Page 120 of Now and Forever

“Incredible,” the man agrees, looking at me.

I love leaving men openmouthed like this. I’m so grateful my father taught me to be something more than a princess.

“Do you have fuses?” I ask. He’s come closer than he needs to, so I move away from him.

Again, I realize he has no idea what I’m talking about.

“Do you know where the car’s toolbox is?”

The handsome man in the suit opens the rear hatch of the car and hands me what I’m asking for. Under his watchful eyes, I look for the fuse with the correct amperage, and, finding it, I take care of his problem. Two seconds later, the lights on the car are working again.

The look on the guy’s face is incredible. I just blew him away. The fact that a stranger, a woman, just came up to him and fixed his car in a split second has left him totally dumbstruck.

“Thank you very much, miss.”

“You’re welcome.” I smile.

He looks at me with his light-colored eyes.

“My name is Leonard Guztle, and you are?” he says, holding out his hand.

I give him my hand and respond.

“Judith. Judith Flores.”

“Spanish?”

“Yes.” I smile, charmed.

“I love the Spanish, your wines, and potato tortilla.”

I nod and sigh. At least this one didn’t say, “Olé!”

“May I call you Judith?”

“Of course, Leonard.”

I feel his light-colored eyes scrutinizing me for a few seconds.

“I’d like to buy you a drink. After what you’ve done for me, it’s the least I can do to thank you.”

Is he flirting with me?

Wanting to nip this in the bud, I smile and respond, “Thank you, but no. I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

“Perhaps I could take you where you need to go?” he insists.

At that moment, Susto barks and runs toward an approaching car. It’s Eric. Our eyes meet, and he’s pissed. He stops the car, gets out, and grabs me around the waist.

“I was worried. You were taking too long,” he murmurs after kissing me.

He looks at the man watching us and holds out his hand. “Hey, Leo! How’s it going?”

They know each other!

Looking surprised, the man stares at us, and Eric clarifies. “I see you’ve met my girlfriend.”

A tense silence falls over the scene, and I don’t understand what’s going on until Leonard, recovered from bumping into Eric, nods and takes a step back.

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