Vick

by Flora Madison

  Vick

  Wild County Curves: Book 1

  Flora Madison

  Copyright © 2020 by Flora Madison

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  **Edited by: Geeky Girl Author Services

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  Contents

  1. Vick

  2. Chloe

  3. Vick

  4. Chloe

  5. Vick

  6. Chloe

  7. Vick

  Epilogue: Vick

  Also by Flora Madison

  1

  Vick

  My heart seizes in my chest the minute the beat up VW Bug pulls into the lot. I know exactly who it belongs to because I’ve been watching the curvy blonde knockout from the minute she nabbed the empty storefront across the street. Her metaphysical café and bookshop, The Fated Cup, is the hottest new spot in town. She exits her car and makes her way toward me. Thunder rolls in the distance. I set down my wrench and wipe the sweat from my brow. As she moves closer, the wind lifts the hem of her billowing skirt. A shiver runs down my spine. It’s almost as if she’s bringing the storm with her.

  She wiggles her fingers and flashes a beaming smile in my direction. It’s like a ray of light warming my chest. I don’t know why I’m surprised, she owns a magical shop and is proving quite capable of casting a spell.

  “Hey,” her honey smooth voice floats on the breeze. “I’m Chloe Revelle. I own the shop across the street.” She extends her hand. The minute we touch, a bolt of electricity shoots up my arm.

  I lick my lips, attempting to bring some moisture back into my dry mouth. “I’m Vick.”

  “I know,” she tips her head toward the huge sign that reads, Vick’s Auto Body.

  I narrow my eyes, trying to keep my gaze off of her tight tank top. “Something going on with your car?”

  “Yeah.” She squeezes her sapphire eyes shut and shakes her head. “Well, no. Not yet, but I can feel that something’s not quite right.” The intoxicating scent of peppermint and lavender fills the air around her.

  “A strange noise?”

  “No noises.”

  “Engine light coming on?”

  “It’s not that either.” Her delicate fingertips brush a stray strand of white blonde hair away from her full face, revealing high cheekbones and a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. “Maybe you could just give it a look?”

  “Of course. I’ll follow you out.”

  “Thanks.” She shoots me another glorious smile, and presses her hand against my forearm. Heat flares beneath her fingertips and as if on instinct, she pulls away. Chloe clears her throat and turns toward her car. My eyes dart to her full hips, swaying with each step she takes.

  Never in my life have I had such an overwhelming feeling around a woman before. Granted, it’s been three years since I moved to Wild County, and haven’t been with one since I left the city. Since then I’ve been flying solo, fixing and repairing cars, and keeping to myself. I haven’t even had the urge to be with anyone. Well, until Chloe rolled up today.

  She opens the door and steps out of the way for me to inspect. With the turn of the ignition, everything sounds fine. “Starts okay.” I listen for anything out of the ordinary as Chloe leans down, one arm draped over the door, her billowing cleavage on full display. I give myself a quick peek, then turn off the ignition. “Better check the engine.”

  Chloe steps aside and I head to the front of the car and pop the hood. “I have a sneaking suspicion you won’t find anything.” She wraps her arms around her waist and walks against the wind to join me up front.

  “If something’s wrong, Chloe, I’ll find it.” I give the engine another full inspection, including a quick tire check, I close the hood and run a hand through my hair. My eyes lock into hers. “It all checks out okay.”

  Chloe twists her full lips. “I’m not crazy, you know?”

  “I didn’t say you were.”

  “Dammit.” Chloe leans against the car and stares out into the distance. Another flash of lightning appears followed immediately by thunder. The storm’s getting closer.

  “Wait, you’re upset I didn’t find anything wrong?”

  Chloe tugs at a stray hair stuck to her lip. “No, there is something wrong. I just don’t know what it is yet.”

  “How can you know that?”

  She lets out a long breath and shifts her gaze toward me, her eyes a shade of blue I’ve only seen in nature. “I drew The Chariot Tarot card reversed today. That always means car trouble for me.” I open my mouth to respond, but I have no idea what to say. A Tarot card? “See, you think I’m crazy.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to.” She mutters, slapping her palms against the sides of her thighs, and presses away from the car. “I’m used to it. Thanks for looking, though.”

  “Wait.” Chloe opens her car door, and looks up at me. The intensity of her gaze takes the words from my mouth. Powerful woman doesn’t even begin to describe her. I want to ask her to stay. To go out for a drink sometime. To never lay eyes on another man again because as much as I don’t believe in fated romance, I’m pretty sure this woman is destined to be mine. “If you run into any trouble, here’s my card.”

  Chicken-shit.

  “Oh.” Chloe licks those succulent full lips of hers and takes the card. “Thanks…Vick Tucker,” she says, eyeing the fine print. “And if you ever want a coffee, a tea, a tarot reading?” A gust of wind blows her hair away from her face. “You know where to find me.”

  I give a curt nod, and Chloe climbs into her car. Even from where I stand, it sounds fine when she starts the engine. As she pulls out of the parking lot she throws one more glance at me, her smile a little less bright than when she first came in.

  I don’t think she’s crazy, but I do think she’s unlike any other woman I’ve ever encountered. I don’t believe in all of that woo-woo stuff. Being a mechanic, and a man who works with my hands, I tend to trust what I can feel, hear, smell, and taste. I want to do all of those things with Chloe. My brain swirls into madness thinking of what it would be like to experience a woman like that. To hold her, touch her, make her mine. These are the last thoughts I have as her tires scratch the gravel, and the first drops of rain fall from above.

  2

  Chloe

  I turn Vick’s card over in my hands. Since I left his garage, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him. Not that anyone could blame me. His golden-hazel gaze pierced my soul and soaked my panties the minute our eyes met. I’ve seen him from the window of my own shop, hulking around and working on cars. He looked big then, but up close the man’s a giant. His sculpted shoulders filled his white t-shirt like it was about to burst off of him. Not that I’d mind. I haven’t met a man as attractive as Vick in…well, ever.

  “Thanks so much for coffee, Chloe.” Eden, the town librarian sets her mug up at the counter. “And the reading. Love on the horizon?” The sweet-mannered brunette presses her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “I can’t imagine that happening. I’ve been in Wild County for over a year and haven’t met anyone who’s really struck my fancy, yet.”

  I shoot my friend a warm smile. After moving here less than six months ago, she’s been one of my biggest supporters. She even made sure the library start
ed stocking a few of the new age books I carry to peak their interest. “You chose the cards, woman. I just read them for you.”

  A massive clap of thunder turns our head toward the front door. “It’s really coming down out there.” Eden, slides her credit card across the counter. “You live outside of town, right?”

  “I do.” I run her card, and slide it back. “And I know what you’re thinking.” She opens her mouth to speak. “No, not because I’m psychic. I’m not. I’m a sign reader.”

  “To be fair, you’re a little bit psychic.” Eden’s chocolate brown eyes narrow in on me.

  “To be fair, everyone’s a little bit psychic.” I click the pen and pass it to my friend. “But it doesn’t take one to know that this storm’s not letting up. In fact, I’m going to close early and hit the trail.”

  “Whew!” Eden’s hand presses against her chest. “I don’t want you to get caught in this. Those back roads are no joke.”

  “Tell me about it.” A nagging feeling in my gut tells me that I should scoot sooner rather than later. I take the signed receipt—with a generous tip, thank you—and walk Eden to the door. Once her umbrella’s in place and she shuffles into the rain, I lock up behind her and clean as fast as I can. After replacing the books back on the shelves I wipe down the three café tables.

  Why can’t I get Vick out of my head. He’s the furthest thing from my type, strong and silent. The way his full lips move when he does speak sends a wave of heat straight through me. I inadvertently purse my lips as I clean, imagining the feeling of Vick’s mouth pressed firmly up against them. Geez, I’m like a teenager with a crush!

  I shudder at the thought. Growing up I was always considered weird, or crazy because I’ve been interested in things that weren’t exactly mainstream in my small, midwestern town. Even though my shop has done quite well here—people are dying to know more about tarot, astrology, and the law of attraction—that doesn’t mean Vick’s into it.

  I wring the towel, set it on the counter, and rest my hands on my hips. What am I even doing thinking about him? I’ve seen the guy in person once. It’s not like it matters. I’m sure he’s got his pick of the women in Wild County. Rumor has it, he comes from money and he’s here because he wanted a simpler life. Somehow I think a woman as complicated as I am wouldn’t fit into that category.

  I’m about to head out when I notice my tarot cards are still lying on the counter. I scoop them up and give them a quick shuffle, closing my eyes and picturing Vick’s tanned face. Those cheekbones. The dark stubble painting his jawline. As always, my hands stop on their own and I pull the card over. I have to laugh when The Devil card stares back at me. Contrary to popular belief, the card isn’t some evil sign from hell. It’s more about passion, obsession, and pure pleasure. And addiction if you’re not careful.

  “I could get addicted to Vick Tucker.” I say out loud, twirling a strand of hair around my finger. A flash of light ignites the café followed by thunder strong enough to rattle the windows. “Please keep my safe shop.” I put out into the universe before grabbing my keys, shoving my deck of cards into my purse and hustling out the door into the pouring rain.

  I’m soaked to the bone by the time I’m inside the car. I turn the ignition and slowly pull out of the parking lot, doing my best to avoid puddles scattered every few feet or so. I should’ve closed earlier, but Eden had planned a reading and I hate cancelling on clients, even more so on friends.

  My windshield wipers thrash back and forth across the glass, clearing the sloshing rain so that I can almost see the road ahead of me. Long, deep breaths keep me calm. Gray skies darken the drive. Going through town isn’t so bad. Not many cars are on the road, and the ones that are have their headlights on and drive at a slow speed.

  It’s only when I turn off onto the first country road that a pang of panic wriggles its way into my gut. “Vick said my car was fine.” I mutter out loud, my voice louder than normal due to the radio’s silence. “I just need to take it nice and slow.”

  I turn off onto the second road. My tires skid. I turn into it, able to keep the car under my control. My heart beats heavy in my chest. I’m still nearly ten miles from my house.

  “Nice and slow.” I say again, but the words barely leave my lips.

  Boom! My car jerks. Pop! The passenger’s side dips. Whoosh! My tire. Oh shit, my tire.

  The car thunks as I keep my hands steady at ten and two. My flat tire hits the road with a succession of rapid flaps. I pull to the side of the tree lined road, hoping to God I’m not near a ditch or a ravine—out here, it’s hard to tell with all of the foliage. Luckily, I’m safe.

  I sit there for the longest time. Breathing. Finally, I peel my hands from the wheel and turn off the ignition. Rain pelts my window. My brain swirls into a frenzy. I don’t know who to call, or what to do.

  Then it hits me. Vick! I have Vick’s card.

  Without hesitation, I dial the number on the card. When he answers in that thick, sexy voice of his, it’s all I can do to keep from sobbing with relief.

  3

  Vick

  The moment Chloe tells me what happened, I grab a spare tire from the shop’s supply and hop in my truck. She sounded shaky, but steady. I’m not surprised, she’s a strong woman from what I’ve seen and in a strange way it’s like she knew something like this was going to happen.

  It’s hard not to rush down the streets to get to her as fast as I can, but I can be of no use to her if my own truck’s wrapped around a tree. So, I make myself take it slow. A small smile plays on my lips. When I told her to sit tight, she responded with, “Vick, I don’t have a choice.” My chest puffs knowing that I’m the one she called for help. It’s a damn good thing I gave her my card.

  I turn the volume up on the radio. The man’s voice states that the storm’s showing no sign of slowing. On the country road she’s on, I’ll be lucky if I can get there before it’s a total mudslide if it isn’t already. Ten minutes feels like an hour, but that’s all the time it takes until I pull up behind Chloe’s little car.

  I flash my lights so she knows it’s me. She opens her car door, but I beat her to it, screaming over the rain. “Get back inside, I’m coming to you.”

  The rain soaks me as I briskly make my way to her, watching each step I take to avoid slipping. When I peek down at her front tire, my heart sinks. In my rush to get to her, I brought the wrong size. The spare in the back of my truck isn’t going to fit.

  I throw the door open and hop inside. Dripping all over her car, a moment of silence passes between us, underscored by the pounding rain against her windows. With rain-frizzed hair, Chloe sinks her teeth into her bottom lip. Her eyes flick up and down my torso, white t-shirt stuck to me like second skin.

  “Hi,” she says.

  “Hey.” I say between ragged breaths. I’m about to break the bad news about the spare to her, but I don’t have the chance. Without warning, Chloe lunges for me, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me close. Her full breasts press against my wet shirt, jerking my cock to attention. “Thank you so much.” Her warm breath against my ear sends shivers down my neck.

  I don’t know what to do with my own hands. I’m afraid if I wrap them around her, I won’t be able to stop myself from lifting her out of that seat and pulling her onto my lap.

  I don’t have the chance.

  She pulls back, red-faced, and swallows before smiling. “Sorry, I’m just thrilled that I got ahold of you. If you wouldn’t have given me your card today I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

  Staring into her sparkling eyes, it’s like I see my whole life flash before me. I was supposed to give her my card. That wouldn’t have happened if she didn’t come to the garage today.

  Maybe fate is real?

  “Vick?”

  Oh shit, was I staring? “Yeah, I’ve got a tire in the back of the truck. But I’ve got some bad news.”

  “Oh no.”

  “I brought the wrong size.”

&n
bsp; “Oh, okay.” Her nipples tighten through her shirt, and I beg myself to keep my eyes on hers. But after feeling her soft breasts pressed against me it’s damn hard to do.

  “Do you live around here? I could drive you home.”

  Her brows knit together, sapphire eyes locked on my lips. “I’m about ten miles north.”

  “North?” I brush my wet hair away from my face. “Those roads are usually the first to flood. I could take a chance and drive you up. Or…”

  “Or what?” Do I detect a note of hope in her voice?

  “Or, you could come to my place and I can check if I have a donut you could put on the rim. That can at least get you back home once the storm passes.”

  “Your place as in your house?” Chloe blows a stray strand of hair away from her face. Her face flinches and she bats at a gnat that must’ve gotten in. Before I can stop it, I reach out and snatch the little bugger with my fist.

  “I live right up there.” I nod my head, unable to take my gaze from her delicate face. I swear I’ve never seen a more gorgeous woman in all my life. And it’s not just her physical features, being around her feels strangely familiar, even though I’ve never met her. Being with Chloe feels as comfortable as coming home.

  Chloe nods, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Do you have wine?”

  “Wine?” I wasn’t expecting that. “I can do better than that, honey. I’ve got a wine cellar.”

  “Then what are we waiting for?” She slaps her hand gently on my thigh, then pulls her keys from the ignition. After a long exhale, she turns to me. “We’re going to have to run for it.”

  “Not run. It’s not safe. But we certainly don’t have to dawdle.”