Sweet Temptation (23 page)

“Okay,” she sobbed. How could her brakes have given way? Turning right onto Gumtree Road, she made her way to the grass side. “Dom, there’s not much room down here.”

“I know. I’m coming up behind you now.”

“I see you,” she said with a shaky voice.

“Now I’m going to ask you to do something for me. I need you to jump out of your car, Skylar,” he said.

“Are you insane, Dom? I’m not doing that, can’t we do something else?” God, she was scared shitless.

“That’s the only thing you can do without hurting yourself too seriously.”

She sighed. “Okay, tell me when.” There was no way she could do this. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she waited.

“There is a bend coming up that you won’t be able to make. Steer the car towards the ditch on the left. That will stop the car, but you need to jump before it hits.”

She steered the car to the left towards the ditch. She couldn’t do this; there was no way she could jump out of her car. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, blurring her vision. She could see Dom’s truck beside her on her left.

“Jump now, Skylar.”

She opened her door, holding onto the steering wheel and the door handle, “I can’t Dom.” She couldn’t let go of the wheel.

       “You have to, babe.”

She slid over, closer to the door, “Dom!”

“Now Skylar!” He roared

She let go of the door and jumped out, screaming. Hitting the grass hard, she rolled down the embankment into the shallow river at the bottom. She heard her car hit the ditch, hard. Curling up into a ball, she didn’t want to move, and she couldn’t feel her body either.

Dom slammed on his brakes and threw himself out of the car, running towards her. He dropped to the ground beside her, “Sky, are you all right?” He couldn’t tell if she had hurt herself.

“No,” she cried.

Dom lifted her up onto his lap, breathing heavily. “Anything broken?” he said as he rubbed his hands over her.

“I don’t think so.”

“I’m so proud of you for doing that.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll call Jeff to come and pick up your car and tow it back to the workshop.” He pulled out his phone and organized for Jeff to come out. “Do you want me to call Craig?”

“No, he’s out of town. But can you call Alex for me?”

“Sure.” He grabbed the number off her and dialled.

“Hello.”

“Is this Alex?”

“Who wants to know?” Alex growled.

“My name’s Dom, I’m a friend of Skylar’s. Will you be able to meet us at her place, in ten minutes
?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“By the sounds of it, someone has cut her brakes and she just jumped from her car. She’s fine though,” Dom told him.

“Thank God she’s all right. I’m leaving now, I’ll see you soon.”

Dom hung up. “Alex, will be there when we arrive, okay?”

Skylar nodded.

Dom looked down at her, she was pale and shaking, “You sure you’re all right?”

“Yeah, I’m just a little shocked at what happened, Dom.”

Helping her up, he walked over to his truck. “Jeff’s coming now, I’ll help him hook up your car, and then we’ll head home.” Dom walked over towards the tow truck and hooked up her car. He jumped into his truck and they made their way to her place.

Moments later Dom pulled up in her driveway. Alex was opening her door and leaned in, “You all right, baby girl?” he asked.

“Just shaken up, Alex.” Alex reached in and lifted her up against his chest.

“Alex, this is Dom.” Alex extended his hand and shook Dom’s.

“Nice to meet you,” Dom said. “I’ll head over and check out your car. Then I’ll come and see how you’re holding up.”

“Okay.” Skylar cuddled closer into Alex and he walked her into her house.

* * *

Nate watched Dom pull up in Skylar’s driveway and some guy come out and lift her from his car and bring her inside. Frowning, Nate walked out to meet Dom and Jeff. He looked at Dom, and growled, “Why was Skylar in your truck?” Not taking any notice to the car Jeff just brought in.

“Why do you care, Nate?” Dom frowned at him.

“Of course I care,” he growled.

“Whatever, Skylar rang when I was leaving. She was having problems with her car.” Dom pointed to the car that Jeff brought in.

“Why is the front end smashed up?” He walked over to check it out.

       “Her brakes weren’t working, Nate. I think someone cut them, man.” Dom stood beside him.

“What do you mean you think someone cut them?”

“Well, you and I both know brakes don’t give out just like that,” Dom said.

“How did you stop her car, then?” he asked, frowning.

“I told her to turn down Gumtree Road where the old warehouse parking bay was and head for the grass area. I knew there was no way she could stop, so I told her to steer towards the ditch and jump out before she hit it.”

“You what?” he roared.

“It was either she jump from her car or hit the ditch with her in it,” Dom answered him. “What did you expect me to do, watch her hit it head on?” Rubbing his face, “After we check it out, we need to call the cops see if they can lift any prints off the line.”

“Is she all right?” Nate sat down on the tyres.
Jesus, someone had cut her brake lines.

He couldn’t think straight. Skylar could have been seriously injured or died.

He stood up, “You’re all right here, with her car?” Nate asked Dom.

“Sure, why?” Dom said, frowning at him.

“I’m heading out. I’ll be back soon.” He didn’t wait for a reply from Dom. He walked out of his shop, made his way across Skylar’s yard, and up to her front door.

* * *

Alex walked Skylar through her house and towards her room, and sat down on the bed. “I’m going to jump in the shower real quick, and then I’ll grab the first aid kit in the kitchen and come back in.”

“I’ll go change and clean off some of this dirt.” Nodding, he left. Going into the bathroom, she removed her clothes and wrapped a towel around herself, being careful not to rub the grazes on her body. Sitting down on the edge of the bath, she leaned over and wet a wash cloth. Popping her leg up on the toilet, she wiped over the graze on her leg, hissing in a breath. Jesus that stung. She took a closer look; it started at her knee and went all the way up her thigh. She really did a number on herself, she thought.

Breathing out slowly, she did the same to her arms, wiping off all the dirt and grass, and picking small amounts of stones from out of the cuts. She stood up and looked in the mirror. She looked like something out of a horror movie. There were grazes down the left side of her face as well.
That is so going to bruise, nothing will be able to cover that up
, she thought. Rinsing the cloth, she grabbed another towel and headed for the lounge to lie down. Halfway there, her doorbell rang. It was probably Dom coming over to see how she was
.
Opening the door, she immediately started backing away, seeing who her visitor was. “You’re not welcome here anymore.”

“I heard what happened and came over to see how you are doing,” Nate said.

“Really, and why do you care all of a sudden?”

“I always cared, baby. Nothing stopped me from doing that,” he said, leaning against the door frame.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Why?” he frowned.

“Because you have no right. Remember what you said this morning, you’re over it and we had nothing, it was just sex. So why the hell should you care?” she yelled. “I think you should leave, there’s no reason for you to be here.”

“I don’t want to leave until I know you’re all right, Skylar.” He walked into her house and stopped in front of her.

“Well, if you want to know so badly, go and ask Dom.”

Alex chose that moment to walk in with a towel wrapped around his waist and glanced at Nate, “You all right out here, baby girl?”

“Yeah, he was just leaving,” Skylar answered him.

Nodding, he walked back into the kitchen.

“Who the hell is that?!”

“That was Alex, Nate.”

“So you are sleeping with him then?”

“You really are a bastard, aren’t you? Well, you think whatever the hell you want, Nate. I’m not sleeping with anyone and I’m sure as hell not going to sleep with you, ever again. Good-bye.”

Skylar slammed the door in Nate’s face. Why couldn’t a male and female walk around in a towel together and not get accused of sleeping together? Well, to hell with him. She stomped off to where Alex was.

* * *

What the hell just happened
? He went over to see if she was all right, not to accuse her of sleeping with some guy. He knocked on the door again.

“Yes?” Alex opened the door.

“Can I talk to Skylar again?”

“Do you really think that is a good idea? After what you just said, I doubt she will want to see you,” answered Alex.

“All I wanted to know was if she’s all right,” he said.

“Well, you have a funny way of asking,” Alex frowned. “You really think we’re sleeping together?” Alex asked him.

“It’s pretty obvious to me, you’re both walking around half-naked,” he growled.

“Are you that blind?” Alex crossed his arms over his chest.

“What the hell do you mean?” Nate asked.

“I’ve only slept in a bed with her, and it’s never gone past that. She’s like my little sister, man.” Alex tried telling him that way instead of coming straight out and saying what he had to say. He watched Nate as it clicked.

“You’re gay.”

“I’m Alex, Craig’s partner.” Alex smiled.

“This is so fucked up.”

“I agree with you. You need to sort this out between you two, but not now. If I let you in right now, she’d castrate both of us.”

“I’ll come over tomorrow and see if she’ll see me then.”

“That’s a good plan.” Alex shook Nate’s hand.

“I’m ready, Alex.” Skylar called out.

“I better go. I told her I’d bandage her up.”

“Okay, I’ll see you later.”

Alex nodded and closed the door. Nate walked down the stairs and back over to his place. How could he not pick up that Alex was gay? Jesus, he was a bloody fool. She wasn’t sleeping with anyone but him. He really had to sort this out quick, or he was going to lose her altogether. He would have to plan his actions tonight after he fixes Skylar’s car.

The next
morning Skylar couldn’t move very much. After yesterday’s accident, her whole body was stiff and really sore. Moaning, she sat up. “Alex,” she called out.