Page 21 of Devoted Enough

Shit, I had forgotten all about it.

“I’ll take care of it.”

With a nod, she turned on her heels and went to the laundry room, then down to the guest bedroom.

I tried to gain my equilibrium. Having Haven in my home, in my clothes, in my bedroom, and eating at my dining room table was not in my cards for today. I needed to remember why Haven Larson was off limits. Her father had hurt her in ways that I still couldn’t wrap my head around, and I was the last guy who needed to be messing around with her emotions. She deserved someone far better than me.

Before I could head back downstairs, the doorbell rang. I knew instantly it was Hank. I quickly went to the door and motioned for him to come in.

“Holy crap,” he said as he left his umbrella on the porch and walked in. “It is coming down in sheets.”

“How are the roads?”

“Some are flooding, some are fine. I tell you what, though, if the temperature keeps dropping, we may get flurries.”

I glanced past him to look out the window on the door. It was a downpour out there.

“Haven’s car?”

“It’s in your driveway.” He looked past me.

“She’s changing back into her dry clothes.”

Hank nodded, then leaned in close. “I didn’t have her size tire, so I couldn’t bring it. Nate, all of her tires need to be replaced. They hardly have any tread on them. I know Haven’s mother can’t help her, but she needs new tires.”

“That bad, huh?”

He nodded.

Frowning, I said, “I was going to see if you could take it in and plug it.”

Shrugging, he said, “I can, but it won’t last much longer. I don’t even give it from here to her place in town.”

I reached up and stroked the stubble that was growing on my chin. “She needs to be able to drive it once this weather settles down.”

“I can take it back to the garage and see what I can do.”

“Damn, I’m sorry I had you bring it here. I thought you could just bring a spare tire with you.”

“I would have if I had it. I’d be worried about her driving in this rain on the other three tires, though.”

Nodding, I said, “Take the spare with you. It might be in better shape. I’ll pay for it all, and if she needs new tires, just bill me for that.”

Hank rubbed his neck. “Haven won’t like that.”

“How do you know Haven won’t like that?” I asked in irritation.

He looked up at me with a surprised look. “She’s so independent and likes to take care of everything herself.”

How in the hell did Hank Walker know that about Haven?

“Hey, Hank!” Haven called out as she walked down the hall to both of us. “Is my car here?”

“It is, but you aren’t going anywhere until you get the tire fixed.”

“Can it be plugged, do you think?”

He shrugged like he had done only seconds ago with me. “Maybe, but the tread is pretty bad, Haven. You’ll be lucky if it lasts until you get home.”

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