BREAK ME ONCE
1143 Words
CHAPTER ONE:The Man in the Rain
Rain poured from the dark sky like
sliver needles.
Lana Carter stood beneath the small
awning of a coffee shop, hugging her
camera bag against her
chest.
The weather forecast had promised light
showers.
The forecast had lied.
A cold wind whipped through the empty
street,making her shiver.
“Perfect,” she muttered.
Her car had broken down three blocks
away.
Her phone battery was nearly dead.
And now she was trapped in the middle
of a storm.
The universe clearly hated her.
She glanced at her watch.
8:47 p.m
Most of the shops around her were
already closed.
The streetlights reflected off the wet
pavement,turning the road into a river
of gold and black.
For a moment, Lana considered running
through the rain.
Then lightning flashed across the sky.
“Nope.”
She stayed were she was.
A few minutes later,headlights
appeared through the curtain of rain.
A black SUV slowed near the sidewalk.
Lana frowned.
The vehicle stopped directly in front of
her .
The driver’s window lowered.
A man leaned slightly toward the
opening.
He looked to be in his early thirties.
Dark hair.
Strong jawline.
Calm gray eyes.
The kind of face that belongs on a
magazine cover.
Unfortunately,Lana no longer trusted.
handsome men
Experience had taught her that lesson.
“Need a ride?” he asked.
His voice was deep and warm.
Lana immediately shook her head.
“No.”
The man smiled.
“That answer very quickly.”
“Because the answer is no.”
He looked amused.
“ fair enough.”
Most people would have driven away.
He didn’t.
Instead he glanced toward the sky.
Rain hammered against the
Windshield.
“You know,”he said, “serial killers
Usually offer candy.”
Lana blinked.
“What”
“They don’t usually offer
transportation during thunderstorms
A laugh escaped before she could
Stop it.
The strange smiled.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The smile.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Do you flirt with strangers often?”
Only the stubborn ones.”
She fought another smile.
Annoyingly,he was charming.
Very charming.
Dangerously charming.
The exact type she should avoid.
“ My car broke down, “she admitted.
“I guessed.”
“Ho.
“Because you’re carrying a camera
bag,standing in the rain,and looking
like you’re considering declaring war
on the weather.”
Lana sighed.
“That is surprisingly accurate.”
“. I have excellent observation skills.”
She studied him carefully.
He didn’t seem threatening
If anything, he looked relaxed.
Comfortable.
Safe.
Which somehow made her more
Suspicious.
“You always pick up strangers?” She
She asked.
“Only photographer?”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“How do you know I’m a
“photographer.”
He pointed at the camera bag.
“Wild guess.”
“Oh.”
The stranger laughed softly.
“Look I’m Ethan.
“Lana.”
“Nice to meet you, Lana.”
The way he said her name felt
strangely familiar .
As though he had known it
before.
The thought vanished as quickly
as it appeared.
Another flash of lightning lit the
sky..
Ethan glanced toward the empty
Street.
“Seriously let me help.”
Lana hesitated.
Trust wasn’t easy anymore.
Three years earlier, she had
trusted someone completely
He had shattered her heart
and walk away.
Since then, she had build walls
around herself.
Strong walls.
Necessary
But standing in a storm wasn’t exactly a
better option.
Finally, she nodded.
“Fine.”
Ethan’s smile widened.
“Good decision.”
She opened the passenger door and
Climbed inside.
The warmth immediately surrounded
her.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The SUV pulled away from the curb.
For a few moments, Silence filled
the vehicle
Not awkward silence.
Comfortable silence.
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
“Mostly portraits and events’”
“Do you enjoy it?”
The question caught her off guard.
Most people asked how much money
She made.
Not whether she enjoyed it.
“Yeah,”she said softly.
“I do.”
His smile was genuine.
“Then you’re lucky.”
“Why?”
Not everyone get to do
what they love.”
Lana looked out the
window.
Something about his voice
carried sadness.
A sadness he tried to hide.
“What about you?” she
asked .
“What do you do?”
“I’m in business.”
“That’s vague.”
A small smile appeared.
“Maybe.’
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The conversation continues as
they drove through the city.
To Lana surprise, she
found herself relaxing.
Ethan was easy to talk to.
Funny.
Attractive.
The complete opposite of what she.
expected.
Almost too perfect.
That thought made her cautious
again.
Nobody was perfect.
Everyone had a secrets.
Some secrets were better hidden
than others.
Twenty minutes later,they reached
her apartment building.
Ethan parked near the entrance.
Rain still poured outside.
“Home sweet home,” he said.
Lana nodded.
For some reason she didn’t
immediately reach for the door
handle.
Neither did he.
A strange tension settled
between them.
Not uncomfortable .
Just …noticeable.
“Thank you for the ride,” she
said.
“Anytime.”
She smiled.
“Hopefully my car won’t break
down again.”
“Hopefully.”
Their eyes met.
For a second,everything else
seemed to disappear .
The rain.
The city.
The noise.
Just those gray eyes looking
directly into her.
Then a horn sounded
somewhere behind them.
The moment broke.
Lana quickly opened the door.
“Goodnight ,Ethan.”
“Goodnight ,Lana.”
She stepped into the rain and
hurried the building.
At the entrance,she glanced back.
The SUV was still there.
Ethan was watching to make sure
She got inside safely.
Something warmed inside her
chest.
A feeling she hadn’t experienced
in a long time.
Once inside her apartment she
moved to the window.
The black SUV finally pulled
away.
She watched it disappear into the
darkness.
Then she laughed quietly.
One conversation.
One ride.
One stranger.
Why was she still thinking about
him?
Across town Ethan parked
Outside a large house.
But he didn’t get out
immediately.
Instead,he sat behind the wheel.
Thinking.
On the passenger seat lay a file
folder.
A photographer slipped
partially from inside.
The picture showed a young
Woman holding a camera.
Smiling.
Happy.
Lana Carter .
Ethan started at the photos for
several seconds.
Then he closed the folder.
His expression became serious.
“Damn it,” he whispered.
Things were becoming
complicated.
Very complicated.
Because meeting Lana tonight
had not been an accident.
It had been planned.
And if she ever discovered the
truth…….
She would never forgive
him.
Meanwhile,from a dark car parked
across the street,from Lana’s apartment
from Lana’s apartment
someone watched her window .
Waiting.
Watching
Smiling.
The game had finally begun.
- Writer
