Page 16 of Vas

Her head started shaking before words came out. “No.” She realized how rude that sounded and amended, “I mean, I appreciate the gesture, but I really can’t accept a new phone or you paying my monthly phone bill.”

“Why not?” His scowl was back.

“Because I barely know you. You barely know me.”

“Weren’t you the one who said we were friends? You made me shake on it and everything.”

She noticed the sparkle in his eye and ground her teeth. Foiled by her own damn cleverness. She huffed out a breath. “I already owe you more than I can ever pay back.”

“So then, what’s one more thing?” He shrugged.

Shrugged! As though it were no big deal.

She was about to argue more when something niggled her brain, his words fully sinking in. Was it as big of a deal as she thought it was or was it her pride ruling over good sense? She needed a reliable phone. He was offering her one. It would be stupid not to accept his generous offer. But she would pay her share of the monthly bill, adding a bit extra to pay off the phone. She supposed if she cut out her weekly splurge for pizza, she could swing it.

She was just about to reluctantly accept when he amended, “Technically, two more things.”

Her eyes flew up to lock with his while her brain shouted at her.No, no more things! She took a calming breath to compose herself before asking, “What else?”

Oblivious to her inner freakout, Vas simply stated. “I found a new distributor for your car and installed it this morning. It still needs a tune-up and an oil change, but it shouldn’t give you too much trouble until I can get to that.”

Overwhelmed, Anna’s head dropped to stare at the toes of her sneakers. She counted to five and when that didn’t work, counted to ten. When she had her emotions back under control, she calmly said, “Again, thank you, but you really should have asked before doing that.” Which she thought was a very diplomatic response to his highhanded actions.

Vas didn’t think so. He placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head until her eyes locked with his. “And again, I ask why?” The finger under her chin moved to cover her lips before she could answer. “Because with or without your permission, I was fixing your car.” He wasn’t done. “And now that it’s fixed, you can either accept that and move on or be stubborn and take the bus home.” He shrugged as if it didn’t matter to him one way or the other then removed his finger. “Now. I’ll take that cup of coffee.”

At a complete loss for words and somewhat in a daze, she did as he requested, stepping around him to proceed to the kitchen, all the while, fighting the urge to lick her still tingling lips where his finger had been.

∞∞∞

Vas disappeared again after that day but not before taking the keys to her car only to return them later that night stating he’d given her car a tune-up and oil change. Then he promptly ordered a piece of pie as if nothing out of the ordinary had transpired.

She, in turn, refused to give him a check, declaring his pie was on her.

He proceeded to leave a twenty-dollar bill on the table, sneaking out before she discovered it.

The big ass.

And now it was one day shy of a full week later and she hadn’t heard a single word from him since. She hated that she was bothered by that, but she couldn’t fool herself into thinking she wasn’t.

“Got any plans tonight?” Tiffany asked, sidling up to her.

They were working the midday shift and were off at five. Which would’ve been nice if she’d had plans. Seemed even on Valentine’s Day she was destined to be alone. “I’ve got a date with Ben and Jerry.”

“Ooh, a threesome. Kinky.” Tiffany giggled then proceeded to gush, “Luke is taking me out to dinner at Benihana and then home for a little dessert.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

Anna loved Benihana, where the chef cooked on a large grill right at the table, putting on a show by flipping spatulas and making jokes. It had always been her family’s go-to restaurant for special occasions.

Envious of both Tiffany’s dinner anddessert, she still managed to produce a bright smile for her friend. “That sounds like so much fun. You’ll have a great time.”

Astute as always, Tiffany saw past her facade, her smile dimming. “We need to find you a man.”

“No,wedon’t.”

“Luke has a friend who just got out of a relationship with a total shrew. He’s prime pickings. Show him a little sweet and he’ll kiss the ground you walk on.”

Anna waved a dismissive hand.“Pass.” The last thing she wanted was for Tiffany to set her up on any blind dates.

“Come on,” she wheedled. “It would be great. We could double date.”

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