Falling Softly: Compass Girls, Book 4 Read Online Free Page B

up, she supposed.
    Beaming, she planned to make the most of this sudden peak.
    Then it was his turn to be rendered speechless. His eyes widened and his pupils dilated as he soaked in her joy and amusement. Fingers gripped the edge of the truck tighter, as if he might give up his charade and finally approach her if he didn’t cling to the metal. Maybe even go crazy and shake her hand. Who knew?
    Something warned Sterling that if they touched, even with that itty-bit of skin on skin, sparks would fly and risk kindling a blaze that would set the entire early-fall landscape on fire.
    So she dodged. She jutted her chin toward the wrench lying abandoned on the tailgate of his truck and the greasy rag beside it. “So I guess you couldn’t get her going again, huh? I could take a look. I’m pretty good with machines and stuff like that. Working with my hands.”
    In fact, her father’s best friend, Jake, had helped her rebuild her entire Jeep from junk. The model from late last century suited her perfectly, classic and funky all at once.
    “I’m pretty sure it’s not fixable.” He grimaced. “But you’re welcome to poke around if it’ll make you feel useful.”
    “Sure thing. I’m Sterling, by the way.” She snatched up the tool and passed within reach of the gentle giant, who smiled softly at her. “If I can’t do anything with it either, I’ll be glad to give you a ride into town or call a tow truck for you. You know, since you’re so scared of me that you can’t move, never mind get in my car.”
    He chuckled, low and half as rusty as his pick-up. When she peeked up at him from beneath his hood, he seemed startled, as if humor hadn’t played a big part in his life so far. Maybe it hadn’t. He sure looked like a hard man. One she’d love to tame. A challenge the cocky young guns on the ranch and in town didn’t pose for her.
    Right then she vowed to help him turn around what had to be a shitty day, a perfect match for hers.
    When he finally caved and pushed off the truck, ambling to her side, she held her breath. His shadow fell across her, blocking out the sun entirely. Clearly, he’d been slouching. Probably a smart move, though she wasn’t the sort of woman to cow easily.
    Putting out one hand, he said, “Viho.”
    “Interesting name.” She shook it, marveling at how he swallowed her fingers with heat and a gentle pressure that didn’t crush her but didn’t treat her like she was delicate filigree either.
    “I could say the same.” He flashed her another semi-smile. “Mine’s Native American. It means Chief.”
    “Seriously?” Sterling nodded, impressed. “So are you royalty or something?”
    He certainly had an air of nobility about him, despite his commoner’s clothes.
    “Nah.” He shook his head a bit. “I guess I could have been. If we still had chiefs, my grandfather would have been it. The small reservation I grew up on looked to him for approval. But getting involved in our government wasn’t my path. Causing a rift in our community was never my intention. And besides, I’m nobody’s leader.”
    “How did you know that?” she wondered. After today, she was starting to doubt herself and her life choices where she never had before.
    At first, she didn’t think he intended to answer. She figured that was a pretty personal thing to ask a guy you’d spoken fewer words to than you’d say to a drive-thru attendant in the course of ordering a meal. But something about him made her feel as if they’d known each other for a hell of a lot longer than three point two seconds. Maybe it was the way he didn’t pressure her, letting her take the lead in their interactions and conversation, unlike most guys she met, who were eager to pinpoint anything they had in common. Some way to get closer to her, either because they were interested in moving up the ranks at Compass Ranch or because they wanted in her pants. Or both. Kill two birds with one cock, so they seemed to think.
    Instead,