Page 746 of Hell Hath No Fury
“Quicksand pit.”
“What?”
“Quicksand. It sucks women down and steals their voices until they can’t breathe.”
“Right. So I guess I sucked her into my quicksand. The point is, Owen wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Okay. Let’s pretend for one minute that I have any interest in walking near his sand pit. Why do you think he’s different?”
“He brags about you. Gives the guys shit when you best them, which probably doesn’t help your cause. He’s proud of you and wants you to succeed at whatever you’re doing. His ego won’t get in his way or yours.”
“He moved, Len. If he’s so interested in boosting me up, shouldn’t he be here?”
“Owen doesn’t confide in me. This is just what I’ve observed. Why don’t you ask him yourself? I have an armored car I just finished for the new Director up there. Drive to Seattle and deliver it and see what happens. You’ll regret it if you don’t. Believe me; I know.”
I look at the older man, who is looking through a window into the office. His face softens when he looks at the kids, but I still see regret.
“Okay. When will the car be ready?”
“It’s ready now. I’ll tell the Director I’d like you to take it up. A nice quiet road trip might let you wrestle your heart.”
“You realize Owen and I have really only hung out for a few weeks, right? I think you’re being dramatic, but if the car has to go up anyway, I’ll take it to make you happy.”
“That’s all I ask.”
CHAPTER SIX
Owen
When Ms. Brand tried to break up with me a few weeks ago, I was gutted. My heart couldn’t understand how she could ignore what we both knew to be true: we were made for each other. Naturally, I did what any handsome, smart, successful man does when facing a difficult challenge. I called my mom. After I told her I’d found The One, she assured me I was a catch and my girl wouldn’t be able to resist me for long. I heard my dad get close enough to say, “If you don’t fuck up,” and when I hung up she was snapping at him about his language. Right before the phone hit the cradle I heard her shout, “Make sure you have a plan!”
Mom was right. I needed to come up with a plan. I spent long hours plotting; in the garage, hanging out with the guys, and lying in bed thinking about Elizabeth’s lithe body and dorky laugh. Or, rather, trying to plot. How would I convince a modern woman, focused only on her career, to give love a chance?
Someone must have complained about me moping around, even though I was doing my job, because Director Brand called me in to headquarters about a week after Elizabeth shot me down.
I slumped in his doorway, mumbling, “You called for me sir?” He took one look at me and said, “Jesus, not you too.”
“Not me what?”
“My daughter has been sulking around with the same look on her face.”
I opened my mouth to object but he put a hand up.
“I have an opportunity for you. Up in Seattle. We’re opening a new branch up there. The area is exploding with new businesses and therefore new crime. We’ll need a Mechanic. You’re young, but you have a good head on your shoulders. And frankly, you’re intimidating enough to lead the transport service we’re doing a trial run on up there.”
“Intimidating?” I stood taller and squared my shoulders.
“Sure. I mean, you’re huge. A goofball, but you don’t look it.” Oh. I slouched again.
“I appreciate you thinking of me, but I can’t leave San Diego right now. I guess you’ve figured out about us, so you know why.”
“I wasn’t asking, Stone.” This time when I stood taller and squared my shoulders, I wasn’t playing.
“There. That’s what I was talking about,” he said smugly. Then he waved at me. “Stand down, son. I have a plan for Elizabeth, too.”
Then he told me how he appreciated his daughter’s ambition, and he knew she could do great things. Just not here. She’d grown up with most of the younger Concierge men and they would never change how they thought of her. Any advancement she made would be credited to her relationship with him. He thought in a new place with an entirely new branch full of people who’d started working together at the same time, she would have no trouble establishing herself on her own merits.
So that was how I ended up here in Seattle, the new Mechanic of a refurbished garage across the street from a refurbished office building a stone’s throw from the airport. I’ve been running myself ragged setting up the garage and setting up an apartment.
