“Your friend? You mean the fellow whose driver’s license you sent me earlier? You said he was a Good Samaritan who stopped to help.”
“He did, but it turns out we have a mutual friend, so he’s not a stranger after all.” Okay, she was lying, but it was better than telling her father that Austin was indeed a stranger.
Yet for some reason, she trusted the guy. He hadn’t triggered her BS meter or raised any danger flags inside her, and if he’d wanted to hurt her, he could have done it any number of times already. Instead, he’d bought her ice cream and held her hand—not exactly the actions of a crazy psycho or would-be rapist.
Of course, that could all be part of his evil plan to get her to lower her guard, but she seriously doubted that. And she truly didn’t feel threatened in Austin’s presence.
“So you know him from Chicago?” her father said sharply.
Mari shrugged, even though her dad couldn’t see her. “I know of him. He’s a photographer, a really acclaimed one too. He does spreads for National Geographic.”
Suddenly her mother’s voice chirped over the line, which didn’t come as a surprise. Mari suspected her father had told Patricia to pick up the other extension the second he’d seen their daughter’s number.
“Like in The Bridges of Madison County?” Mari’s mother sounded delighted.
“Yes, exactly like that,” she couldn’t help but exclaim. “Thank you. Would you believe he’s never seen that movie?”
“But it’s a classic,” Patricia said in dismay.
As usual, her father put an end to one of the rare moments of camaraderie between mother and daughter.
“So when are you getting in?” he barked. “Where are you now?”
“We’re about two hours from Des Moines, but that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’ve decided to tag along on Austin’s assignment. He’s photographing small towns in the Midwest. His last stop is Colorado—I might go all the way there, or I can always hop on a bus or plane if I decide I’ve had enough of the nomad life.”
Her father’s response was precisely what she’d anticipated. “I don’t like this. You hardly know this person, Mari.”
“He’s a good guy, Dad. A real gentleman.”
Patricia’s tone was equally skeptical. “How long is this assignment of his going to take?”
“A week, maybe two.” Mari’s gaze strayed to the SUV, where Austin waited patiently, his dark head bent over his cell phone. “Look, my job interviews aren’t for another six weeks, so there’s no reason for me to rush home yet. I promise I’ll text and email every day to let you know where I am, and I’ll be staying in my own room every night when we stop, so I’ll give you the motel numbers too, okay?”
“All right,” both her parents said at the same time, in the same grudging tone.
She knew they weren’t thrilled about her plans, but she wasn’t surprised that neither one voiced an argument. Mari had always been strong-willed and stubborn as hell, and her parents knew how futile it was to argue with her once she’d set her mind on something.
“Be safe,” Patricia said urgently. “Please call us every day, sweetie.”
“And if that fellow so much as looks at you wrong, I want you to call the police,” Jerry ordered.
A few moments later, they said their goodbyes and Mari disconnected the call. It had gone a lot easier than she’d thought it would, and she almost wished her folks had tried to talk her out of it.
Because this was nuts, right?
Traveling with a man she’d just met was either the start of a great adventure, or the setup for a television show about unsolved murders—starring her as the murder victim.
She took a breath, her gaze once again straying in Austin’s direction. He hadn’t given her any indication that he was anything but a nice, funny guy making his way home to deal with a difficult situation. And he was hot.
Lord, was he hot.
Just friends, remember?
Mari exhaled slowly, knowing that little voice was right. She’d agreed to this road trip because she wanted to have some fun and explore a few small towns, not to get laid. No matter how attractive Austin was, with those deep green eyes and messy brown hair…and that deliciously toned bod…and his muscular arms…and the killer grin…and—she promptly snapped herself out of lust mode, realizing she’d lost her train of thought.
Friends, she reminded herself. That was all she and Austin would be. She wasn’t cut out for flings, and he was in no position to have one either, so it was best to just push any naughty ideas of hooking up right out of her head.
Nodding with resolve, she headed back to the car and climbed back inside. “Thanks for waiting,” she told Austin.
“No problem.” He set down his phone. “You spoke to your parents?”
“Yep. They know not to expect me for a while.”
He studied her face. “You sure you’re up for a road trip?”