Chapter 1 – Will You Ever Know It
A knocking sound echoed through the car, the vehicle spluttered again before coming to abrupt halt. She looked out of the window to the building she had stopped next to; she desperately wanted to be home. Curled up in bed reading a good book, but her stupidity had other plans. About 5 miles after she had filled the tank with gas, there were issues. She had put in petrol, not diesel. She slammed her hand down on the steering wheel and put the car in park. She reached into her bag to find her phone, no battery. She could have died. She grabbed her bag from the passenger seat and pulled the key out of the ignition.
Stepping out of the car into the warm night air Tampa had to offer, she slammed the car door shut. She walked around the front of the car onto the sidewalk.
"Need some help love?" She glanced to her left as a low English accent travelled through the air. She looked the man up and down who was leant against the wall; he was tall and big. His hair was jet black and his features strong. He looked like trouble.
"No, thank you." She didn't smile; she didn't want him to have a reason to follow her. He pushed himself off the wall towards her car, she watched him intently.
"Open the bonnet." She frowned at his words, not moving from her spot.
"Excuse me?" She was half unsure of what he was asking her to do and half wondering whether to trust him. He banged his fist on the hood of her car a few times, hoping she would get the hint.
"Get away from my car before I call the cops." Her voice was firm, wanting him to believe her threat.
"Hey, I'm just trying to help you fix your car." He held his hands up in defence. She knew he couldn't fix her car.
"Yeah, right." She scoffed as he placed both hands on his hips, making himself look bigger.
"Right, and you're going to fix the car yourself?" She didn't like his condescending tone. She looked back at the bar behind her then back to the man. A slight smirk crept onto her face; maybe she could have fun with this.
"Alright, you can fix it." She walked around him and got into the car, pulling the lever under the dash to open the bonnet. She would leave him to try and fix the unfixable car, whilst she rang a local mechanic and had a martini, "Good luck." She yelled before walking into the bar.
The lighting was dim; pool tables filled the back of the large room. Booths were filled with people, drinking and laughing. She looked at a group of men, all as big as the man outside. She rolled her eyes and ordered a martini. The young man behind the counter was very helpful and called a mechanic for her, though she would have to wait about half an hour. She looked down at her watch, wondering what was taking so long. She glanced at the door; maybe she should go check on him. She slipped off the bar stool, her Giuseppe Zanotti skull detailed leather sandals hit the old wooden floor.
Guilt washed over her as she made her way outside; the man had taken off his jacket, sleeves rolled up and arms covered in oil.
"Are you okay?" She asked as she got nearer; her words startled him as he lifted his gaze from the engine, only to smack the back of his head on the hood.
"Fuck." He hissed between gritted teeth. Her hand covered her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter. She tried her best to remain serious as he faced her, "I can't fix it."
"I know, I've already called a mechanic." She folded her arms under her bust.
"You always doubted I could fix it?" He raised an eyebrow and stared her down.
"Well, I always knew I put the wrong gas in the tank. Not sure how you could fix that." His stare turned into disbelief and he shook his head.
"You didn't think to tell me that?" His tone was one of annoyance.
She suppressed a laugh, "You insisted, and quite frankly, you look like you needed some sort of ego boost." He clenched his jaw and slammed the hood down. She flinched at the sound. She had made a vital error in angering this man.
"You like to play games huh?"She swallowed hard and shook her head. She should have trusted her instinct.
He took a step towards her, she was pretty sure her feet were glued to the ground. He inched closer to her; 'kick him in the crotch and run' ran through her mind on loop as she stared into the eyes of oblivion. She was tall, standing at 5'11" but he still towered over her. Her head told her to kick him in the crotch; instead she lifted her hand to his face and rubbed a smudge of oil from his cheek. Her hand ran over the harsh stubble on his jaw as she let her hand drop to her side.
The hard features of his face turned soft for a moment. She wouldn't be able to explain her actions for a million dollars, "You're dirty." Her voice was quiet and breathy, unsure of what was taking over her.
"That's your fault." She couldn't argue with that, "You should help clean me up."
"I don't know your name." She wasn't sure how that would change things, but she did have a point.
"Stu Bennett." His eyes raked over her body quickly then he took hold of her hand and squeezed lightly.
"Well Mr. Bennett, I'm sorry for getting you dirty." He smirked down at her; he was cocky and arrogant. Everything that was bad for her. She tried to pull her hand back but his grip tightened.
"Now will you clean me up," she shook her head and he raised an eyebrow, "Or what if I get you dirty?"
"That wouldn't be appropriate Mr. Bennett." She was finding it hard to speak.
"And why not?" She smiled slightly as his face turned serious.
"Because you don't know my name." She pulled her hand from his grasp as the mechanics tow-truck came into view. She forced herself from the hold his gaze had on her and walked across to the man now getting out of the truck.
The man in his mid forties, dressed in blue overalls was kind as she told him what she'd done. She knew he was laughing in his head though. She handed him her car key and he hooked her car to his truck. She turned around feeling eyes burning into her; Stu was stood watching her every move. She turned back to the mechanic who handed her a card with the address for the garage on. He told her to swing by tomorrow afternoon and the car should be sorted.
Now all she had to do was call a cab, and be on her way home. She turned on her heel and headed for the entrance of the bar again. She stood at the bar, about to speak to the kind man who assisted her before.
"What are you drinking?" She looked across at Stu; one arm was leant on the counter, he looked like he didn't have a care in the world.
"I'm not." She pursed her lips and turned her attention to the bartender.
"Two beers" Again Stu spoke up; she narrowed her eyes at him, he smiled in return.
"Are you always this annoying?" She asked as he picked up the two beers and left a few notes on the counter.
"Are you always this uptight?" Her mouth dropped, he shoved one of the cold bottles into her hand. She looked down, "Don't tell me your one of those girls who orders a cocktail?"
She frowned; feeling utterly offended she took a swig of the beer. It tasted fowl but she tried her best to disguise the look of disgust creeping onto her face.
"Now will you tell me your name?" He shuffled a little closer and smirked at her.
She shoved the bottle into his stomach; he wrapped his hand around her hand and the bottle. The heat radiating from his hand and the ice cold chill of the bottle sent shivers up her spine. She tried to shake the feeling.
"You think one drink is all it takes?" He chuckled, the smirk still plastered on his face. She was tempted to wipe it off with the back of her hand. He glanced over his shoulder to the back of the bar and let go of her hand. She kept a tight grip of the bottle.
"How about a game of pool? I win, you tell me your name," He rubbed his hand across his chin in thought, "and I get to take you on a date."
"No date, what if I win?" Curiosity was getting the better of her.
He held his arms out to the side and looked down at himself in his usual cocky manner, "Whatever you like." His offer was far too tempting; after all she had nothing to lose.
A/N – Feedback as to whether I should continue or not is greatly appreciated. Lou x