you’re
going. My name is Craig Westford. You can even take my picture and
text it to a friend so they know who you're with.”
The name ran through
Allison’s brain, finally sliding into place. She had heard of
this guy, or at least of his family. They owned an enormous company
that supplied the entire state with gravel for road construction. But
in this area, they were especially famous for their extremely
generous scholarship endowments.
She glanced back at
him. So, that was why he seemed familiar. Just last week she had seen
him on the news, handing a $10,000 check to some high school senior
who volunteered at an animal shelter.
Another lightning
strike made the decision for her. Quickly, she reached through the
crack in the door and took the bag. She pulled the phone out and held
it up to the window glass as
Craig
watched her. She snapped his picture and texted it to her best
friend. Car broke down. Going with Craig Westford. Yes really. :-)
Then, Allison slid from
the driver seat, dragging her keys and overnight bag with her. She
fumbled for a moment with the passenger door of the Maserati, the
torrential rain soaking her before she could get inside. Expensive
leather welcomed her as she slid into the seat, the glow of luxury
all around. She smiled at the scent of the leather, which had always
been a bit of a turn on for her. It brought to her mind images of
hard, half-naked cowboys riding wild stallions. For some reason, her
mind automatically transitioned to being bent over a saddle and taken
just as hard and wild by those same muscular cowboys.
She shook her head. The
buttery soft leather was a far cry from the hard, half civilized
leather of her fantasy. She ran her hand over the smooth surface,
feeling bad about getting the seat so wet, but there was not much she
could do about it.
But then she looked at
the man beside her on the seat and completely forgot about her
soaking wet clothes. Craig Westford had always looked handsome on
TV, but he was even better looking in real life.
She caught a whisper of
his spicy, masculine scent, and his dark eyes mesmerized her
instantly. He was the kind of man who commanded attention, who exuded
self-confidence and power.
Allison flushed as his
eyes traveled over her, and she suddenly realized that the black tank
top she had chosen to wear for her road trip was soaking wet. Thank
God she hadn’t worn a white one. She would have looked like she
was ready for a wet T-shirt contest in any bar in the country.
However, the chill of the rain had caused her nipples to harden, and
she knew the hard tips had to be clearly visible even through the
black cloth of her shirt and bra.
Oddly enough, Allison
realized she didn’t mind his eyes checking her out. Maybe he
would like what he saw. The truth was, he was modestly clothed, and
she was still checking him out, too.
But then Craig’s
expression shifted from intent to a slow grin. “Buckle up,
baby. It’s gonna be a wild ride.”
Allison giggled
nervously, chiding herself for the schoolgirl sound. Nevertheless,
she obediently reached for the seatbelt and strapped it across her
body. Then the car took off and a rush of adrenaline whipped through
her veins.
She could feel the
power as the car sped down the road, racing the wind and the
lightning. It was as if the car harnessed the power of the storm, and
the energy of the lightning throbbed through the engine. Allison’s
heart pounded with the rush, thrilling at the exhilaration in her
blood. She had always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie, attracted
to things that made her heart pound with excitement. She fought the
impulse to urge him faster and faster, but it was a close call. All
too soon, the car slipped down a long paved driveway, speeding past
tall palm trees and twisting oaks. To Allison, who had been raised
far from the East Coast, the contrast was striking.
The car took a sharp
corner with ease, Allison gasped when she saw the palatial mansion in
front of her.
Jennifer McCartney, Lisa Maggiore