Surrender My Heart. Kayla Perrin

me get dirty than you.”

      So the man was chivalrous, something Natalie appreciated. Still, she said, “You’ll put a spare on, but I’ll still have to deal with the issue of the problem tire being replaced.”

      “And you can deal with that once you’re at home,” Michael told her. “Wouldn’t that be preferable to waiting around here for the rental car people to show up?”

      Michael had her, and he knew it. If she protested anymore—

      “Unless the reason you don’t want me to help is because you’re afraid to spend any time with me.”

      Natalie’s mouth fell open in shock. She made a sound of derision. “Excuse me?”

      “You heard me. Seems to me that just like yesterday, you want to get away from me as fast as you can. But it’s also clear to me—as became evident when you walked in the door earlier today—that fate is making sure we spend time together. So I say why fight it? Just roll with it.”

      Natalie began to pace, her heels crunching on the gravel. This totally sucked. Anything she said to counter his argument would come off as defensive, and she truly had no reason to be defensive with Michael. And yet he was absolutely right—she didn’t want to spend any time with him. If she could go back on her word and say no to helping out with the fundraiser, she would almost consider that. Simply because the idea of spending more time with Michael was extremely unnerving.

      “Why don’t you just give me your keys?” Michael told her. “If you don’t, you’re going to give me a complex,” he added with a smile.

      Reluctantly, Natalie passed him the keys to the Chevrolet Cruze. Crossing her arms over her chest, she watched as he opened the trunk.

      After rummaging around in the trunk for a couple of minutes, Michael turned to her and said, “There’s a spare tire here, but I don’t see a jack. Which doesn’t make sense. One should be here.”

      “And you’re sure there isn’t?”

      Michael nodded. “And I don’t have one in my car.”

      “It’s okay. I am perfectly happy to call the rental car company. Let them deal with this. They’re going to need to know about the flat, anyway.”