Page 9 of Come Around
Ruby’s eyebrows shoot up, and she looks between us with growing delight.
“Oh my gosh! It’s finally happening!”
Clay tightens his grip on Ruby’s waist. “Let them figure it out, babe.”
“But it’s the curse!” Ruby continues, ignoring her husband’s warning. “The Fit Mountain curse!”
Sami frowns. “What curse?”
“It’s not important right now.” I step closer to her. “What matters is that I’m not some stranger, Kitten. I’m friends with Clay, Ruby, and Lainey. I’m part of this community.”
Her chin lifts defiantly. “That doesn’t give you the right to tell me where I should work or what I should do.”
“No,” I concede. “But it means you can trust that I have your best interests at heart.”
Clay checks his watch. “Sami, your shift ends at two, right?”
She nods, still wary.
“You shouldn’t be walking to your car alone at that hour.” He looks at me meaningfully. “The parking lot gets sketchy late at night.”
I seize the opening. “I’ll wait and drive you home.”
“That’s not necessary.” Sami’s response is immediate. “I’ve been handling myself just fine for months.”
“You’ve been lucky.” Clay’s tone turns serious. “We’ve had three incidents in the past month alone. Cars broken into. A waitress followed to her door.”
Fear flashes briefly across Sami’s face before she masks it. “I carry pepper spray.”
“I’ll be at that corner table until your shift ends.” I point to a spot with a clear view of the bar. “Then I’m driving you home.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
I chuckle darkly. “Trust me, Kitten. I’m not offering to babysit you.”
“But what about my car?” Sami asks.
“I’ll have it towed to Boone Pierce’s auto body shop up in Cooper Hills to have it looked at,” I tell her, already pulling outmy phone to make the call. “I don’t like the sound that engine is making.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “How did you?—”
“I heard it when you started it this morning at the diner.” I scroll through my contacts until I find Boone’s number. “Sounds like a timing belt issue.”
“I can’t afford a mechanic right now.”
“I’m paying for it.” I hold up a hand before she can protest. “Consider it a welcome to Fit Mountain gift from a friend.”
Sami’s mouth opens and closes like she’s trying to find words. Ruby squeezes her arm gently.
“Let him help, honey. Boone’s the best mechanic in three counties, and his prices are fair.”
“I don’t take handouts,” Sami says quietly, but there’s less fight in her voice now.
“It’s not a handout,” I assure her. “I’m just making sure you’re safe. That car isn’t reliable.”
Sami looks at Ruby, then at Clay, clearly weighing their vouching for me against her own reservations. I can see the moment her resistance softens, just slightly.
“Fine.” She sighs. “But just a ride home. That’s it.”
