Free Jerk: A Bad Boy Romance by Tawny Taylor

middle-aged people, jabbering and flirting and drinking way too much and finally plunged outside, into the fresh air. I sucked in a deep breath, let it out slowly.
    I stomped back to my car and flopped into the driver’s seat. So much for consoling myself with some alcohol and a little male attention. I shoved the key in the ignition and gave it a crank. The engine turned over, and over... and over. It didn’t start.
    Shit. I didn’t need this now.
    I twisted the key again, and once more the engine sputtered but didn’t start.
    This day was royally fucked.
    First, I’d been screwed by Clay. And now I was screwed, thanks to my piece of crap car. How was I going to get back to the ranch?
    I was done. Done! If that fucking lawyer came up to me right now and told me I could leave tonight, go back to Michigan, and still inherit my aunt’s money, I would scream for joy... and immediately get my ass back to civilization.
    But that wasn’t going to happen.
    I let my head fall forward, forehead resting on the steering wheel. What was I going to do?
    Someone knocked on the passenger side window.
    If it was the asshole from the bar, I was in trouble. Stupid me, I hadn’t locked the doors. He could be a total ass out here and attack me. And who would hear me? It wasn’t like there were hundreds of people wandering the streets.
    I jerked my head up, heart racing...

Chapter 9
    I t wasn’t the creep from the bar. That was a small relief.
    But that didn’t mean my fucked up day was getting any better. The someone knocking on my window, yeah, It was someone else I didn’t want to see. It was Clay. And his fuck friend.
    “Are you all right?” Clay shouted through the closed window.
    I nodded and tried my damnedest to produce a convincing smile. “Sure.”
    He saw right through my fake smile, dammit. “What’s wrong?”
    Behind him, his friend glowered. “Baby, what are you doing?” She wrapped a possessive arm around his neck and flattened her body against his back. “Let’s go.”
    He peeled her arm away. “Amber, give me a minute, will you?”
    Amber put her lips up to Clay’s ear and said something I didn’t hear. I was glad the window was still closed because I did not want to hear what she had to say. Then she stepped back and folded her arms under her tits, sending me a squinty I-hate-you-bitch glare.
    The feeling was mutual.
    Clay gave me a look that said he wasn’t going anywhere until I fessed up.
    I sighed. “My car won’t start.”
    “Again? Mike told me he fixed it.”
    “He did. It was working for a while.”
    Clay flipped his hand flat and wagged his fingers. “Pop the hood. Let me take a look.”
    I didn’t want this asshole helping me again. But what else could I do? It wasn’t like another mechanic would come come strolling down the road this late. If he did, it was more likely he’d be staggering and drunk. I pulled the lever, releasing the hood’s latch. Then I tried to pretend like I didn’t see the angry bitch giving me the death-stare while Clay fiddled with the car’s motor.
    I opened my door both to allow some air to flow (it was getting hotter than fucking Hades in there) and to facilitate communication with Clay, since I couldn’t open the window without starting the car.
    “Okay, try it now,” he shouted.
    I turned the key and held my breath.
    No deal.
    “Now.”
    I tried.
    The car failed.
    Clay pulled the hood closed and circled around to my open door. “Looks like you need a new starter. Do you need a ride back to the ranch?”
    I did. But... shit. Did I really have to accept a ride from Clay and his latest screw?
    What did I do to deserve this? What?
    My life sucked.
    Defeated, I nodded.
    Amber gave me a look so icy I swore the air around her froze. But what could I do? The ranch was at least ten miles outside of town. I didn’t feel like taking a three hour hike down pitch-black country roads alone. Not with all the bobcats and bear out here.
    “Come on,” Clay said, my