She Fetches Water for a Stranger on a Hot Day, Not Knowing He’s a CEO Who Will Soon Long for Her
An Unexpected Encounter in the Heat
Belle Monroe wasn’t trying to change anyone’s life when she grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler and rushed across the gas station lot. She was just trying to be decent.
“Hey, you okay?” she shouted toward the man in the navy suit.
His tie was loosened and sweat dripped down his temple as he leaned against the hood of a sleek black car with the hood popped open. It was the kind of car that looked way too expensive to be parked in front of this run-down gas station on the edge of nowhere.
He looked up, blinking like the sun had punched him in the face.
“I’m good,” he said, though he clearly wasn’t.
His voice was dry and his lips were dry.
“Just overheated the car, and maybe me.”
Belle didn’t hesitate. She cracked open the water bottle and handed it to him.
“Here, you look like you’re about to pass out.”
He took it, their fingers brushing for the briefest second.
“Thanks, that’s really kind,” she shrugged, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face.
“It’s nothing, just water.”
“Not just water,” he muttered, and chugged half the bottle like he hadn’t seen hydration in days.
She stepped back and glanced at the car.
“Looks like you blew a radiator hose.”
“You know how to fix it?”
“Not even a little,” he said with a tired laugh, straightening up.
He was tall, clean-shaven, and even under the sweat and sunburn, he was handsome, not normal handsome, but shockingly handsome.
Belle crossed her arms.
“You waiting on a tow?”
“Tried calling,” he said. “No signal here.”
“I was hoping someone friendly might stop.”
He looked at her again, eyes narrowing slightly.
“Guess I got lucky.”
She wasn’t used to being looked at like that, like someone worth noticing.
“Well, I’m on my way back to town. I can call for you or give you a ride.”
“I don’t want to ruin your day.”
“You’re standing in a cloud of radiator steam in a suit,” she said, arching a brow. “You already did.”
He laughed again, deeper this time.
“Fair enough.”
“Come on,” she said, turning back toward her truck. “Let’s go.”
The drive back to town was quiet at first, so she finally asked, glancing sideways, “What were you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?”
He hesitated.
“Clearing my head.”
She gave him a look.
He smiled faintly.
“Okay, I had this meeting in the city that went sideways. I drove out too far, lost track of time, then the car gave up.”
“You live in the city?”
He nodded.
“Yeah.”
“You born and raised here?”
“About 10 minutes from this gas station. I work at the diner. It’s not glamorous, but it pays the rent.”
Their eyes met for a moment, and something unspoken passed there.
“I’m Sawyer,” he said. “Sawyer Callen.”
She blinked.
“Like the Callen Group?”
His expression didn’t change.
“Yeah.”
“You’re the CEO?”
“Guilty.”
Belle nearly slammed on the brakes.
“You’re a billionaire?”
He didn’t respond right away.
“Does that change anything?”
Her mouth opened and closed.
“No. I mean, yeah. I don’t know.”
“I didn’t lead with it,” he said gently.
“No, you were dying of heat stroke in a parking lot. Not exactly waving your net worth around.”
He smiled at that.
She shook her head.
“You’re really him.”
“Yeah.”
For some reason, her heart pounded harder than it should have.
By the time they pulled into her driveway, the sun had started to dip. Her house was small, old, and humble, but it was hers.
“You sure you’re okay?” she asked as he stepped out of the truck.
“I am now. You need a phone?”
He nodded.
She handed him hers and stepped inside to grab a glass of iced tea.
When she came back, he was standing near the porch staring out at the field beside her house.
“This place is quiet,” he said.
“That’s the charm.”
He handed her back the phone.
“Tow’s on the way, but it’ll be an hour.”
“Then I guess you’re stuck with me for a bit.”
He turned to her.
“I can think of worse things.”
She handed him the tea.
“Don’t flirt unless you mean it.”
He took it, eyes serious now.
“What if I do?”
She didn’t know what to say to that, so she looked away.
“You’re not like anyone I’ve met,” he added.
“Because I gave you water?”
“No,” he said. “Because you didn’t treat me like I was anyone special.”
She met his gaze again.
“You’re just a guy with a broken car and a bad tan.”
He chuckled.
“Exactly.”
That night, after his car was towed, she watched him drive off in a black SUV sent by his assistant.
Belle stood on her porch staring into the darkness. She wasn’t supposed to feel anything, but something about the way he’d looked at her stayed with her.
He looked at her like she wasn’t just some small town girl. She didn’t expect to see him again, but she would.
When he came back, he wouldn’t be a stranger anymore. He’d be the man who couldn’t stop thinking about the girl who handed him a bottle of water on a hot day. He didn’t care that he was a billionaire.
