Sworn to Protect - Kimberly Readnour Page 0,2

hand. The last thing I need to think about is how cute her shoulders are.

“At the very least, you surely have a donut tire.”

“Nope, just this.” She gives me a matter of fact look.

I glance at the crater. “That isn’t going to fix shit.”

“Welcome to modern-day corporate greed.”

I shake my head and stalk over to the trunk. Surely, she missed the hidden compartment. All cars come with some type of spare tire. Don’t they? When my search comes up empty, she gives another shrug and tosses the can back into the trunk.

“I tried telling you.”

“I can’t believe this. When did manufacturers stop putting spare tires in cars?”

“Not sure.”

“Shouldn’t that towing company be here by now?”

She averts her gaze. The relentless afternoon sun cascades around us like a blanket of fire, but the heat pales in comparison to the guilt flaming her cheeks. “I, uh, don’t have cell service.”

“You said you called them.”

“I lied.”

My lips twitch. One thing Ethan forgot to tell me was how spunky Mackenzie could be. Though, he covered the stubborn part well. “Let me see if I have service.” I go back to the truck and pull out my phone. The three bars and illuminated LTE has me raising my eyes toward the heavens, thankful for something working out. “I have cell service.”

“Thank God. I’m not sure what we would’ve done otherwise.”

I would’ve had them pile into my truck while we drove to town is what would’ve happened, but I have enough sense not to say that out loud. Instead, I do a quick search for towing companies and dial the one with the highest ratings—Tatman’s Towing.

I pass her the phone and after verifying a truck heading in our direction and informing them where to tow her vehicle, she shoots those expressive eyes full of vigor and grit my way. “You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. I’m sure you were heading somewhere.”

I hold her gaze for a moment, lost in their sincerity. Her husband and I had been friends since he joined our unit three years ago. Ethan joked how he didn’t have too many. He said not many people could handle his awesomeness. I hated to break it to him, but it was more along the lines of arrogance. But I got where he came from. We bonded. Our friendship was born out of solidarity from belonging to the loners’ club. He opened up about his marriage. But the woman standing before me is nothing like the wife he’d described.

“I’m not going anywhere until you’re safe. We should order you a Lyft to take you and the boys to the repair shop.”

The corners of her mouth lift to a small grin. “Appreciate it.”

“Just doing my job.”

Her eyebrows furrow. “Where are you heading to?”

I feel my face harden. It’s not as if the location is a secret, but her needing roadside assistance has thrown me off my game. After a beat, I reply, “Sunnyville.”

“You’re not originally from there, are you? I don’t recognize the name.”

“No.” My response is clipped. When her mouth opens to speak, I cut her off. We don’t need to play the twenty-one questions game. “Do your kids need any water?”

“Oh, I better check.” She shakes her head as she beelines to them. Next, she opens her driver’s side door and before climbing inside, she says, “We’re good.” And she doesn’t emerge until the towing company arrives. Out of respect, or maybe for my own good, I stand beside my truck, still in shock over finding her so easily, until the tow truck pulls away, followed by the Lyft that arrived to transport Mackenzie and the boys. But I have a funny feeling that things just went from manageable to complex.

Chapter Two

Mackenzie

The door ding chimes overhead in the quaint coffee shop, but I don’t look up. I focus on wiping down the counter. The early morning rush has passed, but I need to prepare for the lunch crowd. Not that we get an overwhelming horde of people here in Sunnyville, but Better Buzz is the go-to spot for your morning and afternoon jolt of caffeine. I never realized how busy this café gets. And this former stay-at-home mother has to admit working here was an adjustment. But no worries. I have the job down pat now. I think.

“Oh, my. That hottie must be the new guy in town.” Jill’s voice cuts through my thoughts. If my old high school friend’s tone is anything to go by, he must look as