Page 14 of The Hunter’s Affection

Chapter 5

“I’m not planning to stay late,” Charlotte said, her phone on speaker. She stopped at a red light, waiting for her mother’s next question.

There surely would be one. Every time her mother visited, she nitpicked every last nook and cranny of Charlotte’s existence, asking question upon question. In some ways, it was preferable to all those years she’d been mothered by the nanny instead. Better late than never, and all that. If only she approved of any of Charlotte’s answers.

“Good. You can never be too safe,” her mother drawled. Born and raised in Alabama, her Southern accent was as thick as honey. Charlotte’s mother and stepfather had moved the family to Charleston after he was transferred to the Army Depot in Tobyhanna.

Margaret Graves was a true Southern belle, and she wanted everyone to know it.

Charlotte had been one too, once upon a time.

“Oh, and don’t forget the party we’re throwing for the senator.”

Charlotte was careful not to groan out loud. The last thing she needed right now was a lecture on ladylike behavior.

Why had she agreed to attend the party anyway? Just because her parents liked to pretend they were still multimillionaires, hobnobbing with the political elite, didn’t mean she should have to do the same. But her mother could be so persuasive.

“In two weeks, right?” she said instead, moving into the passing lane.

“Yes, dear. Be sure to bring along a few dresses . . .”

Though her mother let the sentence trail off, Charlotte silently finished it for her. So I can approve of your choice. Appearances are important. Blah, blah, blah.

She nearly burst into giggles at the thought of how her mother would react if she actually said blah, blah, blah out loud to her.

“Yes, Mother,” she said instead.

“Well, do be careful, dear. I have to go. Your stepfather needs me to help pick out a tie. Good evening, Charlotte.”

Good evening. Not “see you later,” or “love you,” or even “have a good night.” Charlotte may have changed her life, but her family remained the same as always.

“Good evening, Mother,” she muttered, realizing belatedly she hadn’t spoken clearly. She waited for her mother to cluck her tongue and say something about the importance of articulation, but the line clicked off. Her father must really be desperate for help with his tie for her mother to pass up the opportunity to lecture her. Or maybe she was pacified by the fact that this date was her idea.

Charlotte would have released a sigh of relief if the car hadn’t refused to move. The light had turned green, but nothing happened when she pressed the gas pedal.

Well, not nothing, precisely. The engine revved, but the car stayed put.

Shit.

Please don’t use vulgarities, dear.She could hear it as clearly as if her mother sat next to her.

Double shit.

Her car wouldn’t move, horns beeped behind her, and her mother lectured her despite being over an hour away.

After putting the car in park and turning on the hazards, Charlotte got out of the Volkswagen Jetta and waved at the cars behind her. They got the hint, finally, and started to drive around her.

None of the other cars stopped to help, mind you. But at least they’d quit their honking.

Charlotte continued to wave cars by as she pulled out her phone and dialed the number for the towing service. Multi-tasking for all she was worth—for some reason the message wasn’t getting across that she was literally in the middle of a two-lane highway—she didn’t even notice the middle-aged guy walking toward her until he stepped in front of her face.

“Need some help?”

She nodded, attempting to explain the situation with her hands as she described her location to the operator. Her savior pointed for her to get into her car, which she did. The operator finally hung up after assuring her a tow truck was on the way, and she rolled down the window and apologized to the Good Samaritan.

She hated that she needed to be rescued—it made her feel like some damsel in distress, something she’d fought hard not to be. But she was prudent enough to realize she really did need the help.

The guy just nodded.