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One

Shaye

I just had to sneeze

My breath rushes in and out in quick succession, yet soen so I don’t pass out

The last thirty seconds are a h them—there was the sneeze, that I ree ball of yarn that’s been batted around by a kitten

I grip the back of h soins I wonder vaguely if it’s due to the i around the side of my car

Crap

So tells me to find my insurance card Please, let love co it’s where the responsible version of er’s sidejust as the person who I rammed with my car appears

My hand falls to the seat next toa ketchup stain froer It flew out ofan iht

“Soets to me

As does the stranger at the

I’, but this wasn’t it It wasn’t blue-green eyes that re back at me Or sun-kissed skin It definitely wasn’t beautiful lips and a jawline that’s squarish and bold

I fall back into the seat as a surge of adrenaline rolls throughmore by the second—and try to keep my composure I just hit a man’s car

He watchesa hard tiroup

A quick once-over puts him in his mid-thirties He’s ludicrously handsome Brown hair kissed with a touch of blond is cut short to his head and styled as though he rolled out of bed looking that handsome A deep-blue Polo shirt is stretched across broad shoulders Lines around his mouth and eyes lend an approachability, a warmth to his features

Let’s hope that’s true

“I just had to sneeze”

I say it before I can think about it, which is unfortunate My insides shrivel as the look on his face changes froment? I don’t knohich it is, but it’s clear he’s thrown for a loop

“Look, I’ at his dented Range Rover “Actually, ” I look at hiht be a stretch, but I’ forward to it”

He blows out a breath I swear I smell peppermint

“Are you okay?” he asks

I think he ? but I can’t really tell

His voice is honeyed and sympathetic—not at all the cool and annoyed tone I predicted Sadly Irritated would’ve been easier to accept when I replay this scene in bed at three in the