by J. H. Croix
When I arrived at the diner, I was informed I was working a double shift. One of the girls scheduled for the afternoon shift had a family emergency, and I was the lucky winner of being the first one in the door who could cover for her.
During the breakfast shift, my customers complained about everything from the coffee being too weak to the pancakes being too dense. I wasn’t responsible for making either, but of course, my boss held the complaints over my head. The afternoon shift didn’t go much better.
My feet ached, and I didn’t want to check, but I was pretty sure my toes were bleeding in these horrible shoes I had to wear. Before the end of my shift, a table of obnoxious teenagers came in, and no one wanted to take it over from me.
By the time I managed the handoff, I was running late. And now this. The only silver lining was that Emery was at Lori’s for the night. A good thing since I had no idea how I was going to get home myself.
First, I would have to find a way to get to work. Once I was there, I would have to find my way home later. I couldn’t afford a tow truck, never mind the repairs to my car. Evan had been my savior in that respect once, but that wasn’t going to happen again.
The last time, he had said the work would cost six hundred dollars. Knowing him now, I knew I wasn’t going to get away with any less than that anywhere. In fact, elsewhere it would probably be more expensive.
I couldn’t even almost afford to pay for that right now. Rent was due in a few days. If I missed work tonight—or worse yet, if I got fired—I wouldn’t be able to afford our rent either.
Unable to hold them back any longer, the tears broke free and started streaming down my cheeks. My chest heaved from the strength of the sobs coming out, and I hung my head down.
I prided myself on being able to handle anything that came my way, but I didn’t know what to do anymore. Where to go from here. Literally and figuratively, I was stuck, and I didn’t see any way out.
A soft knock on my window startled me. Swiping away my tears, I jerked my eyes to the window. I blinked a few times, but the man was still there.
Evan.
He motioned for me to roll down my window. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but I was too tired to fight any of this right now. Tomorrow, I would worry about my self-preservation and pride. Right now, I would do as he asked.
“Car trouble?” he asked as I cracked the window. The corner of his mouth pulled up into a smile that made him look almost boyish.
I sniffled and wiped the remaining wetness from my cheeks, shaking my head. “I thought I’d relax here for a little while.”
Cocking his head, he glanced at the front of my car where a small puff of steam was still lazily drifting away. “Smartass. I know a broken-down car when I see one. Occupational hazard.”
I was about to tell him he was the hazard, but I couldn’t muster the strength for any more banter. The truth was I was beyond relieved to see him. It was like my guardian angel heard my pleas and sent the one person I knew who could help. “I’m not sure what happened. I think it finally sprung one of those new leaks you warned me about.”
“I’ll take a look at it,” Evan said. He put his palms on the edge of my door over the open window. “I’ll call Phoenix to tow it to the shop for me. In the meantime, I’ll take you wherever you need to go. Sound good?”
I nodded before I could stop myself. The relief was there, and the offer to help was dizzying. I wouldn’t question why. Accepting his help didn’t mean anything. It was only to deal with the car issue. I would make sure the boundaries were clear. Something gnawed at the back of my mind, though, telling me this was a bad idea. After all, car trouble was exactly how things had started with us in the first place.
As if sensing my mixed feelings, Evan’s thumb hovered over his phone. He was waiting for me to give the go-ahead that he could call for help.
“It sounds better than good. It sounds amazing. I need to get to work, and I had no idea how I was going to do it now,” I admitted, thanking my lucky stars he’d driven by and had been the one to stop. I couldn’t trust him with my heart, but I could trust him for a ride to get to work.
“Let’s get you to work then,” he said, tapping twice on the car’s roof before walking back to his truck. Through my tears, I hadn’t noticed him pull up behind me, but now I saw his truck parked neatly behind my car, his hazard lights on.
After opening the door for me, he waited for me to climb in before closing it again and rounding the truck to the driver’s side. Pulling out his phone before he got in, I heard him talking to Phoenix with one hand already on his door.
“Hey, man. I need your help.” Evan’s voice was low, but I heard him explain the situation to Phoenix and end the conversation. “Thanks, I owe you one. I’ll cover the overtime pay. Don’t worry about it.”
After he hung up, he slid into his seat and gave me a shy grin I never would’ve thought he was capable of. “Where to?”
“Ken’s firm,” I told him, watching a shadow pass over his face at the mention of the man’s name. His jaw tightened and a tendon in his neck jumped. “Are you okay?”
He nodded but didn’t say anything. We drove in silence for a few minutes. I fidgeted with my hands, trying to keep my eyes off him.
Every once in a while, though, I lost the battle. I couldn’t help it. Despite everything that happened between us, my body still reacted to his faint scent hanging in the cab and to the way his muscles flexed and rolled on his forearms as he drove.
Evan was an insanely sexy man. I mean, seriously, even his forearms were sexy. No matter how badly he’d hurt me, I couldn’t deny I still wanted him. Physically only, of course. Especially since I knew what he could do with that delectable body of his.
I tore my eyes away from him, reminding myself of my vow to go out and buy a vibrator if I ever had these feelings again. A snide voice in my head whispered, Too bad you can’t afford one.
Evan noticed me noticing him. His gaze kept sliding over to my side of the cab, looking at me and watching my hands fold over each other in my lap.
It might’ve been my imagination, but I swore I felt desire zap between us in the cab as we continued our quiet assessments of the other. Of course, physical attraction was never our problem.
Lust hung heavy in the air. I squirmed in my seat, trying to find a more comfortable position that would allow me to ignore the ache building between my thighs.
As I was shifting, Evan abruptly pulled off the road and into the parking lot.
It was dimly lit and completely deserted except for us. My pulse started racing, the aching between my legs turning into a throb. God, how was I ready to throw myself at him after how much he’d hurt me?
I nearly groaned out loud, knowing if he tried anything, I would go along with it. My infuriating body insisted on it. My brain clung to the notion that even if it did happen, it didn’t have to mean anything. A break-up fuck. That was a thing, right?
When Evan turned to face me, the lust fizzled out and died. His eyes were serious. Though I could see the desire in them, he hadn’t pulled into this parking lot to screw me one last time. I didn’t know whether to be relieved, disappointed, or terrified about why he had brought me here then.
“There are a few things I need to say to you,” he began, squeezing his eyes closed tight before opening them and looking right into mine. My heart sank.
Sex, I would’ve been able to stomach after today. Undoubtedly, I would’ve regretted it majorly in the morning, but it would’ve been a pleasant release after the day I had. Talking, however, I didn’t know if I was strong enough for. “Evan, I—”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he said. His eyes implored me to give him a chance. “All you have to do is listen. I promise I will take you right to work after, but I need to get this off my chest.”
True to his word about my not having to say anything, he continued with his gaze never leaving mine. “Ken got to me last week. He showed up at the shop and told me if
I didn’t break it off with you, you were in danger. I didn’t stop to think. I can deal with being in danger because it’s my family. It’s my dad’s fault we’re in this mess, and my brothers and I can take care of ourselves. As soon as he threatened you, though, I lost it. I broke up with you, so he would leave you and Emery alone.”
Shock slammed into me. I couldn’t say anything at first. Finally, I blurted out. “Okay?”
Evan ran his hands through his hair and rubbed them up and down on his cheeks, shaking his head. “I didn’t realize what a stupid, idiotic move it was until my brothers talked some sense into me. I never meant to hurt you, Sadie. I know I did, but I didn’t mean to do anything other than protect you.”
Tears wet my eyes. Evan lifted a hand and gently caught a tear rolling down my cheek. “I’ve never done anything so stupid in my life. I miss you like crazy, Sadie. I regret that day more than I can tell you. I’m crazy about you.”
There were a hundred questions I wanted to ask, insults I wanted to hurl his way. I wanted to slap him and hug him and kiss him all at the same time. Overwhelmed after the day I had and hearing him say the words I’d wished for all along, I burst into tears again.
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry I hurt you.” Evan folded his arms around me and tugged me into his lap, stroking my hair and my back as I cried into the crook of his neck. He held me for a long time—until the tears subsided and I stilled in his arms.
Leaning back, I looked up into his eyes. Out of all the things I wanted to say and ask, as much as I wanted to run away and never look back and stay all at the same time, only two words escaped me.
“Kiss me.”
Chapter Five
Evan
A car honking nearby broke off the best and most intense kiss of my life.
When I drew back, Sadie’s lips curled in a smile. With a low growl, I leaned forward and pressed another kiss to her lips. I was so relieved she wasn’t pushing me away. She was really here, really in my arms, really kissing me back.
Sliding my hands into her hair on either side of her face, I cupped the nape of her neck lightly. “Do you understand why I broke it off?”
She nodded, tears shining in her eyes. “I do.”
There was so much hurt staring back at me from the depths of those green eyes, but it clearly wasn’t the time to bring it up. Instead, I ran my nose along the length of hers, breathing her in. “I would do anything to protect you and Emery, Sadie. I’m still worried about your safety, but if you’ll have me, I want to be with you. Everything else we can figure out.”
“I understand,” she whispered. It wasn’t the “yes” I’d wanted, but it was more than I could’ve hoped for. There would be a lot we needed to work through, to talk about. Tonight, I just wanted to be with her. Sighing, she rested her head against my shoulder.
I pulled her close, resting my head on hers and closing my eyes right before she stiffened and muttered, “Shit!”
Instantly wary, my eyes darted around the empty parking lot. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to get to work,” she told me, her voice thick with regret. “I just remembered.”
Sagging back in my seat, I tilted my head. “I hate knowing you have to work in the same building where Ken Lyons’ office is. It gives me the creeps and takes years off my life every shift you work there.”
Reaching up to stroke my cheek with her thumb, she said, “I know. Trust me, I don’t love my job there, either, but it wouldn’t look good if I quit abruptly.”
Rocking my head from side to side, I reluctantly agreed. “Probably not. Would you consider it though? Quitting?”
Having her working in his building was a huge deal for me. Not only did it make me worry, it downright scared me. She had a part-time position and mostly worked there at night when there were little to no other people there.
Sadie claimed she wasn’t afraid of working there because there were so many security cameras, but I saw the look on her face when we talked about the place. I noticed the shivers she got when his name came up and the guarded look in her eyes. She didn’t like being there, and she was afraid, regardless of what she said. I knew her well enough to know that.
Sadie twisted her hands into my hair, her fingernails stroking my scalp lightly. I nearly started purring from how good it felt. “I can’t quit that job, Evan. You hate knowing I’m working for him, and I’m not exactly passionate about the job either, but I can’t quit. I can’t afford to. If I lose that job, I can’t pay my bills.
I could help you pay your bills! My subconscious screamed. Better yet, she could agree to move in with me, and then I could pay both our bills. The thought appeased the alpha roar inside of me, but I knew it wasn’t going to happen.
I didn’t even mention it since we were still very much on shaky ground. The last time I talked to her about it, she didn’t respond very well. In a way, I got it. If someone were to offer to pay my bills right now and insinuated I couldn’t do it, I’d be furious. Especially if I were as independent and had been taking care of myself for as long as Sadie had.
Those were a lot of barriers to break through. Understanding it didn’t make it any easier to swallow it, though.
When the time was right, I would talk to her about it again. The time wasn’t right today. Sadie scooted off my lap while I started the truck again. “When you’re done with work, call me, and I’ll pick you up.”
We kissed for another minute when we got to the firm before Sadie hurried inside. I watched the door where she disappeared into the building. If sitting out here waiting would’ve kept her safe during her shift, I would’ve done it. Already, there was a security guard eyeing me. Instead of fighting the man over whether I could remain parked out here, I took a calming breath and headed off.
At least Sadie was right about the tight security Ken had in place. It didn’t make me feel better, but it meant there would be footage and witnesses if he approached her again.
On my way home, I got out my phone and saw a message from Sonny saying to come over. I called Phoenix first, wanting to check on his progress on Sadie’s car.
When he answered, it was with, “Why’d you call for a tow on that old thing? You would’ve been better off calling the junkyard.”
“I know.” I chuckled. “Good description. What’s the word on it? You got anything yet?”
I could practically see how Phoenix was scratching and shaking his head at the same time. “Yeah. We towed it, and I checked it out. Honestly? It’s barely holding up. It sprung a new leak, but there are about a dozen more right on the verge of joining that one. The oil leak caused it to overheat tonight, which was why she broke down, but it could’ve been so many other things.”
“It’s a danger for her to drive it right now, isn’t it?” I already knew it was, but it would go over easier with Sadie if I could say Phoenix agreed. She clung to this car like the damned parasite it was.
He laughed. “A danger? It’s a fucking death trap.”
“That’s what I was afraid of,” I murmured. “Have we got anything at the garage she can use while we try to fix this one?”
“We’re going to try to fix it?” he asked incredulously. “No offense, but it’s going to cost more to fix than the parts are worth.”
“Don’t worry about that.” I couldn’t break the news to Sadie she was going to need a new car. I would repair the one she had first and slowly start warming her up to the possibility of a new one. “We got anything she can use?”
“Hang on.”
We kept a few spare vehicles at the shop for situations like this. I could hear Phoenix’s footsteps against the concrete in the workshop. A minute later, he was back. “Yeah, we got two possibilities. I’ll check them out and tell you which one is the best option tomorrow.”
“Thanks, man. I owe you one,” I told him, hanging up before he could remind me how many I actually owed him by now.
After I spoke to Phoenix, I called Sonny to tell him I was taking him up on his offer
to come over. Waiting at Sonny and Niki’s was more palatable than waiting alone for Sadie to finish work. It would give me too much time to think. Besides, I wanted to get Sonny’s opinion anyway.
Niki smiled warmly when she opened the door. “Evan. It’s good to see you. Come on in. Sonny’s got a beer for you outside already.”
“That’s why he’s my favorite brother,” I joked, following her into their home. Before Niki moved in, Sonny had the bachelor basics. The house was filled with all of Niki’s things now, too, and her colorful prints, overloaded bookshelves, patterned pillows, and all the other stuff that screamed Niki made the place feel warm and homey.
The wood and leather look Sonny had going on before Niki moved in was transformed by her presence in the house. I’d never noticed it as obviously before, but I found myself wondering what my place would look like filled with all Sadie and Emery’s stuff.
Whoa there, tiger. You haven’t even gotten her back for sure yet.
Niki tossed me a smile over her shoulder as we walked outside. “How’s Sadie doing? Did she forgive you yet?”
I shrugged, but a part of me wanted to dish every detail to her and hear if I was forgiven or not. “I think she’s getting there. We only talked earlier tonight, but it went well.”
She smirked, sliding open the door to the deck and pool. “I’m sure it did. You boys can be pretty irresistible when you get your charming on. Too bad it’s covered in so many layers of stubbornness sometimes.”
“I heard that,” Sonny called from the grill. A bottle of beer hung between the fingers of one hand, and he had a spatula in the other, hamburgers on the flames in front of him. “Ignore her, Ev. She’s still bitter my apology didn’t come with a certain pair of antique silver earrings she saw in town.”
“Ha ha,” Niki said dryly, lowering herself into one of the chairs and picking up an open paperback from the deck next to it. “I only saw those a couple of weeks ago. It’s way too late for you to get them for me as part of that apology now. Next time, though, remember the shop’s on Main Street.”
