Good Girl by Day Bad Boy by Night

Chase had struck up a conversation with the bartender about an old ball game. It wasn’t a woman, but it was still friendly small talk. The bartender asked if he wanted another round, and Chase said no. He was rolling a hog. All the women had been gone for almost twenty minutes before he decided to call it a night. He had to work in the morning just like the rest of the world.
Opening up his saddlebag, he pulled out his gloves and a riding jacket to ward off the chill of the night air. Chase cranked up and hit the road, leaving Bossier City and heading toward I-49 to his house in Southern Trace. He didn’t think twice about the car sitting on the side of the road and a tow truck behind it, but a pair of shiny boots caught his eye.
Chase passed up the car, and two men were standing, almost blocking the woman. He’d have never seen her if it hadn’t been for his lights bouncing off the boots. The next exit was over a mile away, and if he didn’t hurry, something terrible could happen, or those men…
He didn’t even want to think about that. Checking his side mirrors, he didn’t see any traffic behind him. The next thing he did was dangerous, but he didn’t care at the moment. Whipping his bike around, he rode in the wrong direction back toward the car on the side of the road.
The men from the tow truck saw the bike’s lights returning. “Hey, lady, do you want a tow or what?” They asked like they were in a hurry.
The two men stood in front of her, blocking her and trying to intimidate her. And it was working at the moment. She was frightened.
“I need a tow, but I really think that your price is outrageous.”
Chase rushed back and barely stopped before he knocked the kickstand down. Jumping off the bike, he ran toward the car. He was still wearing his helmet.
He flipped open the shield. “Hey, what’s going on here? Are…are you alright?” He looked at Vanessa, asking.
“I…I have two flat tires, and this tow truck came by just in time.”
“The tow lady…we need to load up the car.” The biggest guy looked at Chase, who was bigger than he was, but figured he didn’t know the woman. “Hey, dude, you need to move your bike. We got work to do.”
Vanessa argued her point a little louder, with more confidence. Now, she had backup. Chase intervened, asking about the price. The tow truck driver got defensive, telling Chase he was interfering with his business. Vanessa blurted out that they were trying to charge her $300 in cash. And that stopping at an ATM wouldn’t be a problem. She didn’t know who the White Knight or, in this case, a Black Knight was, but she’d take her chances with him helping her.
Vanessa looked up, and her knight looked like he’d doubled in size and was advancing on the two men. They started to back up. His massive shoulders were bowed, and he looked as if he wanted to hit them. Heated words were exchanged between the men.
More than anything, Chase wanted to beat the shit out of the two men, but he couldn’t take the chance. He had a daughter to think of and a reputation to uphold. How would it look if he had an assault charge? Chase pulled his phone from a pocket, telling them he was calling the cops. Because what they were doing sounded like harassment and coercion.
The men yelled, saying that she could find a damn tow on her own as they scurried back to their truck.
Chase returned to her side, pulling his helmet off. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
He was so close that Vanessa thought he was going to kiss her. The tone of his voice sounded like he was frightened for her. Did she imagine that his hand almost touched her face? She caught a whiff of beer mixed with mint on his breath, and it was intoxicating and erotic. Her chest rose and fell, and her lips parted, inviting him. She wanted him to kiss her and take her breath away. Was this what it felt like to be rescued?
“Yes…yes…thank you for stopping.” She stammered. Their eyes locked onto each other. She looked up at him, really looked. “You…you were at Fast Eddie’s?”
“Yes, I was there. Now, let’s see what’s wrong with your car.” He said, backing up.
The woman, the closeness, was doing something to him. He wanted to touch her, hold her, and tell her he was there to protect her. His limbs, body, and brain were not on the same page.
Chase pulled off his gloves, then squatted down to look at two flat tires on the same side of the car. He shook his head, telling her they’d probably been near the pool hall, and scoped out her car. It was one of the oldest tricks in the book. They jimmied something in the stems to let the air out. Vanessa told him the car felt wobbly, and she noticed the dashboard warning light flash. And that was why she pulled over. The tow truck pulled up just as she was outside the car, looking at the flat tires. Chase said they pull these scams on people leaving bars, figuring they’d be a little drunk and wouldn’t want to be on the side of the road getting caught by the cops. They guessed that someone driving an expensive car could afford their prices.
Vanessa exhaled. “But I’m not drunk, and thank God. Oh well, I guess I’d better call triple-A.”
“Let me. I know a reputable company that can help you.”
Vanessa didn’t know why she agreed so quickly. For all she knew, he could be in cahoots with the men from the tow truck. Nah! His concern was genuine. He knew she wasn’t drunk because he’d sent her a bottle of water. Chase strolled back toward his bike, making a call to his Uncle.
“Hey, Uncle Adam, it’s Chase. I need a favor.”
Vanessa watched him walk away and sit on the bike. An image flashed before her eyes. Oh no. It was the…jackass that almost ran her over. The motorcycle, helmet, and face under the shield were the same man. Was he stalking her? Seeing him like this was too much of a coincidence.