Finding Divine Read Free

listened to his cousin’s response.
    “No, my car is fine. It’s not for me. It’s for a friend. Her car won’t start.” Another pause was followed by a chuckle. “You know it, man. The car is parked at the front entrance, a black sedan. I’ll stick around so you can spot us. Thanks a lot. I’ll see you in a bit.” He pressed a button to end the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. “There, it’s all taken care of. My cousin should be here in a half-hour. In the meantime it’s getting kind of chilly out here and you’re not wearing a jacket. If you’d like, you can sit in my car and I’ll turn the heater on.”
    The thought of being in close proximity to Simon made her heart skip several beats.  He made her unsure of herself, and when she was nervous and uneasy, an attack wasn’t far off. “I appreciate your calling the tow truck service for me, but I think I should stand outside and wait, so he’ll see me.”
    “I won’t bite, I promise…that is unless you want me to,” he grinned wolfishly at her. “Come on, Pete will notice my vehicle if he doesn’t see you so he’ll figure it out. If you need references, I’ll let you call my aunt. She seems to think I’m tops.” He pulled out his phone and held it out to her.
    Despite the onset of nerves, Jessica smiled. She wasn’t sure why but something told her to trust him. It was still light outside and she had a small vial of pepper spray attached to her key ring. Another gust of wind blew their way, sending a chill right through her bones. That made the decision for her. “Okay. But no funny stuff.”
    He snapped his fingers. “Damn, there goes all my plans up in flames.”
    She chuckled, allowing him to lead her to a cream-colored luxury SUV. She’d figured he was well off when she first saw him just by the way he dressed, but this only confirmed it. “Nice car.”
    He shrugged. “It’s okay, but thanks.”
    “Just okay? If I had a car like this, I’d say it was more than okay.”
    A smile briefly touched his lips as he unlocked the car door for her. “It’s a means of getting from point A to point B.” She got the distinct impression that he was uncomfortable talking about his vehicle. It was weird to find a man who wasn’t crazy over cars.
    She slid onto the soft, cream-colored leather seat, imagining what it would be like to own a vehicle like this. Maybe in thirty years, she thought with a shake of her head.
    Simon got in next to her and turned the car engine on before turning on the heat. “If you need some added warmth, flip the button on the side to your right to heat the seat up.”
    Jessica was impressed. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a car with heated seats before.”
    “Then by all means, you should definitely go for it to get the full experience.”
    Unable to resist the temptation of flipping the switch, she wiggled her bottom against her seat when the heat surged up. “Nice.” When she turned to him, he had a thoughtful, faraway expression on his face. “Are you okay, Simon?”
    “What? Oh, yes, I’m fine, thanks.”
    “You seemed to drift away for a second.”
    “I generally do around this time of year.”
    “Why is that? Never mind, it’s none of my business.”
    “I don’t mind talking about it if you want to know.”
    “No, that’s okay. It was rude of me to ask such an intrusive question on so short an acquaintance.”
    Simon finally turned in his seat to fully face her. “But I’m hoping that can change because I’d certainly like to get to know you better.”

 
     
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    Simon’s pulse quickened.  Over the course of his thirty years, Simon could say he’d grown knowledgeable about the art of love, but he had still yet to meet a woman who made him feel such an instant pull that he had to know everything about her. Want to be with her. Want her. Until now.
    He didn’t know what it was about Jessica that attracted him to her, but from the moment he laid eyes on