She frowned at him. “The engine might be ruined?”

“Worst-case scenario.” His brows drew together. “If you ask me, you should charge your brother for the repairs.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, I didn’t ask you, and this isn’t his fault.”

“Really?”

If anything it was Sophie’s fault. She was the one who’d insisted on making the trip. But she wasn’t keen on pointing that out.

“I’m calling 911.” She dialed the digits and reported the trouble, using her phone to figure out their exact location. A few minutes later the operator told her she’d send help.

Sophie tapped the button to disconnect. Sit tight, the operator had said. Sophie was trapped in a car with the man who’d broken her heart, and he blamed her for this. She checked her watch—almost five o’clock.

“Did they say how long they’d be?” Aiden asked.

“She warned me it might be a while.”

Aiden sank back in his seat, heaving a sigh. “Great.”

*  *  *

Aiden’s phone went dead. Playing Alto’s Adventure for two hours had been a waste of battery, but he knew he’d go crazy without something to do. Shortly after Sophie had gotten off the phone, she’d begun making some kind of list on her laptop.

Aiden texted his dad to tell him he was still in Piper’s Cove. He was excited about getting the roofing contract for an apartment complex, and they texted back and forth for a while.

Then he checked in with Ross via text, updating him on his situation and assuring him he’d be back in time for the ESTA ceremony. Surely the airport would open in time. He thought about texting Tiffany to kill time, but that felt weird with Sophie only inches away. Anyway, what if Tiffany called instead of answering his text? Awkward. He hadn’t exactly told her he was riding out the storm with his ex-girlfriend.

He hadn’t exactly told Tiffany about Sophie at all. He hadn’t known the woman that long, and he wasn’t in the habit of opening up to someone he was only casually dating. He didn’t want to think about Tiffany right now.

Bright lights shone through the rivulets of water running down the windshield. It appeared help might be arriving. He could only hope.

“Finally.” Sophie echoed his thoughts as she closed her laptop and gathered her things.

The lights got brighter and closer. Aiden lowered the window enough to make eye contact with a fiftyish policeman with a military haircut. Deep frown lines creased the man’s face, indicating a perpetual scowl.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” He peered around Aiden to Sophie. “She can ride up front.”

“Yes, sir.” Aiden raised the window and handed Sophie the keys.