Page 18 of Undone, Love Times Three

Helping women out might be looked at differently these days but my mom always taught me to be chivalrous. So long as the person on the receiving end of it doesn’t take offence.

Sylvie stays close by, watching. She chatters away about anything and everything and I grin while I work, throwing in some questions to keep her going.

She’s nervous again. I get it. After our last meeting, I didn’t think I’d see her again. As I was making my escape from my cousin’s questions and the firehouse, I spotted her car. The distinctive logo on the sign caught by eye first.

Then the woman crouched down holding her head in her hands made me pull over to help. It was obvious she had a flat the minute I got out of the car. I could have lectured her about the spare tire, but she looked annoyed enough at herself as it was.

Derek knocked off a good amount on the tire, telling Sylvie it was repurposed when it was brand new. I’m sure she realizes I got her a deal, just not that good of one.

The last nut is tightened, and I stand up, stretching out my back. Sylvie gets up from her seat on the sidewalk and watches as I lower the jack, so the car sits level on the road.

“Thank you, so much. You saved my butt.” She wipes at the seat of her pants to brush any dust away.

It’s a nice butt to save. “No problem,” I tell her instead of what I’m thinking. “Just glad I could help.”

“It’s really appreciated.”

“You know you still need to get another spare.”

“Don’t remind me,” she laughs. “I’ll get it sorted.”

Her phone beeps and she turns away to read it while I put the equipment away in the trunk.

“That was the towing company, they said they're free now,” she smiles with a shake of her head. “I told them someone already saved the day.”

“Not sure about that,” I close her trunk.

“Are you kidding, not only did you help me get the car roadworthy again. You took me to my client’s place too. Not many people would have done that.”

“You’re making me blush,” I grin.

Sylvie’s eyes widen slightly but she laughs back at me. Damn she has a great laugh, infectious.

There is no more reason to linger. Walking away right now feels kind of shitty. It was not what I was expecting to do this afternoon, but I’m glad I ran in to her again. Colt is right, there has been something on my mind the last few days.

My internet history will prove that given the number of times I’ve gone to Love in Bloom’s webpage.

“Here.” Sylvie is holding out a packet of wet wipes. “For your hands.”

“Thanks,” I take them and do as good a job as I can with getting the grease off my hands. “Are you going home now? Or back to work?”

“Home. Perks of being the boss. I’ve already called the girls and told them to close up for me. It’s been a day,” she says with a wry smile.

“Do you mind if I follow, just to make sure everything is okay?” Seriously. That sounded lame even to me. “That way if the tire falls off, I’ll be able to help.”

“If the tire falls off, I’ll be blaming you and fixing it myself, buddy.”

She laughs at my indignant look. We stare at each other for a moment, then she agrees. I hide the full-on smile until I’ve walked away towards my truck.

There is no reason for me to follow her. That tire is on properly, it will not fall off.

What I should have been doing this afternoon while I’m off shift is pick some things up from the hardware store. I’ve beenworking on a rear extension at the house for a couple of years now and it’s finally watertight and open to the rest of the ground floor.

This is a pleasant reprieve. I’d much rather be helping a beautiful woman than picking up drywall. As I follow, I come to a decision. I’m going to forget she didn’t tell me who she was on our first date, and focus on who she really is.

She may have lied, but she made me laugh. She’s thoughtful and selfless and has a lot of interesting stories. Sylvie cares about her work and doesn’t like to let people down. It’s written all over her face how bad she felt not telling me the truth on our date.

She’s hot as hell too. That woman today was wrong about her appearance. Her wild curly hair and stained knees only made her more appealing to me. Plus, she has a pet tortoise who she calls a little asshole, then cuddles.

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