Fred Munson likes his job as a traffic cop. He’s good at it. It’s his personal life that could use some improvement. With no friends, and being too shy to talk to anyone while out of uniform, when Fred is forced to use some of his vacation time, he has nothing to fill his days. At least not until he comes home to find his driveway blocked by a stranger with car troubles. A month after losing his father, Zen Zeppelin Cave has also lost his place in the world. The only thing holding him together is focusing on a charity junk car race to raise money for cancer research. And he's crossing that finish line even if he ends up replacing every part of the car along the way. Zen had planned on completing the race on his own, but a spur-of-the-moment decision changes that when he invites the adorable, blushing police officer whose driveway he’s blocking to tag along. Going with a stranger on a road trip is completely out of Fred’s comfort zone, so when he accepts the invitation, no one is more surprised than himself. Together, Zen and Fred head south. But will the old junk car hold together long enough to reach their destination? And will crossing the finish line mean the end of the road for a budding romance, or will they find there’s more to their journey?

Banger Challenge

“Sorry, man.” Scott skimmed through some papers on his desk.


“It’s cool. We knew it was more likely to arrive tomorrow. It’s just…” He shrugged. “…I hate driving under time pressure. I want to be able to stop and have a look around if I see something interesting; spend the night if I see a beautiful place, eat at restaurants that look memorable. You know, take the day as it comes.”


Scott watched him for a second too long. “And Fred is okay with that?”


“With the whole free spirit thing. You going from place to place with nothing but the clothes on your back, allowing whatever thing you find alluring to pull you in.”


Zen grimaced. “I have more than the clothes on my back.”


Scott laughed and clapped his shoulder. “I’m sure you do.”


What did he mean? As he exited the garage and walked back to the tent where Fred was reading a book on his phone, he mulled Scott’s words over. Was he too…impulsive for Fred?


Chapter 31