"Is your car giving you trouble?" Haynes asked.


    Ste barely nced up from the engine, answering absently, "Yeah, something''s off," as she continued to tinker under the hood.


    Wind and rainshed the empty road, and Ste was soaked to the skin. She looked utterly bedraggled, hair stered to her cheeks and clothes clinging ufortably.


    Haynes leaned out his window. "Come get in my car-I''ll drive you home."


    She shook her head, trying to sound casual. "That''s all right. I''ll just call a friend to pick me up."


    Haynes frowned. "It''s over an hour to the city from here, and with this weather, anyoneing out would take close to two. The sun''s already down for the day, and this is the middle of nowhere. It isn''t safe for you to wait out here alone."


    Ste didn''t want to get involved with Haynes any more than necessary. Her tone was deliberately nomittal. "I''ll be careful."


    When she still made no move to ept his offer, Haynes abruptly pushed open his door and stepped out into the storm, holding arge ck umbre.


    Ste tensed, watching him warily as he approached, but Haynes said nothing more. He simply walked over and began inspecting her engine, one hand awkwardly holding the umbre, the other reaching under the hood.


    Between the two of them, the umbre barely shielded their upper bodies from the downpour. Rain hammered against the fabric, cold water dripping down Haynes''s sharply cut features.


    Ste hesitated—she''d wanted to refuse his help, but now that he''d gone out of his way and was getting soaked himself, insisting again would just seem petty.


    She reached for the umbre. "Let me hold that for you."


    "Thanks," Haynes said, handing it over without looking up.


    He finished his inspection and straightened, rainwater running down his face. "Engine''s got a


    P. You''re not going to be able


    to start it-you''ll need a mechanic."


    Ste frowned, worry creasing her brow.


    "Let me drive you back," he insisted. "It''s cold out, and sitting in the car won''t help. You''ve got that bigpetitioning up, and you''re still prepping for your concert.


    Getting sick now would be ther


    worst


    thing for you."


    Ste paused, considering. He had a point—she could hardly afford to lose time


    to illness with her schedule already packed.


    She nodded, conceding. "All right. Could you take me as far as downtown? I''ll have my friend meet me there."


    Haynes looked at her for a moment, then said quietly, "Ste, with Keen between us; it''s impossible to pretend we''re strangers. Drawing such hard lines-it can''tst. You''ve always believed I wronged you. If that''s true, why not let me do this as a way to make amends?


    Her voice was t, emotionless. "You''re a businessman, Mr. O''Brien. Everything you do for mees with a price tag-one I''m expected to pay back eventually."


    Haynes''s expression darkened, shadows flickering in his eyes.


    Ste handed his umbre back and turned toward his car.


    She pulled open the rear door, surprised to find she wasn''t alone. Mr. Walden sat


    on the back seat, and Rachel was in the passenger seat up front.


    Rachel looked back at her. "Come on, Ste. The rain''s getting worse-get in." Neither Rachel nor Mr. Walden looked at all surprised to see her, as if they''d been expecting her to join them all along. Walden nodded a silent greeting.


    Ste slid into the back seat. There was plenty of room-she didn''t feel crowded at all.


    A few minutester, Haynes climbed in, his clothes dripping wet. Rachel quickly handed him a clean towel.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!