Free Dreaming Of You by Marie Higgins Page B

stepped out. The street lamp highlighted his glorious physique. Shane! He’d come to her rescue! Her heart sank, yet at the same time, happiness poured through her.
    She remained still as he walked up to her and stopped.
    “Katelyn? What are you doing? Don’t you know this isn’t the right place, or the right type of weather to go jogging?”
    In spite of her foul mood, she chuckled. “I disagree. I think it’s perfect weather. If I jog in the rain, I won’t sweat.”
    “No, but you could catch pneumonia.” He tilted his head and his caring gaze nearly weakened her control. Certainly different from the way he looked at her the last time they talked. “Are you stranded?”
    “Yes.” She choked on a sob, trying to keep her tears from rushing out. She cleared her throat and began again. “My jeep broke down, so I’m walking to the next store to call for help because I didn’t charge my cell.”
    He looked past her up the street to her stranded vehicle. “Let me take a look at it. Would you like to get in my truck and I’ll drive you back?”
    She hesitated. “It depends.”
    “On what?”
    “If you’re going to be rude to me like you were the last time we talked.”
    He frowned. “I’ll apologize for that, but let’s get in the truck before you drown.”
    She nodded and hurried to his truck for drier shelter. As soon as she shut the door, the manly scent of his aftershave surrounded her. Closing her eyes, she rested against the seat and breathed in the smell. Memories threatened to surface and make her remember how she used to dream of being in his arms.
    He climbed in and put the truck into gear. The fan from the heater warmed her, but so did his nearness.
    “Have you had problems with your jeep before?” he asked, disturbing her thoughts.
    She turned and rested her head against the seat as she studied his handsome profile. It really had shocked her that he cared enough to come rescue her. According to Tori, Shane only thought about himself.
    “Unfortunately, yes,” she answered, “but the piece of junk usually starts back up when it dies.”
    “Haven’t you heard of Murphy’s Law? A car will always break down in a rainstorm.”
    She laughed. “Very true.”
    He did a U-turn and parked his truck in front of her jeep, then reached underneath his seat and grabbed a flashlight. He hopped out and shut the door. Bundled in her drenched coat, she admired his lithe movements as he hurried around to the front of her jeep, bent over the side, and peeked under the hood. The fierce rain pelted him, but he withstood the onslaught like a true knight. Content to stare, she relaxed as the heat from the inside of the truck slowly warmed her.
    Wind whipped her hair against her face as she ran through the forest. Her long, silk ball gown slapped against her legs, slowing her down. Her shoes did naught to make her trek any faster. Instead, she slipped on the mud but fortunately, did not fall.
    She’d fled the gathering her family had been attending. Lady Worthington’s ball had been a success until Sir Rein Drops arrived. That nobleman had pestered her endlessly, and when he finally got a chance to dance with her—and she’d like to throttle the man who allowed Sir Rein to take his place—he did nothing but make improper suggestions about taking her out back and having his wicked way with her.
    After the dance, she’d brushed him off without another thought until stepping out on the back steps for a breath of fresh air. That’s when Sir Rein confronted her and nearly dragged her behind the tall hedges. He forced his slobbery kisses on her until she was able to punch him in the chest and bite his lip.
    He yelped and stumbled back. She ran as if her life depended on it, because she feared it did. She should have gone back toward the house, but Sir Rein blocked her pathway to the doors. Now she prayed someone would come to her rescue. An image of a knight in shining armor formed in her mind. Silly dreams, since