I hadn’t been willing to talk to anyone about Amy’s scheme, not even my brothers. “Let’s just say she did a number on me.”
“Are you saying you were in love with her?”
I’d never said those words before. A few of the women I’d dated had me toying with the L-word, but saying it never felt right. “No.”
“Then why were you so messed up?”
I couldn’t keep it from them forever. Amy had messed me up, but not for the reasons my family assumed. “We’d been seeing each other for a few months, right? I thought I could trust her. She never gave me reason not to.”
“Until…?”
“She told me she was on the pill, so I stopped using condoms.”
Brody scowled at me. “Man, I don’t like where this is going. How the hell could you be so stupid?”
I didn’t need him to tell me that. I’d already beat myself up about it enough. “I overheard her talking to a friend on the phone. She said it was the right time for her to get pregnant and if all went according to plan, she’d be knocked up with my kid by month’s end.”
“Son of a bitch,” Brody muttered, dropping his head.
“Yeah, she went on to talk about all the things she intended to buy with my money once she got her hooks into me.” I’d thought I was starting to get over my bitterness, but repeating her words caused a fierce resurgence of rage. “You know, fancy car, designer purses and shoes. She even told her friend she had her eye on this three-carat diamond engagement ring. As if I ever would’ve married that lying, scheming bitch.”
“Jesus, it’s no wonder you swore off women. I would too after an experience like that.”
“Yeah, so I booted her ass out and headed to the doc to make sure she hadn’t left me with a nasty little reminder of our time together.”
Brody’s eyes widened. “Tell me she didn’t.”
“No, thank God.”
I caught a glimpse of a bird at the feeder I’d set up outside the garage window. My mother had been an avid bird-watcher, so it was my small tribute to her. Whenever I saw a bird, I could almost hear my mother’s voice telling me to slow down and take a moment to appreciate the beauty around me instead of getting so caught up in my own head.
“I know it’s rough, getting played like that,” Brody said. “But not all girls are like that. There are some good ones still out there.”
“Oh yeah? Is that why you’re still single?”
“I’m still single ‘cause the girl I love is as stubborn as hell. She can’t accept me for what I am, and I can’t change. Not even to please her.”
I understood Brody’s dilemma. I even understood it from Riley’s perspective. I didn’t know many women who’d want to be married to a jet-setting high roller who lived for the next party.
“But you can’t give up, Seb. Last time I was in town, you told me you were tired of the dating scene and you wanted to meet a nice girl, someone you could trust, and settle down. You’re never going to find her if you’re not even willing to put yourself out there.”
“I have met someone.” I thought, for what must have been the hundredth time that day, of the kiss I’d shared with Skylar. “But she’s got a lot going on in her personal life. I don’t think she has the time or interest in pursuing a relationship right now.”
“Since when have you ever been willing to take no for an answer?” Brody asked, grinning. “You want this girl? Find a way to wear her down. But for Christ’s sake, keep your guard up until you know for sure she wants you and not your money.” He chuckled. “Who would have guessed those ‘deadbeat Steele brothers’ would ever have these kinds of money problems, right?”
It was true. Everyone, neighbors and teachers alike, had always assumed we’d all end up in jail, not trying to decide which stocks or properties to buy with our millions. “I’m pretty sure Skylar doesn’t care about money. She sold her house so she could use the money to help take care of her uncle.”
“Wow. Really?” Brody asked, crossing his arms. “Not many people would be willing to make a sacrifice like that.”
“Her uncle took care of her when she needed him, so she says she’s just returning the favor.”
“Okay, we know she’s a do-gooder,” Brody joked. “But is she hot?”
I blew out a long, slow breath, thinking of all the crazy things I wanted to do with her, to her, for her. “Man, you have no idea.”
Brody laughed. “Well, all right! My little brother’s ready to get back in the saddle. That’s what I like to hear. So what’s the plan? You get her into bed yet or what?”
I rolled my eyes, not surprised Brody’s first thought was of sex. “We just met a few days ago. She’s definitely not the kind of girl who’d jump into bed with me after a couple of dates, and honestly, that’s not what I want. I’ve had enough of that. I’m looking for a slow build this time, something that’ll last.”
“Okay, but you must have a game plan. You’re not the kind of guy who can just sit back and wait for things to happen.”
I hooked a finger over my shoulder. “I’m working on her uncle’s car. She can’t afford to pay me, so we worked out a deal. She’s going to be helping me out at the shop, working on my website, stuff like that, to repay her debt.”
“I like that,” Brody said, nodding. “Guarantees you’ll be seeing a lot of her. You’ll be able to get to know her better without the pressure of dating.”
I wouldn’t have minded dating Skylar, but I knew she didn’t have time for romance when her life revolved around caring for her uncle. So I would take what I could get. “She’s coming over for dinner tonight. Her uncle’s a fan of the show and wants to meet me. You wanna stick around?”
“No, thanks, I told the boys I’d hang out with them tonight,” he said. “Ryker and Mac said they’d put me up for the night. I gotta head out tomorrow. Can I leave my car with you? No hurry to get it back. Just have one of your guys look at it whenever.”
“Sure. You need a ride to Ryker’s?”
“No, I can take a cab.” He pulled me into a half-hug. “I hope it works out with this girl, Seb. I hate seeing you mope around like you lost your best friend.”
I cupped his head, shaking it hard enough to hopefully knock some sense into him. “When are we gonna get you sorted out, dumbass? You’re gonna lose that girl if you don’t get your head out of your ass, and we’d all hate to see that happen.”
“I know, man. I know. I’ll figure things out. I just need a little more time.”
Something told me time was not on Brody’s side.
***
It took a lot to make me nervous, but when Skylar texted to let me know they were leaving their place, my gut started churning. I wanted her uncle to like me since I knew how much his niece valued his opinion. After watching me on TV, people often had a perception of me, and I didn’t want Uncle Charlie to be disappointed after meeting me.
I tried to distract myself with some mindless TV, even catching a few minutes of my own show, but I couldn’t stand the sound of my own voice for another second. I still couldn’t believe so many people were willing to tune in and watch some dude restore cars. But according to the bigshots at the network, tuning in they were. In record numbers. Especially women in the “target” demographic. Apparently because they thought I was hot, according to their test groups.
The whole pseudo-celebrity thing still made me uneasy. Some days I wondered how the hell I’d ever let myself get talked into this gig in the first place, but before I could dwell on it any more, my doorbell rang.
I jumped up and jogged to the door before forcing myself to take a deep breath. I opened it, grinning at Skylar. “Hi there,”
“Um, I have a favor to ask,” she said, casting a quick glance over her shoulder. “Could you give us a hand? My uncle has been having some trouble with stairs lately.”
“Yeah, of course.” There were only a few steps leading up to my front door, but based on what Skylar had told me about her uncle’s conditio
n, I wasn’t surprised it would be a struggle for him.
“Thanks.” She flashed those dimples I was learning to love. “I’m sorry we were a bit late. We had to run back to the apartment. Uncle Charlie forgot one of his meds.”
“No worries.”
She opened the door of her car and stood behind me, resting her hand on my shoulder. “Uncle Charlie, I’d like you to meet Seb Steele.”
I crouched, extending my hand to the man in the passenger’s seat. He wasn’t as old as I’d expected. My guess was sixty at most. Too damn young to be facing death, in my opinion. Her uncle’s face lit up as he shook my hand, and his grip surprised me. He had a lot more strength than I would have expected.
“Good to meet you, son. I’ve been a big fan of yours for a long time.”
Before the show, the only way people would have known about me was if they attended trade shows or read the car magazines I’d been featured in. The fact that her uncle had been following my career told me he was a serious aficionado, which made his restoration project even more important to me.
“I appreciate that, sir. Skylar’s told me a lot of great things about you. I was really looking forward to this meeting.”
Skylar reached for the rear passenger door, and I saw a shock of salt-and-pepper hair followed by a petite lady holding a cake, the sight of which made my mouth water.
“You take this, dear,” the lady said, handing it to Skylar. “I want to meet your friend here.”
I helped her out of the car. In spite of her recent health scare, she certainly seemed agile. “You must be Mrs. Ryan. It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“You too.” She winked at Skylar. “My goodness, he’s even more handsome in person than he is on TV, isn’t he?”
“That he is,” Skylar said, her cheeks coloring as she stole a glance at me.
“Tell me the truth, Mrs. R,” I said, leaning in to stage whisper with my hand around my mouth. “Did you make this cake, or did she?”
Skylar elbowed me in the ribs, making her landlady laugh. “I made it all by myself.”
“Just checking,” I said, rubbing my stomach for dramatic effect. “Now let’s get inside. There’s a bottle of chilled chardonnay with your name on it, Skylar.”
“I already told her I’d be happy to drive home,” Mrs. Ryan said, her eyes glittering as she squeezed my hand. “This sweet girl doesn’t make enough time for fun. You think you could help her with that, Seb?”
“I’d sure like to try,” I said, shooting a sidelong glance at Skylar. Even dressed casually in a pale green tank top with a matching sleeveless tunic-length sweater and skinny jeans, she looked hot.
Skylar said, “I’ll make sure your precious cake gets in the house in one piece if you can promise the same of my precious uncle.”
“It’s a deal.”
Her uncle chuckled when I reached for his arm to help him out of the car. “I wasn’t always like this, ya know. I used to be able to run circles around the boys on the track team.”
His breathing was slightly labored as he struggled to put one foot in front of the other, but it was his words that really got to me. They reminded me of my mother and how quickly a healthy person could lose their spark.
“I’ll bet you could,” I said softly, trying to help him while allowing him to maintain his dignity.
He was obviously a proud man who hated asking for help, especially from strangers, which only made me want to help him more. I didn’t have much use for people who clamored for my attention because they wanted something from me, but those who tried hard to do it all on their own, even when they knew it was impossible, always earned my respect.
By the time we finally made it up the walkway and the few stairs leading to my front door, I encouraged Charlie to take a seat on the porch to catch his breath.
“You go on inside,” Charlie said, waving at the ladies. “I want a word with Seb.”
Skylar led Mrs. Ryan inside before offering me a slight shrug to let me know she hadn’t a clue what was on her uncle’s mind.
Charlie spoke slowly as he caught his breath. “I don’t know what’s going on between you and my niece, but if you’re half as smart as I think you are, you won’t let her get away.”
I leaned against the railing, crossing my arms as I tried to suppress a smile. “Mr.—”
“Charlie,” he interrupted, looking stern. His bushy eyebrows drew together, bracketing soft blue eyes.
“Charlie,” I repeated. “I think your niece is great. But we just met.”
“She’ll tell you she doesn’t have time for a relationship ‘cause she’s too busy taking care of me.” He curled his hand around the sculpted log chair my brother Gabe had made. “I don’t want her to miss out on anything because of me.”
I was touched that Charlie seemed as determined to look after Skylar as she was to take care of him. That’s the way it was with my family. If one of us fell, the others rallied to pick him up.
“She seems like a headstrong woman,” I said, trying to be diplomatic.
Charlie scoffed. “Stubborn as hell is more like it. I keep telling her to get out there and date, but she’d rather sit at home, watching me die.”
“Charlie, don’t—”
He raised his hand to silence me. “I’m not stupid. I heard everything the doctor said about my condition. I’m too far gone. No help for me now.” He shrugged before fixating on another one of the birdfeeders I’d set up on my four-acre country property. “I’m not complaining, Seb. It’s been a pretty good life.”
I couldn’t believe he was opening up to me like this only minutes after meeting me. Maybe he felt comfortable around me because of our shared passion or the fact that he watched me on TV every week, but either way, I was happy to be his sounding board. “I’m sure it has.”
“I loved those kids.” Looking at me, he said, “I was a high school gym teacher. Coach too. Those kids were my life since I didn’t have any of my own.”
“But you had Skylar. Sounds like you were really there for her.”
“She may have made it seem that way when she told you the story, but the truth is, she was there for me. Losing my brother, her daddy, was hard. We were best friends.”
“I can’t imagine what that must have been like.” When he looked curious, I explained, “I have five brothers. I can’t imagine my life without any one of them.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I remember reading you came from a big family. There was just the two us in my family, my brother and me. He made me promise I’d take good care of his baby girl if anything ever happened to him.”
“And you have,” I said, hoping to erase some of the pain in his eyes.
“Yeah, but I never expected her to have this burden,” he said, gesturing to his body. He was wearing taupe chinos and a short-sleeved plaid shirt. His sensible shoes had Velcro tabs he probably hated because they reminded him of his premature frailty and the things he couldn’t do any more, like bend to tie his own shoes.
My heart went out to him in ways I never would have expected. He was a stranger to me, yet he stirred some protective instinct I couldn’t explain. I could tell he was a good man with a kind heart, and he’d been dealt a tough blow.
“She shouldn’t have to take care of me. It’s not fair. She has a life to live, and she’s already given up so much for me.”
Since he’d been so open with me, I felt it only fair I do the same. “My mother died when I was pretty young.” I leaned back on the wood railing that wrapped around the porch. “I was just a kid, really. Couldn’t do a damn thing to help her.”
“Sorry to hear that,” he muttered before looking me in the eye.
“I would have given anything to be able to do what Skylar has done for you. You may think she’s done all of this for you, but I can tell she’s grateful for this time with you. You mean everything to her. You’re the only family she has left. So why not let her take care of you if that’s what she wants?” I could tell Charlie was contempla
ting my advice, so I continued. “Just be grateful you have her and enjoy this time together. Reconnect in a way you couldn’t when busy schedules got in the way. Talk. Listen. Laugh. Reminisce. That’s what I’d want to do if I had more time with my mother.”
“Most men wouldn’t understand why a girl like Sky would want to get bogged down taking care of her sick old uncle.”
“Those who understand the importance of family would. I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without my mother and brothers. Just like Skylar wouldn’t be who she is without you and her parents. She can’t do anything to thank her parents, but she can do something to thank you. So why not let her?”
He looked at me a long time before he cracked a smile and nodded. “I guess I never thought about it like that. So it doesn’t bother you that she gave up her house to come live with me and take care of me?”
I chuckled before helping him to his feet. “Hell, that’s what attracted me to her in the first place, Charlie.”
Chapter Seven
Skylar
I wasn’t sure what had happened between Seb and my uncle on the porch, but as dinner progressed, it was obvious they’d bonded. I felt as though my uncle was finally back, and by the way he’d been teasing Mrs. Ryan all night while brushing up against her as he reached for a dish or platter, I could tell she was as shocked and pleased by his transformation as I was.
Seb was the perfect host: charming, attentive, and gregarious. He entertained us with stories about his work and family while asking questions that had my uncle and Mrs. Ryan sharing details with him as though they’d known him for years.
“Sky, you should stay and enjoy the rest of the evening with Seb,” Mrs. Ryan said, winking at our host. “I can drive your car home if Seb wouldn’t mind giving you a lift.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Seb said, smiling at me.
My nosy landlady was obviously trying to play matchmaker, but I couldn’t be mad at her. I knew her heart was in the right place.
“But we didn’t bring the wheelchair,” I reminded her. “Just the walker in the trunk. Uncle Charlie may not feel up to walking all that way.”
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