.

“Good. Nice hat by the way.”

“Thanks. What are you going to do with me right now?” I say, trembling a little.

“Just do as I say and you’ll be fine. Dagny, touch yourself. Do it now. Put a finger on your clit and flick it back and forth.”

My jaw drops as I glance over my shoulder. Liam stares at me, and I wonder how I must look to him. I know how I feel: vulnerable. With my hands pressed against the wall, my ass pushed out, and wearing nothing but my underwear and bra, I feel as though there’s nothing separating me from this hulking man who’s smirking at me, his eyes running up and down my body. He’s not even touching me and I feel like I have the chills.

“Liam,” I whisper. “You’re not going to hurt me are you?”

He drags a finger from my shoulderblades down my back and ass to my thighs.

“I’ll do whatever pleases me,” he growls. “Now put your hand between your legs like I said. I’m not going to ask you again.”

I do as he says, and I can’t help but moan a little when I rub the tip of my clit.

“That’s it,” he whispers in my ear. “Find your rhythm, Haley. And look at me while you do it.”

He clutches my head and forces me to stare into his sparkling amber eyes. I notice a tiny dot of a birthmark on the left iris. My jaw hangs open and I pant a little.

“Good girl,” he says, his voice deep. “Deeper, and I’ll reward you.”

“Reward me? With what?” I mewl.

I reach a finger inside my slit and a second later, I feel a palm crack against the skin of my ass.

“That,” he grumbles.

“Oh God,” I moan. “That’s a reward?”

He moves his face closer to mine, inches away. I can hear his breathing. Smell his musk.

“Oh please. You know you love it.”

“I do,” I pant, closing my eyes.

He rubs his hands on my ass and my stomach, and I concentrate on how my own fingers feel inside me.

“Are you going to fuck me?” I ask.

“Is that what you want?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“Like I said, I will fuck you when it pleases me. And you bet your ass it pleases me.”

“Please, Liam. I’m so wet already. I need you inside me.”

I stare at his crotch as he unbuckles his pants, and flops out his stiff cock. He positions himself behind me and rubs his tip on my clit. I reach down to guide him inside.

“Na ah ah,” he says, brushing my hair behind my ears. “Like I said. My rules.”

I push my palms flat on the wall and press my ass back, physically begging for him to be inside me. I love the way his giant hands seem to take up half my back.

“Dammit, Liam. Stop teasing and just fuck me. Please!” I beg, my voice louder.

Finally, Liam inserts his cock all the way into me, eclipsing the space between us. I flutter my eyes as the sublime feeling of being filled by his hard girth overtakes me.

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Oh fuck yeah,” he growls.

He starts slow, grinding his cock in and out. I hum, and a few minutes later, he’s got me on the brink of my first orgasm.

“Thatagirl Dagny,” he drawls. “I was right about you from the moment I saw you.”

“Ugh,” I moan. “Right about what?”

He fists a clump of my hair and pulls on it, forcing me to look back at him while he pumps into me.

“About how your pussy is the perfect fit for my cock.”

I don’t know how he can tell that just from looking at me, but I whimper as he slams his hips into me with force and depth. He thrusts over and again like this, and I tremble as I come.

It feels so damn good.

It’s wrong and it’s right, and it’s public. The risk of getting caught only spurs me on, makes my cries harder to conceal.

But like a good bad girl, I manage not to alert the entire place what we’re up to in here. Liam’s hand on my mouth helps with that.

I squeeze my walls, needy for his orgasm as he hammers me, his big hands gripping my flesh.

I grip him harder, and I can feel his cock pulsate inside me.

He growls and pulls my hair and slaps my ass again. I love feeling the rough strength of his hands as he comes hard.

A firm fist knocks at the door.

“What are y’all doin’ in there?” A woman’s voice drawls.

“Coming!” Liam yells, and I can’t help but giggle.

We clean up quickly, and the woman’s face as the two of us walk out of the bathroom is priceless.

“She’s very sick,” Liam says with a wink. “I had to hold her hair while she threw up.”

After we eat, we settle in for the rest of the ride and talk about superficial stuff, but chat nonetheless. I’m not shocked to find out that Liam’s longest, and only relationship was eight years ago, and it lasted for only one year.

After about eight more hours of driving, we finally make it to the Hilton, in Lake Okoboji.

Inside the hotel, the staff gives us our key cards and we get ready to head up to the tenth floor, where we’ll be sharing a room.

When I turn my head away from the front desk, I freeze at seeing everyone who is in the lobby.

My sister, her fiancé, along with the groomsmen are there.

And my fucking ex, Jack Talbot, stands right next to both of them with a big, shit-eating grin on his face.