Excerpt of Bayou Bound by Linda Joyce

Under the shroud of darkness, minutes clicked away slowly. When the driver’s door opened, the overhead light clicked on and startled her. The stranger climbed into the driver’s seat. He yanked on a sleeve and began removing his large coat. Biloxi strained to get a better look at his face. Just in case she ever needed to identify him.

Like in a line-up.

“Take it off.” He motioned to the blanket.

Her mouth gaped open. He sounded like a man used to giving orders—and having others follow them, doing exactly as he said. Well, he could wait forever. She didn’t take orders from anyone. That’s why she worked for herself. Besides, she’d freeze without the blanket. “No,” she snapped.

“C’mon now, you’re cold and wet.”

He must have read shock on her face. He sighed, but the sigh was tinged with disgust.

“Okay, here goes.”

She froze. The man straddled the console, a knee in each front seat, then he faced her. He reached and yanked on the blanket.

Clearly, he was the stronger one. Their tug-o-war lasted less than a minute. He pulled the damp blanket away. Waded it up and tossed it on the floor.

Biloxi pulled her legs tight to her body, tensed and prepared to fight, kick, even claw.

Instead of battling further, the man gently draped his long coat over her. The lingering heat from his body covered her shiver. The coat would protect her, if from nothing else, from him.