Do you ever have those moments where you realize you're an ungrateful wretch? (Yes, I've been reading historical romance lately...) Because I'm having one of those this week.

I live in Oregon. I was born and raised here. I also despise rain. Go figure. (If you're unfamiliar with western Oregon, it rains a LOT.) But summer is what I live for here. When it warms up to 90 degrees, the bugs are minimal and you get to be warm for the first time in 9 months. Usually our summer starts mid May...It's late June and it's FINALLY stopped raining this week.

Now how does this make me an ungrateful wretch?

All these late rains are delaying fire season. (and I really hope prevents it all together!) But now the sun is out and it's hot. I'm melting. My hair is wild. And I wish I could get my house to stay as cold as I want it. LOL (See? I'm an ungrateful wretch.)

Reading:

I'm currently listening to a Julia Quinn audiobook.

Paperback: Just finished a thriller called An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher.

Writing:

Deep in edits on Forget Me Twice. 💕

Writing a FUN story. One word: Sullivan.

Remember in World's Worst Boyfriend when Saidy first meets Sullivan??

A set of headlights came around the corner and I hurriedly jumped in my car and locked the door. No way was I getting murdered tonight. I had a hair appointment in the morning, and I wouldn’t miss it.

I unlocked my phone, ready to call 9-1-1.

The car slowed to a stop next to mine. The passenger window rolled down, revealing a man in a dress shirt and loosened tie. I lowered my window a couple inches.

“Are you all right?” He smiled warmly at me. He was somewhere in his thirties and looked like I imagined a CEO of a big company would look. A large watch on his wrist. A dark suit—although the jacket hung over the seat behind him.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn’t about to be murdered. CEOs weren’t murderers, right?

“No, actually, I can’t seem to get my car started.” I frowned. 

The man nodded and started to pull forward. So much for my knight in shining armor. Apparently, he knew as much about cars as I did if he was leaving me here. To my surprise, he pulled his SUV over in front of my car, then climbed out.

He was not a desk jockey. Or if he was, he used one of those walking desks because he was a fit guy.

“You know, I’m not sure I’ll be any help,” he admitted as he rolled up his sleeves. “I’m not much of a mechanic.”

I unlocked my door and climbed out. “That makes two of us.”

“Is there anyone you could call?”

I shook my head. “No one is answering.”

He nodded and grinned. “Not exactly an all-night town, is it?”

I laughed. His humor putting me at ease. “You’ve got that right,” I agreed as I glanced at the city lights just half a mile from us. And by city lights it was only the gas stations and the grocery stores that were still open.

The man lifted the hood and leaned his arms on the frame. His well-muscled forearms even stood out in the moonlight.

Fletcher had been the first one to challenge my stereotype of a person’s career, specifically that of what an IT guy looked like. Honestly, I still wasn’t even sure what an IT person did. When he tried to explain it to me, it made me think he was a jack of all trades. 

And if this man was a plain old businessman, he did not look like what I had pictured.

He chuckled and said, “You know. I don’t actually know what I’m looking at.”

I stepped next to him and looked at the engine. “Well, at least nothing’s on fire…that has to mean something good, right?”

He quirked his lips to the side and sniffed the air. “Not even a hint of smoke.”

I sighed. “Do you know how refreshing it is to be around someone who can admit he doesn’t know everything?”

“Just so long as you keep my secret. I’m part of a car club in the summer and don’t want my membership revoked.” He winked and I couldn’t help but feel the pull toward him. His charisma was palpable. Older than me by almost ten years, but he wasn’t afraid to flirt—politely. I liked that in a man.

If I were honest with myself, having the attention felt nice at the moment. When you couldn’t hold your own boyfriend’s attention, you began to wonder if something was wrong with you.

I turned my attention back to the car. “Honestly, I’m not sure what I can do until the morning.”

He rubbed one hand against his chin. “You know, I know a guy who owns a tow truck.”

“Oh, I already called the tow company. They’re not open until the morning.” I shook my head and closed the hood of my car. “I’ll try and call someone to pick me up.”

“How about I call that friend of mine? It’s a side hobby he has. He’s not with the tow company here in town. He would do it as a favor to me.”

“But why would you do that for me?”

He ducked his head before slowly lifting his gaze to meet my eyes. “It’s not every day I can help a beautiful lady stranded on the side of the road.”

I felt myself blushing, even though I recognized his humility as false. Funny how when someone flatters you, you’ll let them get away with anything.

“Well, okay, sure. That would be great.”

By the time I finished writing World's Worst Boyfriend, I had the urge to write Sullivan's story. And it's FINALLY happening.

In the meantime, World's Worst Boyfriend is available in Kindle Unlimited, paperback or audiobook!

Lots of love and awkward hugs,

Carina Taylor

Grab Picture Perfect for free here!