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“I wasn’t sure you would.”

“I’ll have your ride back on the road by the time you come back in the morning.”

“You sure? The news said it was going to storm later.”

“I work inside. I’m not worried about the rain. I have everything I need in here.”

“OK, just checking on you. I’m more than ready to be out of your hair.”

After ending the call with Shiloh, I went back to work installing her new radiator. Just like I calculated, it took about an hour for me to get it installed and check to make sure everything was in order. I fired up the truck to make sure my job was done. The temperature gauge climbed slowly, but that was typical.

Pounding on the garage door caused me to turn off the truck. I climbed out and headed over to the door. When I made it to the door, I was pleasantly surprised to see Shiloh standing on the other side when I looked out. The sky was dark and overcast. That bad weather she mentioned must have been rolling in. I opened the door and stood back to let her in the garage.

“What brings you here in a storm?” I asked as she walked in carrying a huge paper bag.

“Since you insisted on working through a thunderstorm, I had to come make sure you were at least fed.”

“I didn’t know there was a thunderstorm. It’s not even raining.”

“Not here, but it was bad in some spots while I was on the way here.”

I shook my head. “See, that’s what I get for trying to work after hours. I could be in the comfort of my own home.”

“Well, I’m here now, so you have to take a break and eat,” she instructed.

“Actually, I just finished up. I was checking to make sure the truck was good.”

“Oh dang, you said it wouldn’t take too long.”

I grinned. “See, I’m good at what I do.”

“I’ll be the judge of that. Come on. Let’s set up somewhere and eat first.”

“It just occurred to me that you said you brought food. That shit smells good as hell too.”

“It should. I put a roast, potatoes, and carrots in the crock pot this morning and made cornbread and dessert to go with it when I got in.”

“Oh, I know I must be doing something right. A fine-ass woman just threw down for me.”

“Don’t be so full of yourself. I didn’t throw down for you. I cooked for me and the boys and made you a plate since you are in here starving yourself.”

“Excuse me for trying to get your truck fixed.”

“I’m appreciative. I’m showing you through food,” she mentioned.

“Thank you, beautiful.”

“That doesn’t mean that I’m not going to pay you.”

“Lady, I don’t want to hear that. We’re already past that.”

Loud whirring made Shiloh yelp. She almost threw the bag in the air as both our emergency alert notifications went off on our phones. I grabbed both her and the bag and guided them into my office. I looked at my phone, shaking my head at the tornado warning.

The garage was made of steel and brick aside from the doors and windows, but with a tornado warning, I felt like we would be safer in my office.

It was centralized; plus, it was more comfortable there. I rushed through the doors of my office and put the bag on my desk. Once we were inside, I realized that Shiloh was trembling. I wrapped my arms around her, loving how good she felt.

“We’re good in here, baby. I promise. This room is a bunker.”