Page 23 of Billionaire Protector

She hadn’t yet seen Cole’s car since he’d been back, but she’d heard about it from every auto-enthusiast in town. It was much like him – sleek, smooth and good looking with just a hint of danger. She’d forgotten about his family wealth, attained from solid investments Cole had made over the years. Growing up, it had made her own paltry upbringing seem even worse, paid forby her dad’s odd handyman jobs and the modest life insurance from her mother. There were days when food would’ve been scarce if not for the kindness of Jack Carter.

Yet another tidbit Cole never knew.

He exited the car, and she gawked until two weeks had passed, or at least it felt like it. He wore low riding jeans over long legs and a black t-shirt stretched taut over his expansive chest, stopping just short of powerful biceps. His lips were full and sensual, and those cheekbones belonged to an actor from a police television serial, not an actual lawman. He strode with his typical confidence, wearing aviator sunglasses and a cool sophistication few could replicate.

She breathed out.Relax.This was the same guy who put applesauce in her shoes in third grade. Okay,sheput applesauce in his shoes, but still. There was no reason to get worked up just because he’d developed a little muscle.

Yeah, right. He was power and strength in one delicious, tasty, lickable…ahem.

She shot up, far too quick and far too eager, covered it with a little cough. He strode right up to her and then some, stopping mere inches away. He never seemed to understand a little thing called personal space, especially when it came to her. He spoke first, “I can’t tell if you’re merely unhappy or utterly devastated to see me.”

His humor challenged her resolve to stay firm. “I’d say devastated is most appropriate.”

“How flattering.” He lifted his sunglasses, revealing emerald eyes one could fall into, then laze around for a week or two. Intelligence, insight and challenge swirled in their fathomless depths. “Do you know it’s actually possible to like me? Other people do.”

Her lips twitched. “You’re kidding.”

“Truly.” Cole lowered his voice, as if revealing some deep, conspiratorial secret. “Even some women.”

That was an understatement. Half the unattached women in town were pursuing him, and the other half were too shy. They gushed about him at the police department, at the diner and even at the gas station. Then she’d gone to her book club, where they’d discussed a book touting how you don’t need a relationship to be happy. Somehow the discussion had deteriorated into how good Cole Carter’s ass looked in jeans.

She took a peek, just for research.

Well, at least they’d been right about something.

She looked up to see him watching her. With a smile.Damn.She quickly moved on, “It’s been great chatting with you, but I’m sure you have someplace to be. There must be someone going a mile over the speed limit somewhere.”

The sides of Cole’s lips twitched up, but he made no effort to depart. “How many times do we have to rehash this? You were going ten over when we had that conversation. Besides, I’d just gotten my own license and had the ‘obey the rules of the road’ speech from my father.”

“I was going six over. You rounded up.”

“It was twelve. I rounded down.”

Actually, it had been fourteen. “In any case, I’m waiting for someone…”

He disregarded her not-so-subtle hint, notched his head toward the open car hood. “Mind if I take a look?” He didn’t wait for an answer before stepping forward. Sarah tried to stand in front of the car, but blocking Cole was a bit like blocking a lion who’d just entered a rabbit den. He simply stepped around her and positioned himself in front of the automobile.

He gave a low whistle as he looked down. He touched a few parts, tinkered here and there and shrugged. “I know what’s wrong.”

Sarah opened her mouth to demand he leave, halted instead. “You do?”

“That’s right.” He then proceeded to tell her in not-so-layman’s terms a laundry list of problems her car was suffering, some small, some medium, some time-to-check-behind-her-couch-for-spare-change large.

Her frown deepened with every word. “Is that all?”

“Did I mention the plague?”

Sarah closed her eyes, counted to ten.

“Sorry.” He gave her a surprisingly sympathetic look. “But to be honest, that’s probably not all. It’s just what was obvious on first inspection. It’s not going to be an easy or inexpensive fix. At least old Sam will give you a good deal.”

He was right. The garage owner would give her a break, but it would still be pricy. “I guess I’ll have to forgo some of my usual luxuries this month, like fixing the toilet that only flushes when it’s in the mood.”

He wiped his hands on his jeans. “We don’t have time now, but I’ll take a look at that later.”

Not “Do you want me to take a look?” or “Can I help?” No, as usual, Cole Carter took right over when it came to her. Yet how could she be angry at someone for offering to help? She hid the scowl, tried for politeness. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.”

“Do you have someone else to fix it?”

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