At 10:30 pm, I clock out. My feet are achy and my head hurts from the constant chitter-chatter of patrons coming and going. I just want to go home to my little apartment and take a long hot bubble bath to wash away today's drama.

Mr. Stevens is still at the table finishing his food and looking through his phone. I roll my eyes at his back as I walk out the door. He is the main cause of my unfortunate evening. When I went to his table to refill his drink, he didn't speak or even look at me. To him, I was simply invisible. Probably how he treats everyone who doesn't make as much money as him.

Because of that little scene earlier, Margie said it was coming out of my check. The last thing I need is having money taken away from my hands because of Mr. Big Shot. That only makes me hate him more. Thank God for the tips I made. They, fortunately, make up for what Margie took out of my pay for the night.

Outside in the warm murky air, I fall into my little Dodge Neon and crank it up, praying that it actually starts. When it does I breathe a sigh of relief. Digging in my pocket, I pull out my tips and count it out again. Folding the $157 in my wallet, I sigh. At least the regulars who visit the diner are friendly, well almost everyone. Big shot left no tip at all. Go figure. $100 towards my phone bill. $57 towards my splurge fund. Even he couldn't ruin my night completely.

"At least you love me, Betty." Yes, I call my car Betty. I've had her since I was 17 and she has never failed me...much. I pull out of the parking lot and head down the dark highway, noticing dark clouds and little flickers of lightning in the distance. 10 minutes down the road it starts pouring down.

"Just great." I turn on my half working windshield wipers and squint to see the road. The rain begins pouring down harder than my wipers can wipe causing me to slow down to 35 instead of the 45-speed limit. Just when I think it can't get any worse I start to see smoke.

"No no no no! Not tonight, Betty! Please don't do this to mama." I slap steering wheel in disbelief, surely adding insult to injury.

But she does. As the 'putt putt' sounds die down so does Betty. I pull her to the side of the road and just sit there wondering if I should get out and check under the hood.

After a minute, I unbuckle my seat belt and climb out into the rain, the cold, heavy drops slapping against my face. I lift Betty's hood and smoke and steam come out causing me to step back a bit. Waving the smoke away, I look over everything as if I know what to look for. This is beyond pointless.

I don't know much about cars, but this can't be good at all. I look up at the sky and let the rain beat down on me. I pull my brown hair back from my face, trying not to cry, but I can feel the tears swelling in my eyes. My day has been so off and I just want to crawl in bed.

As I'm having a mini-meltdown I spot headlights coming towards me. Should I hitch a ride? No. With my luck, the person will be an ax murderer. I watch the black car speeds by and it splashes water on me. This is so embarrassing.

I turn to look back at Betty as rain mixed with tears stream down my cheeks before realizing the car is coming back. Just let it be a murderer who can put me out of my misery, quickly. Painlessly.

An oldish man gets out of the driver's seat with an umbrella. Shivering and freezing, I squint my eyes as he approaches. He looks harmless.

"Excuse me ma'am, Mr. Stevens has offered to give you ride."

Mr. Stevens? Why would he give me a ride? He was so mean to me and I wasn't exactly peachy keen on him. Frowning, I watch the old man walk over to the car. He opens the back door and waits for me to get in.

"Umm give me a second." I run to Betty and grab my phone, bag, and keys. I lock her up and hope she is still here tomorrow. I doubt anyone wants to steal her anyways. I slide into the car and the door closes. I look over at him then down at my hands. "Thanks for coming back." I sniff, wiping my cheek.

He doesn't say anything so I continue.

"Uh... I'm really sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to-"

He holds his hand up and I stop. Oh.

I start to shake from being soaked, rubbing my hands together. The rain has made it surprisingly cold for it to be August. I wrap my arms around myself feeling cold to the bone.

"Tim, turn on the heat, please" Mr. Stevens says to the driver. His voice was deep and slightly seductive. I catch a chill that wasn't from being drenched.

"You were very rude to me earlier, Ms. uhh..."

"AmberLynn, but everyone just calls me Amber" Clearly, he isn't good with names. Totally not surprising. "

"Ms.AmberLynn. I didn't appreciate what you said to me, but I must say that I deserved it. It was very out of character of me to act that way. I apologized to the other waitress for my behavior and I would like to say that I'm sorry to you too. Despite what you think, I do indeed know how hard it is to work a dead in job. My first job was bagging groceries at 18 to prove to my father that I indeed have work ethic"

I look into his eyes and they seem very sincere. "I never said it was dead in. Just hard." I pause for a moment before forcing a smile "Apology accepted, Mr. Stevens"

"Thank you and my name is Brian"

I smile a little more genuinely, trying to lighten the mood.

"Do you mind if we start over AmberLynn? I would like to formally introduced myself" He holds his hand out for me to shake. I reach out and give it a firm shake just like my grandpa taught me. "Nice to meet you, Brian"

"Very nice to meet you too, AmberLynn" He gives a smile that can make any woman swoon. The way my name rolls off his tongue is so sexy. I just want to hear it again. Please, say it again.

Caught in my thoughts, a piece of dripping hair falls in my face and before I can reach up to move it, his hand is already there moving it behind my ear, letting his finger tips graze over my skin. A hard shivers runs over me. I take a breath just loud enough for him to hear. He smiles slyly and looks down at his phone trying not to seem amused.

I have forgotten about Tim until he chimes in to ask where I live. I give him the address and that was that.

"So AmberLynn, I could have a tow company pick up your car in the morning and have it delivered to a repair shop if you like."

"Uh okay. I don't know if I'm going to have enough money to fix her depending on what's wrong." I press my hand against my forehead in frustration.

"Her?"

"Huh?" I look up to the puzzled expression on his face. "Oh, her, my car's name is Betty"

He laughs "Nice. well don't worry about the cost, I know a guy who owes me a favor. Once your car is fixed, I'll have it delivered to your home"

"Thank you so much." I feel like I should thank him a hundred times.

"No problem"

I look down at my hands and murmur "Now I feel bad about calling you an asshole"

"Never apologize for the truth. I was indeed being an asshole." His voice is stern, but laced with humor.

"Well, then I take it back" Feeling comfortable enough to make a joke. Brian chuckles loudly making me giggle.

"You have the most enchanting laugh, Amber" He says while rubbing his thumb across his bottom lip.

"Thanks, I think" I bite down on my bottom lip and look out the window. Never have I ever had a man describe any feature belonging to me as enchanting. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him gazing at me. Maybe I'm thinking too far into this, but this man is looking at me like he wants to eat me.

I take the chance to look around the car. Seeing a black briefcase, he must be a business man. As my eyes wonder around the backseat they stop right on his lap. I can't help but wonder what he looks like without the suit on.

A soft barely audible moan escapes my lips and I cross my legs trying to ignore the feelings coming from between them.

I hope he didn't notice me eyeing his junk.

Interrupting my inappropriate thoughts, Tim announces that we are in front of my apartment building. Tim gets out of the car and opens the door for me. I get out thinking Tim is going to walk me to the door, but I'm wrong. Brian slides from the car and Tim hands him a smaller compact umbrella. Brian walks me in the building and to my door. Fishing out my keys from my purse, I unlock the door and turn to Brian.

"Good night, Brian. Thanks again for the ride and for offering to fix Betty. I seriously appreciate it."

"It is no problem Amber. I just want to make up for being so rude to you earlier. I even failed to leave a tip." I am so fixated on his lips that I barely even care what he is talking about until he holds up a $100 bill. "What's that for?" I frown.

"It's your tip" Brian smirks and I shake my head "I can't take that. That's way too much, Brian"

A crease develops in his forehead "You don't have any control over how much I tip you. Had I left it on the table at the diner, it would have been acceptable"

"No it wouldn't have. I would have hunted you done in the parking lot and called you crazy." I force a laugh as he continues to holds the bill up, refusing to back down. "Brian, please. You've been kind enough tonight. Keep your money" I push his hand away, gently and notice the look of confusion plastered on his face. Has anyone ever turned this man down for anything?"

Brian sticks the money back in his wallet and nods "Um, well then I guess this is good night then"

"Yeah, good night. Thanks again for the ride." I nod as Brian smiles, backing away from my door and leaving.

Once in my apartment, I strip out of my clothes and jump in the shower letting the hot water beat down on my skin. Just what I need after the day I've had. Pouring body wash in my hand, I start washing. Rubbing my hands over my stomach, breasts, and shoulders, I can't help think about Mr. Stevens. I imagine his hands on my body. I brush my hand between my thighs and moan freely. I lose my sense of time until the water starts to run warm.

How can he have this effect on me?

Once out of the shower, I wrap a towel around myself and flop on the couch. I lotion down my body as the soft music from the radio helps me wind down. My relaxation was short-lived when I hear a knock on the door.

Groaning, I jump up and look through the peephole.

Brian.