Take Me Now (The Knight Brothers 3.5)

Fuck it. No Marine, regardless of the fact that he was Harper’s brother, was going to keep Matt from Harper any longer. The only obstacle to being with the woman he loved? Was that woman herself.

Chapter Two

Harper hated her stubbornness. She hated that Matt was right. And most of all, she hated that she’d had to call on him to rescue her. Sitting on the side of the road, her gloves on her hands, scarf around her neck, her jacket zipped up tight, she shivered, waiting for him to arrive and rescue her.

She had too much time to think about the weekend she was now going to miss, how she’d really been looking forward to learning new foam techniques and making pretty hearts and squiggles in her customer’s cups. Not to mention a weekend to herself in Denver, no work, nothing to do but enjoy. Now she’d have to drive home in Matt’s tow truck with him muttering about how she could have saved them both the trouble by letting him check out her car before she left town.

Expecting it to take at least an hour for him to arrive, she was shocked when he showed up forty-five minutes later, skidding to a stop behind her car in his Tahoe and not his tow truck.

She opened her door just as he walked up to her side of the car. He wore his heavy parka. Her toes were frozen, her body almost numb. Just seeing him, his handsome face, and the worry in his brown eyes made her want to cry in relief.

“Did you fly here?” she asked, half-jokingly.

He looked down at her and a semi-smile lifted his sexy mouth. “No. Now, go get in my warm truck. Let me see what’s going on with your car.”

Unwilling to argue after hearing the word warm, she rushed to his vehicle, climbed into the passenger seat and slammed her door shut. The inside smelled like musky man, like Matt, and she breathed in deep, savoring the scent before she whipped off her gloves and held her hands up to the hot air blowing from the vents.

As she warmed herself, she watched as Matt first popped the hood and inspected the engine, then slammed it shut, a scowl on his face. From there, he opened her trunk and loaded her luggage into the back of his truck before returning to the driver’s side.

“Hey,” he said, as he slid into his seat. “So your belt is broken, which is what I thought that sound was. Good thing you pulled over before the engine overheated.”

Even his frown was sexy, she thought to herself. “Why didn’t you bring your tow truck?”

He slung an arm over the top of the seats and turned towards her. “Because I know how much this weekend and these classes mean to you, so we’re going to Denver. I’ll call someone to tow the car to the garage when we get there.”

She blinked in surprise. “I’m sorry … what? You’re not taking me back home?”

“No.”

“But –”

He rolled his eyes at her. “You’re going to argue with me when you’re getting exactly what you want?”

“No,” she whispered. But why was he being so … so … chivalrous? And nice? “How do you know about my classes? Never mind, my uncle,” she said, answering her own question.

He chuckled and gave her a nod. Turning in his seat, he started the car and headed toward her original destination.

“What about the garage?” she asked, knowing he worked long hours, and though he had employees, he liked to be there himself.

He glanced from her back to the road. “Harry can handle things for the weekend.”

Just … wow. “Matt?”

“Yes?” One hand on the wheel, he glanced over at her. He’d put on sunglasses that covered his eyes, and she drank in the sight of him.

She swallowed hard. “Thank you for coming to get me. And for taking me to Denver.” She couldn’t believe that was his plan.

“You’re welcome,” he said in a gruff voice. “What hotel are you staying in?”

She rubbed her hands together, pleased they were finally warm. Even her feet felt better, the heat from beneath the dashboard doing its job. “The Four Seasons, where the class is being held.”

He let out a low whistle. “Nice.”

“Another reason I was looking forward to the weekend,” she admitted. “Can’t beat the luxuries there.”

“I’ll bet.”

A quiet few moments passed, and she squirmed in her seat, struggling to find some subject with which to make conversation when he surprised her.

“So, tell me about these classes you’re taking.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You cannot be interested in coffee-making classes.”

“I’m asking, aren’t I? It interests you, so I’m curious. Tell me,” he insisted.

She slid her tongue over her bottom lip, shocked when she glanced at him to realize he’d been sneaking a look at her, watching the movement.