Here, There Be Monsters

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

“You’re military?” Isa cocked her head. “So was my father. What branch? Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines?”

Jon nodded “Army… I’m a sniper” he replied. Jon was actually one of the best snipers at the time. Probably had nothing today with his excellent eye sight inherited from his father.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Hooah, Army Strong,” Isabella visibly relaxed, lowering herself on the bar stool again. “I’ve been an army brat my whole life. This town in the first place I’ve lived for more than six months,” she admitted. “Is your family career military, or were you the first to fight in a war?”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon smirked and rubbed his neck “Its a long story” he chuckled, moving across the the other side of the breakfast bar. “Would you like some coffee?” he asked, trying to change the subject.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Actually, do you have tea?” Isabelle asked awkwardly. “I’m not much for caffeine.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon nodded and reached into a cupboard above his sink “I think I have some herbal tea my mother left here” he said, handing her a mug with a tea bag in and filling up the kettle to boil some water. “I was serious about my offer by the way… Using my room for the evening?”

[100proofhuman-blog]

After several seconds, Isa nodded haltingly. “I....I suppose,” she said quietly. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

“You’re military?” Isa cocked her head. “So was my father. What branch? Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines?”

Jon nodded “Army… I’m a sniper” he replied. Jon was actually one of the best snipers at the time. Probably had nothing today with his excellent eye sight inherited from his father.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Hooah, Army Strong,” Isabella visibly relaxed, lowering herself on the bar stool again. “I’ve been an army brat my whole life. This town in the first place I’ve lived for more than six months,” she admitted. “Is your family career military, or were you the first to fight in a war?”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon smirked and rubbed his neck “Its a long story” he chuckled, moving across the the other side of the breakfast bar. “Would you like some coffee?” he asked, trying to change the subject.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Actually, do you have tea?” Isabelle asked awkwardly. “I’m not much for caffeine.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

“You’re military?” Isa cocked her head. “So was my father. What branch? Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines?”

Jon nodded “Army… I’m a sniper” he replied. Jon was actually one of the best snipers at the time. Probably had nothing today with his excellent eye sight inherited from his father.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Hooah, Army Strong,” Isabella visibly relaxed, lowering herself on the bar stool again. “I’ve been an army brat my whole life. This town in the first place I’ve lived for more than six months,” she admitted. “Is your family career military, or were you the first to fight in a war?”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle stayed in her very self-contained square of the kitchen and was pacing when John came out, tapping the phone against her chin. She looked visibly nervous and upset, her eyes shining and mouth twitching. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon was wearing low slung sweat pants and towel drying his hair when he ere fed “is everything ok?” He said softly, watching her with soft eyes

[100proofhuman-blog]

“They’re not letting anyone out on the roads,” Isabelle glanced at the window, than down at the phone in her hands, clearly struggling for composure. “They can’t get to my car until at least tomorrow.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon frowned and moved towards her, speaking before really even realising what he was saying “you’re welcome to stay the night? You can use my room, I have a lock on the inside of it will make you feel safer”

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle watched him warily, gripping the phone so tightly it actually creaked. “I should…I should just walk home,” she said quietly.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon raised an eyebrow “walking home will kill you miss” he said softly, glancing at the phone when he heard the creaking.

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isa quickly set the phone on the counter and stepped away from it. “I just….I don’t know,” she said nervously. “It isn’t that you haven’t been decent to me, but you’re a stranger…” she glanced out the window, where the snow was rapidly piling up.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon chewed his lip breifly and nodded “ok well… My name is Jon. I have an older sister Abby, and a younger sister Claire. My mother is Vanessa and my father Mason, although we have not seen my father for some time. I’m currently on R&R before returning to Iraq for my second tour in a few months time” he smiled at her. “Now I’m less of a stranger” he said softly

[100proofhuman-blog]

“You’re military?” Isa cocked her head. “So was my father. What branch? Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines?” 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle stayed in her very self-contained square of the kitchen and was pacing when John came out, tapping the phone against her chin. She looked visibly nervous and upset, her eyes shining and mouth twitching. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon was wearing low slung sweat pants and towel drying his hair when he ere fed “is everything ok?” He said softly, watching her with soft eyes

[100proofhuman-blog]

“They’re not letting anyone out on the roads,” Isabelle glanced at the window, than down at the phone in her hands, clearly struggling for composure. “They can’t get to my car until at least tomorrow.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon frowned and moved towards her, speaking before really even realising what he was saying “you’re welcome to stay the night? You can use my room, I have a lock on the inside of it will make you feel safer”

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle watched him warily, gripping the phone so tightly it actually creaked. “I should…I should just walk home,” she said quietly.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon raised an eyebrow “walking home will kill you miss” he said softly, glancing at the phone when he heard the creaking.

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isa quickly set the phone on the counter and stepped away from it. “I just....I don’t know,” she said nervously. “It isn’t that you haven’t been decent to me, but you’re a stranger...” she glanced out the window, where the snow was rapidly piling up.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle stayed in her very self-contained square of the kitchen and was pacing when John came out, tapping the phone against her chin. She looked visibly nervous and upset, her eyes shining and mouth twitching. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon was wearing low slung sweat pants and towel drying his hair when he ere fed “is everything ok?” He said softly, watching her with soft eyes

[100proofhuman-blog]

“They’re not letting anyone out on the roads,” Isabelle glanced at the window, than down at the phone in her hands, clearly struggling for composure. “They can’t get to my car until at least tomorrow.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon frowned and moved towards her, speaking before really even realising what he was saying “you’re welcome to stay the night? You can use my room, I have a lock on the inside of it will make you feel safer”

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle watched him warily, gripping the phone so tightly it actually creaked. “I should...I should just walk home,” she said quietly.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle stayed in her very self-contained square of the kitchen and was pacing when John came out, tapping the phone against her chin. She looked visibly nervous and upset, her eyes shining and mouth twitching. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon was wearing low slung sweat pants and towel drying his hair when he ere fed “is everything ok?” He said softly, watching her with soft eyes

[100proofhuman-blog]

“They’re not letting anyone out on the roads,” Isabelle glanced at the window, than down at the phone in her hands, clearly struggling for composure. “They can’t get to my car until at least tomorrow.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle stayed in her very self-contained square of the kitchen and was pacing when John came out, tapping the phone against her chin. She looked visibly nervous and upset, her eyes shining and mouth twitching. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

Jon was on his way home from the gym, his rucksack slung over his shoulder. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a shirt with a relativity thin jacket over the top. The snowstorm had hit so suddenly! When he went into the sports centre the sun was shining and there was a small chill to the air. When he emerged, the snow was piled a foot high and a blizzard was starting to form. His luck really was rappy the past few weeks. But that was about to change. 

roughly 5 minutes away from his apartment, he came across a car with its lights on but no engine running. It wasn’t an odd thing really. But as he drew closer he saw the young woman inside, shiver and trying to wrap up tighter. his best guess would be the poor person was suffering a broken car. So being the gent that his mother had taught him to be, he approached the car, tapped on the window and smiled warmly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

This was what she got for not turning in the Honda for something older than nineteen-eighties. Reception was terrible in this stretch of the highway, and Isabelle was freezing. Absolutely freezing. She almost shiver-jumped out of her skin when someone knocked on the window; no cars had been driving by this stretch in a while. She cranked down the window manually, peering up at the - admittedly rakishly attractive - man who had stopped on the opposite lane and crossed the road toward her. “Please tell me you happen to be a fireman or EMS or a mechanic,” she said, only half-joking.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon scoffed a laugh and shook his head “sorry… What’s happened? Are you alright?” He asked

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Well, I’m not injured,” Isabelle said tartly. “But my car’s broken down, and it’s an awful long way home. I live on the opposite side of town, you see…and this old clunker picked today to die. Imagine that!”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon meant his arms on the door and bent down a little “I live another 5 minutes away, if you’d like I can give you a lift to my place and you can use my phone?” He offered, trying his best to to seem like a crazy axe murder

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle regarded him shrewdly, her hand on her purse. “I have a license to carry,” she warned him. “I won’t hesitate to shoot you if need be.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon stepped back and held up his hands “just a phone call… That’s all” he said softly. “My mother taught me to always be a gentleman… And I love my mother very much. So this is me being a gent” he chuckled softly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Playing the mother card. That’s a first,” Isa teased, grabbing her purse and an enormous bookbag and hobbling out into the snow. She wasn;t dressed for the day, what with her thin jacket and scar. “Just remember. I pack heat,” she warned him. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon smirked and had a remark to reply with but decided against it. He guided her to his car, opened the door for her to climb in before jumping in the other side and setting off. True to his word, 5 minutes down the road Jon pulled up beside a nice little one story house. Had the snow blanket not fallen over the area it would have been clear how immaculate he kept his garden. “Would you like some help with that bag?” He offered before getting out.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Yes…thank you,” Isa said, still cautious. She climbed out and immediately started shivering as she ducked onto the covered porch.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon grabbed her bag with ease and hurried up to the door, unlocking it and pushing it open for you “after you” he smiled

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle stepped straight into the living room of the quaint house, her brows raised. She;d expected more of a bachelor pad, but this…”It’s lovely,” she commented, her gaze sweeping the pictures hung all over the walls.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon huffed a small laugh and stepped inside, pushing the door shut and setting her bag down. “It’s not much but it’s mine” he said softly. Jon headed through to the kitchen and grabbed his phone from where it sat on charge. “Here you go… Fully charged and good reception” he smiled, handing it to her.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“You’re one of the one percent that does not live on his phone. I’m impressed,” Isa smiled gently and sat on one of the barstool, still holding herself carefully and nervously but loosening up slightly. “This will just take a quick second, then I’ll be out of your hair,” she promised. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

Jon was on his way home from the gym, his rucksack slung over his shoulder. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a shirt with a relativity thin jacket over the top. The snowstorm had hit so suddenly! When he went into the sports centre the sun was shining and there was a small chill to the air. When he emerged, the snow was piled a foot high and a blizzard was starting to form. His luck really was rappy the past few weeks. But that was about to change. 

roughly 5 minutes away from his apartment, he came across a car with its lights on but no engine running. It wasn’t an odd thing really. But as he drew closer he saw the young woman inside, shiver and trying to wrap up tighter. his best guess would be the poor person was suffering a broken car. So being the gent that his mother had taught him to be, he approached the car, tapped on the window and smiled warmly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

This was what she got for not turning in the Honda for something older than nineteen-eighties. Reception was terrible in this stretch of the highway, and Isabelle was freezing. Absolutely freezing. She almost shiver-jumped out of her skin when someone knocked on the window; no cars had been driving by this stretch in a while. She cranked down the window manually, peering up at the - admittedly rakishly attractive - man who had stopped on the opposite lane and crossed the road toward her. “Please tell me you happen to be a fireman or EMS or a mechanic,” she said, only half-joking.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon scoffed a laugh and shook his head “sorry… What’s happened? Are you alright?” He asked

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Well, I’m not injured,” Isabelle said tartly. “But my car’s broken down, and it’s an awful long way home. I live on the opposite side of town, you see…and this old clunker picked today to die. Imagine that!”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon meant his arms on the door and bent down a little “I live another 5 minutes away, if you’d like I can give you a lift to my place and you can use my phone?” He offered, trying his best to to seem like a crazy axe murder

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle regarded him shrewdly, her hand on her purse. “I have a license to carry,” she warned him. “I won’t hesitate to shoot you if need be.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon stepped back and held up his hands “just a phone call… That’s all” he said softly. “My mother taught me to always be a gentleman… And I love my mother very much. So this is me being a gent” he chuckled softly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Playing the mother card. That’s a first,” Isa teased, grabbing her purse and an enormous bookbag and hobbling out into the snow. She wasn;t dressed for the day, what with her thin jacket and scar. “Just remember. I pack heat,” she warned him. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon smirked and had a remark to reply with but decided against it. He guided her to his car, opened the door for her to climb in before jumping in the other side and setting off. True to his word, 5 minutes down the road Jon pulled up beside a nice little one story house. Had the snow blanket not fallen over the area it would have been clear how immaculate he kept his garden. “Would you like some help with that bag?” He offered before getting out.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Yes…thank you,” Isa said, still cautious. She climbed out and immediately started shivering as she ducked onto the covered porch.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon grabbed her bag with ease and hurried up to the door, unlocking it and pushing it open for you “after you” he smiled

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle stepped straight into the living room of the quaint house, her brows raised. She;d expected more of a bachelor pad, but this...”It’s lovely,” she commented, her gaze sweeping the pictures hung all over the walls.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

Jon was on his way home from the gym, his rucksack slung over his shoulder. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a shirt with a relativity thin jacket over the top. The snowstorm had hit so suddenly! When he went into the sports centre the sun was shining and there was a small chill to the air. When he emerged, the snow was piled a foot high and a blizzard was starting to form. His luck really was rappy the past few weeks. But that was about to change. 

roughly 5 minutes away from his apartment, he came across a car with its lights on but no engine running. It wasn’t an odd thing really. But as he drew closer he saw the young woman inside, shiver and trying to wrap up tighter. his best guess would be the poor person was suffering a broken car. So being the gent that his mother had taught him to be, he approached the car, tapped on the window and smiled warmly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

This was what she got for not turning in the Honda for something older than nineteen-eighties. Reception was terrible in this stretch of the highway, and Isabelle was freezing. Absolutely freezing. She almost shiver-jumped out of her skin when someone knocked on the window; no cars had been driving by this stretch in a while. She cranked down the window manually, peering up at the - admittedly rakishly attractive - man who had stopped on the opposite lane and crossed the road toward her. “Please tell me you happen to be a fireman or EMS or a mechanic,” she said, only half-joking.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon scoffed a laugh and shook his head “sorry… What’s happened? Are you alright?” He asked

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Well, I’m not injured,” Isabelle said tartly. “But my car’s broken down, and it’s an awful long way home. I live on the opposite side of town, you see…and this old clunker picked today to die. Imagine that!”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon meant his arms on the door and bent down a little “I live another 5 minutes away, if you’d like I can give you a lift to my place and you can use my phone?” He offered, trying his best to to seem like a crazy axe murder

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle regarded him shrewdly, her hand on her purse. “I have a license to carry,” she warned him. “I won’t hesitate to shoot you if need be.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon stepped back and held up his hands “just a phone call… That’s all” he said softly. “My mother taught me to always be a gentleman… And I love my mother very much. So this is me being a gent” he chuckled softly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Playing the mother card. That’s a first,” Isa teased, grabbing her purse and an enormous bookbag and hobbling out into the snow. She wasn;t dressed for the day, what with her thin jacket and scar. “Just remember. I pack heat,” she warned him. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon smirked and had a remark to reply with but decided against it. He guided her to his car, opened the door for her to climb in before jumping in the other side and setting off. True to his word, 5 minutes down the road Jon pulled up beside a nice little one story house. Had the snow blanket not fallen over the area it would have been clear how immaculate he kept his garden. “Would you like some help with that bag?” He offered before getting out.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Yes...thank you,” Isa said, still cautious. She climbed out and immediately started shivering as she ducked onto the covered porch.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

Jon was on his way home from the gym, his rucksack slung over his shoulder. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a shirt with a relativity thin jacket over the top. The snowstorm had hit so suddenly! When he went into the sports centre the sun was shining and there was a small chill to the air. When he emerged, the snow was piled a foot high and a blizzard was starting to form. His luck really was rappy the past few weeks. But that was about to change. 

roughly 5 minutes away from his apartment, he came across a car with its lights on but no engine running. It wasn’t an odd thing really. But as he drew closer he saw the young woman inside, shiver and trying to wrap up tighter. his best guess would be the poor person was suffering a broken car. So being the gent that his mother had taught him to be, he approached the car, tapped on the window and smiled warmly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

This was what she got for not turning in the Honda for something older than nineteen-eighties. Reception was terrible in this stretch of the highway, and Isabelle was freezing. Absolutely freezing. She almost shiver-jumped out of her skin when someone knocked on the window; no cars had been driving by this stretch in a while. She cranked down the window manually, peering up at the - admittedly rakishly attractive - man who had stopped on the opposite lane and crossed the road toward her. “Please tell me you happen to be a fireman or EMS or a mechanic,” she said, only half-joking.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon scoffed a laugh and shook his head “sorry… What’s happened? Are you alright?” He asked

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Well, I’m not injured,” Isabelle said tartly. “But my car’s broken down, and it’s an awful long way home. I live on the opposite side of town, you see…and this old clunker picked today to die. Imagine that!”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon meant his arms on the door and bent down a little “I live another 5 minutes away, if you’d like I can give you a lift to my place and you can use my phone?” He offered, trying his best to to seem like a crazy axe murder

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle regarded him shrewdly, her hand on her purse. “I have a license to carry,” she warned him. “I won’t hesitate to shoot you if need be.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon stepped back and held up his hands “just a phone call… That’s all” he said softly. “My mother taught me to always be a gentleman… And I love my mother very much. So this is me being a gent” he chuckled softly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Playing the mother card. That’s a first,” Isa teased, grabbing her purse and an enormous bookbag and hobbling out into the snow. She wasn;t dressed for the day, what with her thin jacket and scar. “Just remember. I pack heat,” she warned him. 

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

Jon was on his way home from the gym, his rucksack slung over his shoulder. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a shirt with a relativity thin jacket over the top. The snowstorm had hit so suddenly! When he went into the sports centre the sun was shining and there was a small chill to the air. When he emerged, the snow was piled a foot high and a blizzard was starting to form. His luck really was rappy the past few weeks. But that was about to change. 

roughly 5 minutes away from his apartment, he came across a car with its lights on but no engine running. It wasn’t an odd thing really. But as he drew closer he saw the young woman inside, shiver and trying to wrap up tighter. his best guess would be the poor person was suffering a broken car. So being the gent that his mother had taught him to be, he approached the car, tapped on the window and smiled warmly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

This was what she got for not turning in the Honda for something older than nineteen-eighties. Reception was terrible in this stretch of the highway, and Isabelle was freezing. Absolutely freezing. She almost shiver-jumped out of her skin when someone knocked on the window; no cars had been driving by this stretch in a while. She cranked down the window manually, peering up at the - admittedly rakishly attractive - man who had stopped on the opposite lane and crossed the road toward her. “Please tell me you happen to be a fireman or EMS or a mechanic,” she said, only half-joking.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon scoffed a laugh and shook his head “sorry… What’s happened? Are you alright?” He asked

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Well, I’m not injured,” Isabelle said tartly. “But my car’s broken down, and it’s an awful long way home. I live on the opposite side of town, you see…and this old clunker picked today to die. Imagine that!”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon meant his arms on the door and bent down a little “I live another 5 minutes away, if you’d like I can give you a lift to my place and you can use my phone?” He offered, trying his best to to seem like a crazy axe murder

[100proofhuman-blog]

Isabelle regarded him shrewdly, her hand on her purse. “I have a license to carry,” she warned him. “I won’t hesitate to shoot you if need be.”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

Jon was on his way home from the gym, his rucksack slung over his shoulder. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a shirt with a relativity thin jacket over the top. The snowstorm had hit so suddenly! When he went into the sports centre the sun was shining and there was a small chill to the air. When he emerged, the snow was piled a foot high and a blizzard was starting to form. His luck really was rappy the past few weeks. But that was about to change. 

roughly 5 minutes away from his apartment, he came across a car with its lights on but no engine running. It wasn’t an odd thing really. But as he drew closer he saw the young woman inside, shiver and trying to wrap up tighter. his best guess would be the poor person was suffering a broken car. So being the gent that his mother had taught him to be, he approached the car, tapped on the window and smiled warmly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

This was what she got for not turning in the Honda for something older than nineteen-eighties. Reception was terrible in this stretch of the highway, and Isabelle was freezing. Absolutely freezing. She almost shiver-jumped out of her skin when someone knocked on the window; no cars had been driving by this stretch in a while. She cranked down the window manually, peering up at the - admittedly rakishly attractive - man who had stopped on the opposite lane and crossed the road toward her. “Please tell me you happen to be a fireman or EMS or a mechanic,” she said, only half-joking.

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

Jon scoffed a laugh and shook his head “sorry… What’s happened? Are you alright?” He asked

[100proofhuman-blog]

“Well, I’m not injured,” Isabelle said tartly. “But my car’s broken down, and it’s an awful long way home. I live on the opposite side of town, you see...and this old clunker picked today to die. Imagine that!”

[sonoftheshifter-blog]

snowstorm

Jon was on his way home from the gym, his rucksack slung over his shoulder. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a shirt with a relativity thin jacket over the top. The snowstorm had hit so suddenly! When he went into the sports centre the sun was shining and there was a small chill to the air. When he emerged, the snow was piled a foot high and a blizzard was starting to form. His luck really was rappy the past few weeks. But that was about to change. 

roughly 5 minutes away from his apartment, he came across a car with its lights on but no engine running. It wasn’t an odd thing really. But as he drew closer he saw the young woman inside, shiver and trying to wrap up tighter. his best guess would be the poor person was suffering a broken car. So being the gent that his mother had taught him to be, he approached the car, tapped on the window and smiled warmly.

[100proofhuman-blog]

This was what she got for not turning in the Honda for something older than nineteen-eighties. Reception was terrible in this stretch of the highway, and Isabelle was freezing. Absolutely freezing. She almost shiver-jumped out of her skin when someone knocked on the window; no cars had been driving by this stretch in a while. She cranked down the window manually, peering up at the - admittedly rakishly attractive - man who had stopped on the opposite lane and crossed the road toward her. “Please tell me you happen to be a fireman or EMS or a mechanic,” she said, only half-joking.