Page 36 of The Reborn

“Man, joo,” she singsonged to me. “Man, joo.”

I frowned, confused, but walked out toward the kitchen to start breakfast. Too late. On the counter was a box of pastries from the local bakery and a bowl of mixed fruit as well as a to-go coffee with a sticky note on the box taken from my junk drawer.

Was up early so I grabbed breakfast since you spoiled me with the most amazing tacos I’ve had in a while. Heard the baby was up before you so I gave her some juice. Hope that was OK.

J.

My silly heart fluttered in my chest. “The man gave you juice?” I jostled Lizzy on my hip.

She just smiled and sipped her cup, pointing a chubby finger toward the box of goodies.

“You hungry?” I opened the box and found an assortment of donuts, muffins, and croissants. I put Elizabeth in her high chair with half a blueberry muffin cut into bite-sized pieces and a few small pieces of fruit, then sat next to her with a croissant and the coffee, feeling a bit off-kilter. I’d never had anyone do something so—simply kind. Sure, my family did nice things for me all the time, but they were family. And Whitney was always there for me if I needed her. But this... this felt different for some reason, even though I tried to reason with myself it was just breakfast in exchange for a home-cooked dinner. It meant nothing.

We ate and I found myself sad that Justin was apparently nowhere around. When we were done, I dressed us both for the day, then grabbed up our bags and stepped outside only to stop short as Elizabeth began to wiggle and point from her perch on my hip. “Man, joo!”

Justin had the hood up on my car and was bent over with half his body under there, giving me nothing but a view of jean-clad ass and his work boots. When he heard the door, he uncoiled to stand, showcasing a nicely fit red t-shirt and even darker stubble. Those icy eyes landed on me before sliding over to Elizabeth as she pointed and smiled at him.

I walked closer and she got even more excited, bringing a hint of a smile to his own lips. “We both wanted to thank you for breakfast,” I said.

The smile didn’t leave him as he looked back to me. “If I’d known all it took was juice to win a girl’s heart, I would’ve pulled out that trick sooner.”

“We’re not all this easy.”

“That’s a shame,” he murmured, making sparks fire under my skin. “But you’re both still welcome.”

“So...” I tilted my head toward my car. “Maybe a dumb question, but what are you doing?”

“Not dumb.” He picked up a rag from the fender and began to wipe his greasy fingers. “I could hear those squeaky brakes of yours from two counties over, so I fixed them. Then, while I was at it, I checked all your fluids and changed your oil because it was, well... when was the last time you had that done?”

I gaped. “You . . . you . . . did all that? This morning?”

“I also paid some of my bills online and did a quick workout. In the house, of course. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone for too long just yet. But yes.” He dropped the dirty rag and crossed his arms across his chest. “You really need to keep up with your car better.”

Now I felt like a true slacker. “You didn’t need to do all that.”

“Hey.” He tipped my chin up with a careful finger. “I know I didn’t. I wanted to. Plus, it makes you safer, which is technically my job, right? So, it’s all good.”

With his finger near my face, Elizabeth reached over and grabbed it, wrapping her own little fingers around it as if she found it fascinating. “Man, joo!” She yanked it closer, bending it at an awkward angle.

He froze at first, as if he didn’t know what to do, then something washed over his face like her touch hurt, before he banked that away and let her lead him in. “Jus-tin,” he said slowly, sounding out his name for her. “Justin.”

“Jusin,” she tried.

He laughed, a hearty laugh that lit up his face. “Close enough.”

That laugh did things to my insides I didn’t dare begin to name so I pulled Lizzy’s hand back with a smile that felt forced. “Well... thank you.”

His grin fell a fraction. “You’re welcome.”

I readjusted Lizzy on my hip and pulled out my keys. “Are you about done? I usually leave to drop her off at daycare about now, then I have some things I need to do at the studio.”

He reached over to move the rag and a wrench, then slammed the hood. “All good.” He faced me again, his expression back to iceberg status. “I’ll be here most of the day finishing up the security system install on the house and a few other projects. When you get home, we can talk about my plans for your car and the studio.”

“Do you think all of this is overkill?” I asked the question that had been plaguing me since the moment we met in that diner. Creepy note aside, nothing else of significance had happened to me directly, so maybe someone was just playing a prank or something. A horribly mean prank, but still...

“No.” His tone rang with such authority, such finality, I was taken aback.

Elizabeth began to squirm, so I held up a finger so he’d give me a minute. I buckled her into her car seat and started the car, then stood facing him again. “Why not?”

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