Summer Chapter 1

The sun was hot and there was no breeze so the heat was stifling. "Seriously, my car has to break down in the middle of nowhere on the hottest day of the year. Just my luck," Summer said out loud to herself as she tried desperately to get her cell phone to find some kind of signal. She let out a sigh and resigned herself to the fact that she was just going to have to start walking.

She grabbed her purse and slammed the door shut on her car. She contemplated weather she should bother locking it or not. There wasn't anything of any value in it to steal and then there was also the fact that it didn't run at the moment. She sighed out loud to herself and locked it anyway.

She put her sunglasses on and started walking. She had been walking for a pretty good stretch and was going out of her mind at the fact that she had yet to see one single car on this road. It wasn't even off the beaten path so sooner or later she was sure she'd see someone. She heard a loud noise behind her and turned around quickly. A group of motorcycles flew past her kicking up dust as they went by. She thought for a second that maybe they'd stop and see if she needed help, but a group of bikers probably weren't the most likely of suspects to be extremely chivalrous and help a damsel in distress.

She'd only made it a little further ahead when she saw a sign for town, finally! Welcome to Charming. Well that was a pleasant name for a town and as long as they had a mechanic and a hotel she'd be just fine.

She heard another loud noise behind her and saw one solitary motorcycle approaching. The rider was clearly slowing down and pulled right up beside her.

He was dressed in dark wash jeans, boots and a dark brown leather jacket. His hair was slicked back, dark with a little grey, the same with his goatee. He wore dark sunglasses and his face was marked with two deep scars on each of his cheeks. A permanent smile on a man who probably actually smiled very little. Interesting, she thought to herself. She knew she herself was probably a hot mess at this point from walking through the hot dusty countryside, sweating her ass off in the process.

When he spoke she immediately melted. A thick Scottish accent graced her ears and made her heart swoon. God, she was really pathetic.

"You doin alright darlin, need a lift somewhere? I assume that was your car back there on the side a the road?"

"Uh, yeah. It died on me and apparently so did my cell service. Lotta great technology is when it won't work. I was just trying to get in to town to call a tow truck."

"Aye, well you're almost there but whaddya say we give those wee boots a break and I give ya a ride the resta the way?" He asked as he gave her a kind smile.

She was absolutely smitten by this totally random gesture of kindness. And even though a little part of her thought it would be really dumb to ride off to who knows where with a complete stranger, she wasn't currently in the position to turn down help from anyone.

"Yes, that would be amazing. You don't know how much I appreciate this. Thank you! I'm Summer by the way. Summer Jones," she said as she extended her hand to him. He smiled again and took her hand in his. Instead of shaking it though he brought it to his lips and left a gentle kiss. Fuck. Her inner monologue was getting all kinds of dirty. She almost missed what he said.

"Filip Telford, but my friends call me Chibs, and you're more than welcome lassie. Here, put this on. You ever been on a bike before?" He asked as he handed her a helmet. She put it on and swung her leg over the bike, sliding on behind him. She wrapped her arms around him and smiled.

"Yeah, a few times. Not recently though. I suppose it hasn't changed much, right? Hold on tight and lean with you?"

"Aye, you got it darlin. I'll take ya to the auto shop in town. Lucky for you I actually work there as well. We'll get one a the lads to come out an get your car and then I'll get you over to a hotel so ya can get a room. It's a little late in the day to be getting anything fixed, but at least you'll have a place to stay that isn't the side a the road." And with that he turned the bike on and it roared to life. Summer forgot how intense the feeling was and clung tightly to his back. He chuckled to himself and took off.

They arrived at Teller-Morrow Automotive sooner than Summer anticipated. She didn't realize exactly how lost she'd gotten in the feeling of freedom she had being on the back of Chibs's bike. When they arrived in the lot for the auto shop he parked in a row next to a ton of other bikes. The same ones she had seen earlier she guessed.

"I'll get the guys and have one of em go pick up your car. Just hang tight," Chibs said as he walked towards the garage.

Summer nodded and stood like a statue. She took the helmet off and ran her hands through her long hair, trying to bring some life back to it after all the waking and the bike ride. Chibs walked back over to her.

"Boys are gonna go grab your car, I'll run ya over to the hotel and ya can get yourself a room. We'll call ya tomorrow as soon as we know what it's gonna take ta fix it up for ya."

"Yeah that sounds good. I could seriously use a shower and some sleep," Summer said with a nervous laugh.

"Alright lass. Let's go."

I'd go anywhere with you if you just keep talking to me, Summer thought to herself.

They got back on the bike and took off across town. It wasn't too far away from the shop but far enough for Summer to relax in to the feeling of having her arms wrapped around him again.

God, he smelled so good. And that accent? Forget it, if he really wanted to he could get anything he wanted from her. She stifled her thoughts quickly as they pulled in to the hotel parking lot.

Charming Inn left a lot to be desired upon first glance. But, as long as it had a shower and clean sheets she wasn't going to complain.

"Thanks so much for all the help Filip, I really appreciate it. Here's my cell number so hopefully you can call me when you know more about my car. Of course, I can't seem to get any service here so I don't honestly know what good that will do you," she said with an exasperated laugh.

"Aye, you're right darlin. But I know where ta find ya if this won't work," he chuckled and folded the little scrap of paper with her number on it and put it in his pocket.

"Well, thanks again. Guess I'll be hearing from you soon."

He nodded and she gave him her most genuine smile. Damn he was so incredibly sexy sitting on that bike. She sighed to herself and walked towards the office to get a room. She heard his bike leave and her heart thumped loud in her chest as the sound faded from her earshot.

Oh boy was she in trouble if he showed back up anytime soon. Her self control was waning hard and he was like walking sex on a stick. Metaphorical cotton candy.

But then who knew if he was even interested in her. She shook her head as if to erase the thoughts and went inside the hotel office. A cold shower and a nap should fix this, and if not, well maybe just maybe she'd have to be a little bad.