Page 23 of Never Have I Ever

Shaking his head, he backs toward the door. “No can do. Tomorrow is Sunday, and Darlie doesn’t let me work on Sunday. Call me on Monday, and we’ll try to find where you lost your car.”

“Who’s Darlie?”

“My wife.”

“Ah. Anyway, I didn’t lose it. It’s . . .” I look back over my shoulder and then wave in that direction. “Over there somewhere.”

His friend tugs the door open just as Blue Eyes fills the doorway. They’re quick to step aside, but their eyes light up like Christmas trees staring at him. He nods and changes places with them. The door closes, and he only gives me a passing glance. “The mechanic won’t be in until Monday.”

“Yeah,” I say, standing there wondering what’s next. Dropping my butt against truck’s grill, I cross my arms over my chest again. “I just met him.”

He opens his door but doesn’t get in. Instead, he says, “We have two choices. I can book a short-term rental for you in the area until Monday.”

I get up and face him. “You’d do that for me?”

Shrugging so casually like we’re old friends, he asks, “Do I have a choice?”

“You always have a choice.”

“Or you can return to the property. The cabin you were staying in is still available.”

“Huh.”

“What’s huh?”

I shrug this time. “I’m surprised you haven’t moved in the next one from the agency.”

His narrowing eyes aren’t less striking, and he’s still ridiculously handsome even when confusion scrunches his forehead. Maybe even more so. As if shaking the cobwebs from his mind, he stares at me a second longer. “You can deal with your car. . .” He continues like I never said anything at all. Typical. “On Monday and then go about your life like we never saw each other again.” Holding up a bag, he adds, “I got the food to go.”

“Why’d you do that?”

Without missing a beat, he says, “Because I’m sure you’re hungry just like I am.”

The gesture shocks me, considering our brief history. Still staring at this mammoth of a man, I let my thoughts wander to who he is and where he came from. It’s as if he was put in my path for a reason. I’m not ungrateful, even if I do detest him. “That was thoughtful.”

“You sound surprised.”

“I am,” I reply, dropping my guard an inch or two.

“Don’t read too much into it. It’s not like we’re having dinner together.”

Is he softening on me? Which is something a man would never want to hear. His words don’t seem to match his actions. “No, that would be awful.” It would . . . for sure . . . be just terrible to spend time with him . . . most likely.

I’m shot a look not meant to make me smile, but it does. I should take the short-term rental offer, but for some reason, I like the challenge he presents. I might even get him to eat my chicken pesto one day. It’s life-changing, and if I’ve ever met a man who needs their life changed, it’s him.

I think he gets a kick out of a challenge as well, and I have no intention of letting off the gas with him. “Option two.”

“Good choice.” He gets into the truck and flips on the headlights. Since I’m caught in the spotlights, I might as well make the most of it since I know his eyes are glued to me. I wriggle my shoulders and return to the cab. Marina’s not the only one who can put on a show. I taught her everything she knows. Not her acting skills but how to not take jack crap from anyone, especially not a guy.

I might be hearing things, but the faintest of growls has me checking over my shoulder for wild animals. I scurry up into the truck and hear it again when I’m buckling up. He’s shifting beside me, a pinched expression noting his irritation.

Tension lingers in the small space I’m sharing with him. I’m glad the battle has ended tonight, but I wonder if the war will continue in the morning.

He’s going for unapproachable, but I’m determined to figure a few things out.

One. His name. That’s not going to be fun.

Two. How does he have the same tattoo as me? Of all the people in the world, I just so happened to meet the one person who chose a star and rose design like mine?

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