I trudged through the rain, cursing the weather that decided to open up and drench me midway home. The coat I wore wasn’t waterproof, and I was soaked clean through to my skin. A car sped by, of course hitting a puddle, splashing my ass with dirty water. I stopped, turned my head and glared at the vehicle. And because I was pissed already, I lifted my hand and gave them the one-finger salute.

The sound of a car had me tensing. I expected another shower of grime from the street, but when nothing happened, I turned. A dark SUV sat idling a few feet from me, and I would have been cautious if not for the fact that I saw Deacon was the driver. In that instant nothing else seemed to matter. There was no rain, my clothes weren’t plastered to my skin, and I probably didn’t look like a homeless chick needing a ride.

All I was focused on was the fact that he watched me, the overcast sky coupled with his headlights partially hiding him. The sound of the passenger window rolling down had me moving toward him. Maybe I should have been cautious. I didn’t know him, not really. Others told me he was a decent man, despite his aloofness, but still I never took the initiative to get to know him.

I moved closer, still I felt my heart thumping wildly in my chest. I found myself standing by the passenger-side window, water dripping from my hair, probably making the already dark strands look like spilled ink.

He had one hand on the steering wheel, his body seeming massive in the vehicle. God, he had to be like six foot five, nearing two hundred and fifty pounds. What the hell am I doing, taking his measurements? But it was hard not to notice him. He was just …huge. His expression was neutral, but I could see he was aware of who I was, even though I was sure he’d never even looked my way. It’s not like we talked, ever.

“You’re wet.”

Yes, yes I am, but not because of the rain.

My thoughts had my cheeks heating, and the instinct to cover my face, as if he could read my mind, slammed into me. But I kept my hands at my sides, forcing myself to keep eye contact, and when I saw the corner of his mouth lift, I felt my breath stall. His short, dark hair was slightly mussed, as if he’d run his hands through it, not caring if it was messed up. I wanted to check him out more, simply because it turned me on, but I forced myself not to.

“You want a ride?”

When I didn’t answer right away, he lifted a brow.

“Um,” I said and glanced down at his seat. It was leather, but I’d get it soaked. “Do you normally offer women you don’t know a lift?”

He smirked, and damn, did it suit him well.

“I know you rent the old Anderson place, yeah?”

I smoothed my hands down my soaked leggings. “Yeah.”

“And you walk by my shop every day,” he said without making it a question.

I nodded.

“I’m Deacon and you’re…” The way he said it wasn’t so much of a question, not like it should have been.

“Maddie.” This weird moment passed between us, and I swear the air got thick, hot.

“Well, Maddie, if you want a ride, I can take you home. Or you can walk the rest of the way in the rain.” I saw how he eyed me, and I felt this tingling in the most intimate parts of me. “You’re pretty fucking soaked, so I guess it doesn’t matter either way.”

His coarse language turned me on for some reason. And maybe this was stupid. Maybe getting into a car with a guy I didn’t know, even if he was someone I “knew” and I saw every day. But I found myself pushing all of that to the side. I’d heard enough about Deacon to know he’d lived here a long time, was liked in the community, and although he stayed to himself, he was a decent man.

“I’ll get everything wet.” I felt my cheeks heat again, because in my mind I’d taken that as the dirty variety. When he didn’t say anything, I glanced up. The look he gave me was…feral.

He looked me up and down again—well, as much of me as he could see. “I’m good with you getting it wet.”

Oh. God.

“Come on in. You’re still a good ways from your place.”

And I found myself opening the door and climbing in, not sure what in the hell had gotten into me. But also never having felt this kind of rush in my life before.

It felt good. Damn good.