Title: Runaway Road
Author: Mira Day
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 13, 2016
Synopsis
Have you ever wondered who was in the car next to you? Wondered where they were going and why? A vacation? Business trip? Or is it someoneβs only chance to run awayβ¦
Brett Myers needs a change; a soul searching move to another city. Walking in on your brother and girlfriend in bed together will do that. So after two weeks of sleeping on a friendβs couch, Texas is his destination. A new town and a new life. Heβs ready to start over.
Mia Brown needs a change; a soul-searching trip to her past. More than ready to leave her controlling boyfriend and life in North Carolina, Mia uses this chance for a fresh start. Thereβs no plan. Just to hit the road, head out West, and never look back.
When their paths cross on a long stretch of Highway 85, these two strangers will learn just how much they need each other to heal.
Excerpt
βExcuse me?β
She jumps at the sound of my voice, giving me a faint smile that strengthens my resolve to talk to her.
I stick out my hand. βHi, Iβm Brett.β She takes it, timid but firm.
βMia.β
βAt risk of sounding like a creeper, weβve been following each other since Charlotte.β I lean against the gas pump. Mia takes a look around me and her smile grows.
βYouβre right.β
I run my hand through my hair. βIβm going inside to grab a drink. May I get you something?β
She replaces the pump and tightens the gas cap on her car. βAre you trying to pick me up at a gas station?β The humor is dancing in her eyes.
βWell, yeah, I guess I am.β I shrug. βIf weβre road tripping, probably not smart to take you to a bar.I mean, I know its not Starbucks, but–β
She brushes her long hair off her shoulder, the corner of her mouth twitching. βA cup of coffee would be great.β
I push off the pump station and turn to replace the pump. We lock our cars and walk toward the store.
βSo Mia, where are you heading?β
βSan Antonio. You?β
βAustin.β
Grabbing the door, she walks under my arm inside, leaving a trace of vanilla and cinnamon behind. I could breathe that in all day.
I follow her to the coffee machines, noticing her petite frame. Her arms are smaller than they should be and a worry I canβt explain overcomes me.
Without looking at me, she reaches for a coffee pot and pours the liquid into a small cup. βAustin, huh?β I watch her full lips blow the steam across the top and I have to remind myself that Iβm in a public place.
βYeah, looking for a new adventure.β Her eyebrows perk up. I grab a large coffee cup and rip open four sugar packets. Placing the cup under the instant coffee dispenser, I hit the button for the vanilla cappuccino. Out of the corner of my eye, sheβs staring at me, mouth open.
βWhat?β
She blinks. βNothing. Itβs justβ¦thatβs a lot of sugar.β She giggles as I stare at my cup. βHow do you even taste the coffee?β
She laughs even harder as I scrunch my face. βUgh! Why would you want to taste that?β Her laugh is adorable and hearty. And contagious.
I stir my cup and lean against the counter. βDonβt judge my coffee.β Chuckles rumbling through my body.I take a sip and tip my head to the snack aisle.
βHungry?β
βDrinks and dinner? You sure do spoil a girl on a first date.β
βI do what I can.β
We walk around the back side of a rack to the snack aisle. I immediately grab a bag of gummy worms and beef jerky. Miaβs bottom lip is clamped between her teeth, her shoulders twitching with a laugh.
βWhat?β I give her a glare. βAre you judging my food too?β
βI would never!β Her mock horror has me laughing along with her.
βWhatever. Beef jerky is healthy. Itβs protein.β
Her eyes twinkle. βWhatever you say.β
βWhat are you going to have?β
βOh, no. Iβm good. Maybe just a bottle of water.β
I purse my lips in disbelief as she starts to walk towards the coolers. βCan you grab me one too?β I call. She whips her head around and nods, giving me a small smile that makes me want to stay in this gas station for a long time.
I finally decide on my snacks and realize that Mia isnβt back. I walk towards the coolers looking for her. Rounding the corner, I see her sitting on the floor next to a key chain display, laughing.
βWhat are you doing?β I squat next to her.
βSorry, this caught my eye and I just kept reading them. Here.β She hands me one of the key chains. It says βNothing like a goodβ¦β with a close up picture of a peach on it.
I chuckle as she laughs. βWell, they arenβt wrong.β
βI donβt know why I find that as funny as I do.β
I look up, noticing the trucker hats hanging on the wall. βIf you think thatβs funnyββ I grab a red cap with a girlβs silhouette on it on all fours. βBooty hunter.β
Mia throws her head back as I model the hat. βThatβs amazing. You look like that fits you perfectly.β
βWell, what can I say. I have a good aim, if you know what I mean.β I wink as her, sending her into another fit of giggles.
Standing up, she grabs a black one that says βIβd rather be F___ing.β
βYep, this is the hat for me.β She adjusts it on her head and turns to model it, giving me the duck face.
βYouβll probably get some attention, thatβs for sure.β
βRead the fine print, perv.β
I lean closer, that smell of cinnamon and vanilla wafting through my senses. βFishing? Shit, got me.β She laughs, taking the hat off.
βGod they have some tacky stuff in here.β
βYou seem to be loving it.β
She nods. βDuh. How could you not?β She picks up her coffee and checks her watch. βWe might want to get a move on. Burning daylight.β
βAre you sure you donβt want anything to eat?β
βLiquid diet right now.β She holds up the coffee.
βSo Iβll be prepared to stop in thirty minutes when you have to pee?β
Mia pops my arm. βOr when your stomach turns on you.β She eyes my snack selection.
βI have a steel stomach, Doll.β I pat my stomach as she rolls her eyes.
Checking out, we walk back to our cars.
βI know this is weird, but can I get your number? If weβre heading the same way, might be nice to have someone to talk to.β
Mia nods. βIβd love that.β She hands me her phone as I hand her mine.
βBooty Hunter?β She laughs at the name I put in her phone. I look down at mine and laugh with her. βF***ing Mia? Classic.β
As she climbs into her car, I lean into her door frame. βGo on ahead, Iβll catch up with you. I forgot something in there.β
βDid you forget another candy bar?β Humor dances in her eyes as she teases me.
βShut it.β
Nervously, she plays with her coffee sleeve. βI can just wait for you.β
I nod and stand back so she can close her door. βIβll just be second.β
Running back in, I grab the two hats from the wall, along with the key chain. I donβt know why, but I want to collect as many key chains with her as I can.
I nod to her as I climb into my Jeep. Iβll surprise her with them later. An excuse to see her again.
About The Author
Mira Day is a Romance writer, born in the Carolinas with a passion for food. She loves the outdoors, NFL football and exclamation points! You’ll usually find her working, writing or catching up with Friends on Netflix.
Mira has two Holiday Novellas published, Finding the Christmas Spirit and Choking Cupid and her debut novel, Playing House. After Runaway Road, look for her third book, Bourbon and the Midnight Show, coming Spring of 2017.
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