Page 24 of March 5

Dio shook the man's hand and walked him back to his car before returning to Skye. She told Cord thank you and hung up. Then, she unlocked hercar door and rolled down the window.

"Go ahead and grab the jack out of the trunk." Dio reached inside the vehicle and hit the button, opening the back.

As Brett moved out of sight, Dio opened her door and squatted beside her. He ran his hand down the side of her face. She pressed her cheek into his hand, relieved that he had come.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She nodded. "I've never had a flat tire before. I didn't know what to do, and then that guy—"

Hey, hey, hey...no worries. You did the right thing." His gaze lowered, and he frowned.

Suddenly aware of what she had on, embarrassment brought out the tears she'd held back through the ping-pong of emotions she'd experienced that night.

"I was going to your house." She pressed her hand to her stomach. "I didn't plan on stopping on the side of the road."

She knew the dangers of being half-dressed in public, especially when alone and it was getting dark. While every female had a right to dress however she wanted, she wasn't stupid.

The car moved. She jerked her gaze away from Dio. Brett jacked up the front of her vehicle.

"I should help him." She wiped her cheeks, feeling young and foolish. "Dad taught me how to change—"

"You're not stepping out of the car." Dio straightened. "Sit tight."

She hugged her middle. He wasn't supposed to be at the clubhouse. She'd seen his motorcycle at hishouse before she headed home to change her clothes and get ready. Now, she'd made him mad.

Taking her phone off the holder, she texted Mariah.

Everything is ruined. Car got a flat. Dio's helping but he hates the way I look.

Mariah answered.R U ok?

She stopped typing and looked out the window. Dio scowled at the tire. He still had that same expression on his face. The one he got when he looked at her tonight.

Maybe he was in pain, and she made it worse, asking him to help her change a tire.

I don't know what to do.She hit enter.

You want him. Stop second-guessing yourself. Do it.

She put the phone back in the holder. Normally, Mariah's support motivated her.

The front of the car dropped off the jack. Feeling sick, Skye could only sit and wait until Dio or Brett signaled that the tire was replaced with the spare.

She couldn't take her gaze off Dio. He looked miserable and it was her fault.

Life shouldn't be this hard. Love was supposed to rule over every little inconvenience shesuffered through.

Her dad had kidnapped Aunt Brooke—for love.

She swallowed hard, sitting up straighter in the driver's seat. She was stronger than a girl sitting in the car, feeling sorry for herself.

She'd started her own business at twenty years old. She went out of her way daily to make other people feel better. She lived independently, paying all her bills without anyone's help. There was no reason she couldn't have the man she loved. Period.

Unless he couldn't see her for a woman capable of loving him, she'd prove him wrong if that was the case. She was more than capable.

Brett walked to the back of her car. Seconds later, the trunk closed, and he waved at her as he walked to his motorcycle.

She stuck her head out the window. "Thank you."