Rescuing the Bridesmaid (Preview)

Chapter 1

Nate pulled into the parking lot of the bar looking for the older-model blue Cadillac that was next on his list. He loved this time of the day, just after sunrise. It was so quiet, even in downtown Nashville. Especially on a Saturday morning. His truck windows were rolled down to take advantage of the spring breeze, which ruffled his dark blond hair.

He spotted the Caddy off to the side of the bar—it was the only car left in the lot—and pointed his tow truck in that direction. Bubba’s Tow and Impound managed many of the parking lots for local businesses in the city, and Nate was here to collect his next charge. 

He maneuvered his truck behind the Caddy and jumped from the cab to get started. He walked around the vehicle inspecting it for damage and checking for tow points. Coming around to the driver’s side, he reached for the door to see if it was unlocked.

He pulled on the door and it swung open. He leaned in, checking to see if keys had been left in the ignition. When he didn’t find any, he glanced around the floor and along the seat. As he stuck his head over the seat to look in the back, he saw something move, and he jumped in surprise. 

Thin, bare legs shifted on the leather seat. He followed the line of them up to find a woman asleep in the back seat. More likely she was passed out, he thought, considering their location in a bar parking lot. Nate moved to the back door and opened it. He paused as he considered what he should do. In all his years driving a tow truck, he’d never found a woman passed out in a car. A couple of men, sure, but never a woman. He needed to wake her up and see if she was okay.

He reached out a hand but paused before he touched her leg. His eyes traveled up again. She was in a skirt, leaving most of her legs bare. Everything about her looked fashionable, from her stilettos to her styled blonde hair. Should I touch her? Will she freak out if she wakes up to find a strange man in her car? A dirty working man, at that. A glance down at himself revealed that at least his clothes were still clean this morning and not covered in dirty and grease.

“Ma’am,” he called, his hand still hovering several inches above her leg. She didn’t respond. “Ma’am,” he called louder. This time she shifted a little, but still didn’t open her eyes. Finally, he grasped her ankle lightly. Her pale skin was cool to his touch, and he felt her shiver when he touched her. He gave her a gentle shake. “Ma’am, you need to wake up,” he called again.

The blonde woman’s eyes shot open, and she pushed herself up on her hands. She blinked rapidly then lifted a hand to rub her eyes. Her makeup smeared as she did so, and Nate tried not to laugh at the black streak that now went from the corner of her eye down her cheek. He chastised himself. He could at least try to give her a little respect. Even if she didn’t respect herself enough not to pass out in a public parking lot. She did look kind of cute though, he decided, if a little skinny.

She shifted her feet to the floor of the car and scooted closer to him. His upper torso was half inside the car from trying to rouse her, and her movements brought them uncomfortably close.

“Oh, did I miss it?” she asked, still blinking and trying to come to her senses.

“I don’t—”

Finally, her eyes focused on him, and he felt her gaze travel down his chest. “Oh my. I didn’t expect a personal dance.” She put her hands on his shoulders and ran them over his T-shirt, emblazoned with the Bubba’s Towing logo, and down his chest. Nate was so shocked that he couldn’t move. What does this woman think she’s doing? She must still be drunk, he decided. She didn’t stop when she reached his jeans, running her hands over his crotch then down his legs. He reacted instantly to her touch, hardening underneath her hand. That was enough to break him out of his stupor, and he pulled away from her.