"Shit," I muttered. "Shit, shit, shit."
As I looked down at my gas gauge resting on that dreaded letter E, I realized that this was just my luck. Today was my first day working at the Miami Dade Crime Lab, and I was late.
I guided my car to the shoulder of the empty early morning road and tried to remember why I took this job in the first place.
I was a lawyer, and a good one for that matter. Yet when my boss offered me a transfer to Miami Dade to work the crime labs cases I quickly said yes. I knew that I wouldn't have the same notoriety that I'd had at the law firm I was practicing for, but a change in venue almost seemed like a god send. I had thought that this was a great idea, a good way to get out of the media circus that came with any high powered case. After all, I didn't become a lawyer to get my face plastered on the evening news.
Now as my car was stalled on this deserted highway, I regretted this decision.
"Nice thinking Lauren," I said to myself. "This is a great sign."
As logical as a person that I was, I totally believed in fate and good and bad signs. And this was defiantly not a good sign.
I opened the door to my car and the hot morning air hit my face. Miami was defiantly different than what I was used to in D.C. I wiped the sweat off my brow as I leaned against the side door of my beat up old Neon, and tried to think.
Wow it's hard to think when it's this hot, how do people stand this? Ok Lauren Think, Think, Think...
"Cell phone, Duhhh," I said to myself. "This hot air is making me crazy."
I reached into my purse and pulled out my phone and found much to my dismay that the battery was dead.
"Ugggggghhhhh," I groaned. "How could things get any worse?"
And to my astonishment, they Didn't! as soon as the words slipped out of my mouth a huge silver hummer pulled up right next to me. I stared in amazement as a man walked out of the giant vehicle.
"Hey," the man said. "Do you need some help?"
I was so caught up in the shock that someone stopped to help me that I didn't even look at my saviors face until he spoke. My shock escalated as I noticed the stunning man standing before me.
Maybe Miami won't be so bad after all.
Then my savior spoke again.
"Miss," He said in the most exquisite voice I'd ever heard. "Are you Ok?"
"Umm," I stumbled as I tried to reply. "Yes, but my car is out of gas, I think."
Nice, now he won't think your an idiot
He chuckled, "I can give you a hand, I have an extra gas tank."
As he went around to his gigantic car to get this extra tank I tried to pull myself together, but it really wasn't working.
It's just a boy Lauren, oh who and I kidding he's a man, and a very sex--
My train of thought was cut off as I heard him announce that he'd found what he was looking for. He walked back over to my now seemingly tiny car with a smile on his face.
"Knew I had this back there," He said as he held up a gas can, and still had the same smile plastered on his face. As he went to fill up my tank he looked up and me and furrowed his brow.
"I don't think I've ever seen you around before," He said with that same look still in his eyes.
"I'm not from around here," I replied intrigued by this man looking up at me. "I just accepted a job offer here so this is my first day, as a matter of fact," I looked at my watch, "I'm late." "Ohh," He said. "I see, and what is this job if you don't mind me asking?"
Usually I wouldn't give out such personal information, going into trial up against serial killers has taught me that they will use anything that can to get to you, but for some reason I felt completely safe telling him well, anything.
"I'm a lawyer," I said in a cool collected voice. "And no I don't mind you asking." I smiled up at him hoping it would prompt a longer conversation, but he was done filling up my gas tank and started to put everything back into place.
"Well then," He said seeming very satisfied. "Good as new." and again he looked at me with those hazel eyes furrowed.
"I never caught your name," He said with what I would swear was a hint of sadness in his voice, though no man would ever admit to it.
"You never asked," I said coyly feeling a little more daring that usual. I mean he was really good looking.
"Ohh well then," He said amused by our little game. "What is your name?"
I smiled and blushed hoping he wouldn't notice.
"I'm Lauren Southwood. Do I get to know your name as well?" I questioned.
"I'm Ryan Wolfe," He stuck out his hand for me to shake, and as I put my hand in his I could swear I felt a surge of electricity run through my body, and I shivered. I wondered if he felt it too?
When he looked at me again I saw a smile on his lips and then I reluctantly let go of his hand. I saw something flash in his eyes too, maybe it was reluctance too? I mentally shook the thought away, this heat was making me see things.
"It was nice to meet you," Ryan said in a very formal tone.
Dammit I knew I held his hand too long. Nice job Lauren just scare him away. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
He walked back over to his silver hummer gas can in hand and just as he was about to get in he called over his shoulder.
"Maybe we'll see each other again." and then he looked at me for one final time and drove away.
"I doubt it," I replied a little late. "I doubt it."
Little did I know how wrong I was...
