I nod.
“Well, that girlfriend is Alyssa.” As if his saying her name summoned her, she walks back into the front office from somewhere in the back, and we all turn to look at her.
“Why do I get the feeling y’all were just talking about me?”
“We were,” Rushton tells her. “I was just explaining to Crosby how Saturday was a big day for Sterling, and he was irritated that I was late. When I told him I helped someone with a flat, and he found out it was a woman, he referred to Crosby as a damsel in distress.”
“Right.” I laugh. “He’s not wrong. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was bound and determined to figure it out.” I hold up my phone. “I was depending on the ole interweb to show me how to change my tire.”
“I’m going to teach you how,” Rushton announces. “Just in case you are ever in a place where you need to know again. Wait, on second thought, just call me.” He grabs my phone and swipes at the screen, and I curse the fact that I don’t have a passcode on it. I watch as his fingers fly across the screen, adding his number, and then I hear a beep coming from his back pocket. “You find yourself in that situation again. You call me.”
“And what if you’re not around?” I take my phone from him. I don’t plan on calling him in the future if I find myself in need of a tire change. I’m a grown woman and can take care of myself. I don’t need to rely on a man to do it for me.
“I have eight brothers, and our dad lives close. One of us will come to help you.” He’s giving me a look that says his word is gospel. But what he doesn’t realize is while the sentiment is nice, it’s unnecessary. I might not know how to change a tire, but I know how to call a tow truck to get me somewhere that does, and I have the internet. I know how to take care of myself. I’m the only one who ever has. I don’t need a man.
“That’s very sweet of you, but I can take care of myself.” I smile kindly, letting him know his demanding looks don’t have an effect on me. Well, not the desired effect. They somehow make him even hotter.
“Crosby.” Rushton’s voice is low and growly.
Tingles race down my spine, not out of fear but of desire. I choose to ignore that feeling and square my shoulders and turn my attention toward Declan. “Thank you so much for working me into your schedule this afternoon. I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime. I’ll give you my card in case you have any trouble in the future,” Declan says, reaching over to the desk and pulling a business card out of the small display, and handing it to me.
“She has my number,” Rushton replies grumpily.
“She is new in town,” Alyssa speaks up. “The more people she has in her arsenal, the better.”
“She has me.” Rushton glares at her.
Declan and Alyssa share a look, and both crack up laughing. “It was nice to meet you, Crosby. Your car is ready.” He nods to where one of his employees is pulling my car into a spot in front of the building.
“Thank you again. How much do I owe you?”
“I’ve got it,” Rushton says.
“Thank you, but that’s not necessary,” I tell him.
“Consider it a welcome to Willow River gift,” he insists.
Shaking my head, I make eye contact with Alyssa. “Do I pay you?” I ask her.
“Yep. Come on. I’ll ring you up.”
“Family discount,” Declan tells her.
“Got it, boss.” Alyssa grins and takes her spot behind the counter and rings me up.
I can feel Rushton standing behind me. He’s pouting, I’m sure, because I refused to let him pay, but the referral and helping me with the spare were plenty. He’s done too much already. I don’t like owing people, no matter how sexy they are.
“Thank you,” I tell Alyssa when she hands my card back to me.
“You’re welcome. It was nice to meet you.” She gives me a warm smile, and I return it in earnest before turning to face Rushton.
“Thank you for the referral and for your help on Saturday.”
“You’re welcome. Are you heading home?”
“Yes. It’s been a long day.”
“Have dinner with me?”
“I really shouldn’t.”
“Come on. You have to eat.”
“I have leftover pasta in the fridge. I’m going to heat it up, take a long hot bath, and read until I fall asleep.”
“Read?” Alyssa says with interest from behind me.
I can feel my face heat. I’m not embarrassed, but talking about my sexy books in front of Rushton is causing me to blush. “Yeah, romance mostly.”
“Yes!” Alyssa holds her hand up over the counter for a high-five, and I slap mine against hers. “I have a monthly book club. You have to come.”
“Sure. That sounds fun.”
“Here.” She hands me a pad of paper with the Kincaid Auto Repair logo on it. “Write down your number. Is it okay if I text you the details?”
“Perfect.” I quickly jot down my number and wave goodbye to both of them. I rush out of the building and into my car before Rushton has a chance to stop me. That man is trouble. Not in “he’s going to jail” trouble. That’s not the vibe I get. No, he’s got heartbreaker written all over him.
CHAPTER
THREE
Rushton
“Why are you sitting on my couch on Friday night holding my daughter?” Brooks grumps from the recliner.
I don’t bother to look at my brother. Instead, I keep my eyes trained on my niece, who is wide awake, staring at me from her place in my arms. “Daddy’s grouchy,” I tell Remi. At just over two months old, she’s starting to be awake more when I see her, and I know she’s smiling at me even if Brooks insists that it's gas, and that she only smiles for him.
“You’d be grouchy too if someone was hogging your daughter,” he tells me.
“You get her all the time. I haven’t seen her in a few days. Besides, I’m not staying long. I promised Blakely we could go get pizza for dinner. I thought Declan and Kennedy might like the night off. I can take this little one with us if you want.”
“Nah, we’re good here,” he says. When I look up, I see his gaze on his daughter.
“It’s unreal how much I love her. And Palmer.” He shakes his head. “I didn’t think I could love her more than I already did, but seeing her bring our daughter into the world, watching her be a mother to the little girl that we created—” He pauses, clearing his throat. “I don’t even have the words to tell you what that kind of love feels like. Dad did this nine times with Mom. And Declan, fuck, Rush, Declan missed out on this. I fucking hate that for him and for Blake.”
“He’s getting it all this time around,” I remind him.
“Yeah.” He nods. “Thanks for the offer to take her with you, but I already have dinner in the Crock-Pot since it was my day off. I plan to spend the night in with my girls.”
Before I can comment, the sound of the garage door opening alerts us to the fact that Palmer is home from work. “That’s my cue.” I lift Remi to place a kiss on her forehead before standing from the couch and placing her in her daddy’s arms. “Uncle Rush loves you,” I tell my niece even though I know she doesn’t understand yet, but she will.