Buck's Good Deed Mag 7 ATF AU

Buck Wilmington was cruising along with a smile on his handsome face. Normally he drove his pickup, but this time he was in the fire-engine red corvette that he kept for special occasions. And a date with Miss Lynda was indeed special! The dark mustache twitched in anticipation above the mobile lips as he pictured the lovely raven-haired beauty in his mind.

Then his attention was brought back to the present as he saw a car on the side of the road ahead, with its caution lights flashing in the dusk. The figure of a woman appeared to be standing next to the vehicle, waving frantically.

Never one to ignore a lady in distress, Wilmington put on his blinker and started slowing so he could pull up behind the disabled auto. The woman peered around cautiously as the brunet parked.

The ladies' man did have sense enough to check things out before he exited the 'Vette. As much as he loved females of all sizes, shapes, and ages, even he knew from hard experience that not all of them were to be trusted.

However, this one had her trunk open so that he could tell there was no one hiding in there, and as he got out and slowly walked forward, his height let him see that there was no threat in the vehicle either.

The woman in front of him looked harmless, but the weight of the backup pistol in the holster at his ankle was reassuring as he approached.

"Ma'am? Ya look like you need some help. Is there anything I can do for ya?"

The lady glanced up at him with a relieved sigh. "Oh, thank you! My car just sputtered and stopped moving and my cell phone is dead. There isn't much traffic out here, so I wasn't sure what I was going to do."

"No problem. I'll have a look at it, Ms. …?"

"Millie" answered the smaller form.

White teeth gleamed in a wide smile as Wilmington reached to shake her hand. "Pleasure to meet ya, Miss Millie. I'm Buck. Let me take a peek under the hood, see if I can figure out what's wrong."

The woman nodded in agreement, standing to the side with a flashlight as the tall figure bent to peer at the motor of her car. Sparkling eyes took advantage of the lanky brunet's position to look the attractive frame over in appreciation.

It didn't take him long to find the crack in the radiator that was leaking coolant onto the roadside.

"Your radiator's split Miss Millie. I'm afraid you'll have to have it towed. Can I call someplace for ya?"

"Oh! I'm not from around here, so I don't know any towing companies or repair places. Can you recommend one?"

Buck nodded. "Sure thing, ma'am. Let me call a wrecker for ya and I'll have him take it to the auto shop I use. They'll be closed, but I know the owner, so I'll call and let him know it'll be waitin' in the mornin' when he gets there."

"Thank you so much! I don't know what I'd have done without you."

"No problem. Glad I could help."

The handsome form called the tow truck and the shop owner as promised, then dialed Ms. Lynda's number to tell her he wasn't going to be able to make their date after all. Promising to make it up to her the next night, he put his cell away and turned his attention back to his current companion.

"How about I take ya to a hotel as soon as the wrecker gets here? You'll need a place to stay the night. Do ya need to borrow my phone to call anyone, let 'em know you're gonna be late?"

The lady took him up on his offers, and then Buck escorted her to the passenger side of his car. The couple chatted lightly as they waited on the tow truck. Once the disabled vehicle was hooked up and the truck pulled away, Wilmington started the 'Vette and headed to the nearest hotel.

When they arrived, he procured a room for his passenger. When he asked her if she'd had anything to eat, she shook her head no. One tanned hand gestured back to the shiny red sports car.

"Well, come on then. I happen to know a really nice spot. Let's go get ya some supper."

Millie had gotten her suitcase out of the trunk of her car, so she quickly freshened up in her room and then joined the attractive man in his vehicle once more.

Buck took her to a upscale Italian restaurant and the two talked some more as they ate. The generous ladies' man then paid for her meal, over her protests, and drove her back to her hotel.

When she asked shyly if he'd like to come in for a while, the handsome figure nodded and walked her to her room. The pair chatted over glasses of the wine Buck had bought, and by the time it was eleven, Millie felt like she'd known the attractive man for ages. When she mentioned softly that she was a little uncomfortable staying alone in a strange town, the dark-haired form moved to gently take her in his arms. When he asked if she wanted him to stay, she mutely nodded her head. He gave her a brilliant smile, then strolled out to get the duffle of extra clothes and toiletries that he carried with him in case the team got called out unexpectedly.

When they were nestled in bed, the tall figure holding her securely, she wondered if fate hadn't taken a hand in her affairs so that she could meet the most amazing man she'd ever known.

By DMA