Author's Note: This is a novel-length story I wrote in 2015. I'm now adding it here for you to enjoy. It has some erotic content but the focus is on the exciting narrative and character development. I think you will find it a fascinating story with many twists and turns and a surprise ending.
Introduction
A lovely teenager, Emily, is abandoned one evening at a gas station in Atlanta, 2,500 miles from her home. While she is inside, her boyfriend is kidnapped and their car stolen. With only the clothes on her back, she waits all night for him to return.
Matt stops for gas early the next morning. Emily approaches him for help, which he gives. When the boyfriend is found murdered, Emily believes she has lost everything and decides to end her life. In her darkest hour, Matt becomes her ray of sunlight. A recent engineering graduate, Matt agrees to take her home to San Francisco where he has a new job waiting.
Emily's boyfriend continues to haunt her. His previously unknown criminal past mysteriously catches up with her, and only a miracle can save her. What happens will astonish you.
Chapter One
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
"Excuse me, sir."
I turned from the gas pump and saw a pretty young woman standing behind me. My immediate thought - she was a prostitute. This had happened to me before at this same station. But this time, it was early morning, not yet daylight. She must have been desperate for business.
I responded, "Hi." I smiled as I wondered how best to refuse her offer.
"Sir, I'm in a terrible situation and need help." She had a lovely soft Irish accent, the hint of a brogue that could melt a guy's resolve. However, I cut to the chase.
"Are you a prostitute?"
"No!" she exclaimed. "I just need a little help."
"What help do you need?" I studied her face and could see fluorescent light reflecting off a tear running down her cheek. She was fairly tall, maybe 5'7" with dark auburn hair in a ponytail. She was wearing a t-shirt and jeans.
"I've been stuck here overnight and I'm very hungry. Could you spare a couple of dollars?"
She was nervous... maybe shivering because of the cool morning air. I could see she was desperate. There was deep sadness in her expression.
"I don't like to give money as a handout, but if you'll let me, I'll buy you breakfast."
"Oh, that'd be wonderful! Thank you, sir."
"Let me fill the tank and I'll pull over there in front of the diner." I pointed to the waffle place next door.
While waiting, I asked, "Why are you stuck here?"
She looked down and seemed hesitant to answer. After a moment, she replied, "My boyfriend left me here. We stopped for gasoline and while I was in the restroom, he left."
"How long ago was that?"
"Last night, about 8:00."
I was dumbfounded.
"What? You've been here for ten hours?"
"I kept expecting him to return, but he never did. I sat over there on the curb and waited all night, but he never came. I'm very worried."
"Didn't anyone offer to help? It's very cool to only be wearing a t-shirt."
"Someone must have called the Atlanta police. A car with two patrolmen came. I told them I was waiting for my boyfriend. While we were talking, they were dispatched for an emergency and said they'd check back with me. They never did."
"You sat here all night. I'm shocked. This isn't a safe area."
"I didn't have a choice. My purse, cell phone, credit cards, all my money, and all my clothes are in his car. I only have what you see."
"Didn't they let you wait inside the store?"
"I did for an hour, but the manager asked me to leave. He said it was store policy."
"That's ridiculous. He could've helped you. Here, put my jacket on and walk over to the diner."
"No, I'm okay." She turned to start walking.
"Hey, wait a minute!" I exclaimed. She stopped and looked at me.
As I slipped the jacket off, I said, "No, you're not okay. I can see you're cold. Here, take it."
She reluctantly slipped it on; it engulfed her body. "This feels good. Thank you, sir." She turned and started walking.
The pump nozzle clicked, signaling the tank was full, and I drove next door to park.
As we walked through the door together, an elderly waitress directed us to a window booth. She slipped off the jacket, laid it on the seat and sat opposite me so she could watch the gas station.
I could then see how lovely she actually was. "Stunning" would be an appropriate adjective. She had a beautiful face, slight dimples, a perfectly clear complexion, and amazing green eyes. She had the beauty that turned many guys into tongue-tied or babbling idiots. She was fit, and her t-shirt showed the outline of impressive breasts that were reacting to the cold.
"I'm Matt Anderson. What's your name?"
"Emily Ryan."
"Where's your home Emily? You sound Irish."
"San Francisco. My mom was from Ireland, but I was born in California."
"That's a long way from here. What are you doing in Atlanta?" The waitress returned and took our orders.
"We were driving to visit my boyfriend's parents in South Carolina."
I reached for my cell phone. "Let's call your boyfriend and see where he is." She took the phone and called. It went to voicemail after several rings, and she left a message.
"Do you have his parents' number? Maybe we can call them."
"I have their number in the cell phone in my purse. Their names are Patrick and Nancy Jones. However, I can't remember where they live. It's a small town near the coast."
"You've not been to their house?"
"No."
"But you have met them?"
"Oh yes. They were once my neighbors in California. We were driving to visit them for the summer. My boyfriend is Patrick Jr. His parents initially wanted us to fly to Myrtle Beach, so it's probably near there."
"It's none of my business, Emily, but were you two having a quarrel and he was mad at you? Maybe it's a lover's spat that he'll soon get over."
"Not yesterday. We're always going back and forth about something, but nothing I'd call a quarrel. I don't think he would leave me here no matter if we were quarreling or not. Something must have happened."
"Maybe I can call the police and see if they know anything about him or his car."
