A shiver runs through me, and I start to head back to the cab, but I see a car approaching. “Coop! We might be saved!”

I turn toward the back of the truck, and my stomach drops as the silhouette of a light bar comes into view.

We’re not saved, we’re freaking screwed.

I watch as the headlights approach and a tall form exits the car. I pray it isn’t him. I’m begging God to give me Hank and not Trent.

“Everything all right here?” Trent’s deep voice rings through the silence.

No. Everything is not all right. In fact, it went from bad to worse.

“Of all the places you happen to drive past tonight, this is one of them?” I ask with a little too much hostility.

Trent hooks his thumbs into his belt and cocks his head to the side. Cooper walks back, stopping short when he sees who’s standing in front of me. Both men are silent as they measure each other and testosterone fills the air. This is going to go really bad, really fast.

“Cooper,” I step between them, “was callin’ for some assistance. Thanks for comin’ out, Sheriff, but we’re fine.”

Trent looks over at me and then back to Cooper. “It’s gettin’ dark,” Trent says. “Were you callin’ for someone to change your tire? What? Don’t want to get dirty?”

Cooper’s eyes narrow slightly. “The spare is at the farm. I left a message with Zach to bring it out.”

Trent’s smile widens. “Well, Zach is headin’ out with Presley to get a new horse, and they won’t be back for a few hours.”

My head falls back as I look to the heavens for support. “This can’t be happening.”

“Let me guess,” Cooper adds. “Wyatt is busy, too?”

“Yup,” Trent confirms. Bastard is a little too happy about this. “But listen, we can call a tow truck, and then I’ll drive you both back home.”

“Just take me back to my car, and I’ll bring the spare out,” I suggest.

Cooper sighs and shakes his head. “Your trunk isn’t big enough.”

Yes, because boys and their big ridiculous wheels. “Right.”

Trent smirks and touches my shoulder. “I’m happy to give you a ride back to town.”

Sure, nothing like an awkward car ride with Trent and Cooper in the cop car.

“No,” Cooper says without any room for discussion.

“So, you’d rather stand out here or walk back to town?”

I would rather lightning come and strike me dead so I didn’t have to be the monkey in the middle of this, but it seems I’m not going to have a choice. Trent and Cooper both keep making small movements, and my space is shrinking. All I want to do right now is go home and eat a pint of ice cream.

Rocky road has never let a girl down.

I turn slightly and place my hand on Cooper’s chest. “I know we didn’t expect this to happen, but I’m not really wearin’ the shoes to walk back.”

He looks at my strappy heels and sighs. I hate this as much as he does, but short of waiting for someone else to show up, there aren’t any other choices.

“We’d appreciate a ride back, Trent.” Cooper says through gritted teeth.

Trent nods and attempts to smother his delight. But I see it.

“I’ll grab your stuff from the truck,” Cooper says before walking away.

I stand face to face with Trent and fight the urge to slap the smug grin off his face. “Good time on your date?”

“Shut up. You could at least pretend not to look so happy about this.” I huff. He seems to be enjoying every second of this.

He starts to chuckle but stops when he gets a look at my face. “Oh, please. If the roles were reversed right now, you can’t say you wouldn’t be the same.”

“What happened to the ‘be happy, Gracie’?” I say in my best impression of his.

Trent steps closer. “I want you to be happy. I just want it to be . . .”

Cooper steps behind me. “Ready.”

“Great.” Trent smiles. “Happy to help a resident in need.”

Right.

We walk over to the car, and Trent opens the back of the cop car. “Grace can ride in front.”

“I’ll get—” I start to say.

“In the front,” Trent ends my sentence. “Cooper wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable back there, would he?”

Way to back him into a corner on that one, Trent.

I fight back the urge to roll my eyes.

“Of course not,” Cooper replies through his teeth as he slides into the cruiser. “You should ride up front.”

“Problem solved.” Trent slams the door closed a bit harder than he needs to.

We walk around the back of the car, and I warn him. “Don’t be a jerk, Trent. I’m begging you. This is awkward for all of us.”

“Not for me.” He grins as he opens my door. “Get in, sweetheart. I’ll have you home in no time.”

Instead of arguing with him, I do as he says.

“Sorry about this, Coop,” Trent says over my shoulder and then saunters around the car with a little extra pep in his step. I glare at him.

“Sure you are,” Cooper mutters under his breath.

This has to be some cruel joke. My ex-boyfriend is driving my current date home in the back of a squad car. Because . . . why the hell not?

“I’ll drop you off first, Gracie. That way I can take Cooper back out with his spare.”

“Or you can take us both to Cooper’s so we can get his spare.”

“Grace,” Cooper says from behind the glass. “It’s fine, darlin’. We can do this another night.”

Trent snorts, and I slap his leg. “Are you sure? I don’t mind comin’ back out so you’re not alone.”

“What kind of sheriff would I be if I left him stranded out there?”

“The jealous ex-boyfriend type,” I mutter, seeing straight through his act.

“Don’t worry, Townsend. I won’t let anything hurt you out there.”

I slap him again. “Can you be nice?”

“What did I say?” he asks innocently. “I’m offering to protect your date from gettin’ mauled by a bear or God only knows what.”

My hands tighten in my lap, and I swear this drive is taking longer than normal. Cooper looks out the back window with his head resting on his fist. It isn’t anyone’s fault this happened, but it still sucks. And making matters worse, Trent looks calm and relaxed. He starts to whistle and looks over to smile at me.