Taken Hard (The Hard Boys 2)

There were still tourists who had bad luck with cars.

“I like you, Aunt Betty. Don’t go believing everything you hear.”

“It’s why I know you want more from that girl than friendship. Lilly hasn’t had it easy. You’re used to women walking in and out of your life without a care in the world. No one has looked out for Lilly, certainly not her mother. She deals with rejection on a daily basis. I don’t want to see her hurt.”

Caleb sighed and glanced over at Aunt Betty. “You talked to my mother.”

“Why do you think I’m here being nice instead of beating your ass?” Aunt Betty asked.

It took every ounce of strength in him not to burst out laughing. Aunt Betty was a fierce woman. He loved her, for sure. Most of the town did. She was a good woman as well. The way she’d taken care of Eliza, and now helping Lilly. He knew Lilly would be well taken care of with this woman looking out for her.

“I care about her,” he said. “I want to date her.”

Aunt Betty pursed her lips.

“You don’t think I’m good enough for her?”

“I didn’t say a damn word.”

“You’re looking at me like you’re thinking it.”

“Why aren’t you in the army if you can read what I’m thinking by a look? Just so you know, you’re wrong. I don’t think you’re not good enough for her.”

This time, Caleb frowned. “But you came in accusing me.”

“I also said the kind of crap you show the rest of the world. I always knew there was something more to you. Jane and Theodore wouldn’t have allowed you to be empty. You’ve got substance.”

He didn’t know if she was paying him a compliment or insulting him.

“I’m confused, because how the hell does walking her home constitute a damn date?” Aunt Betty asked. “I know I’m getting older and you guys have your social media and weird modern crap to connect with. Since when did asking a woman out on a date become so complex?”

Caleb held the clipboard at his side. He was totally not sure how to answer that, and believed if he did, Aunt Betty would slap him several times for pleasure.

“Er, I … Lilly … she doesn’t date.”

“So?”

“I … what if she says no?” he asked. “I don’t want to spoil our friendship.”

“Then how about you ask if she’d be interested in going out sometime. Not as a friend but as a date. Grow a spine. Lilly deserves a man who’ll work at her pace.” Aunt Betty looked at him and smiled. “I just knew it. I knew you weren’t the manwhore everyone said.” She went to him, cupped his face, and planted a kiss on his nose. “You’ll be good for Lilly. I just know it.”

Caleb watched her leave his yard, and he stood there with several cars waiting for his attention, more confused than ever. Glancing down at his clipboard, he didn’t know what the hell to do. Tonight, he was supposed to be picking Lilly up from the library and having their first book night.

He already had his sauce slow cooking in the oven. His mother’s best pasta sauce that had lots of dried herbs and seasonings inside. It always tasted so good. It was his favorite, and his mother had been more than willing to give him the recipe.

Rather than dwell on his strange meeting with Aunt Betty, he got back to work, hoping to get a bulk of the work done on the car currently in place.

As he worked, people stopped by for him to listen to odd sounds their vehicle was making or to change something. He did all of this while thinking constantly about Lilly. He loved how relaxed she was in his company. Nothing seemed to faze her, not even the women who tried to get him to go out with them.

By the time six o’clock came around, he was fed up with all the kinds of cars and ready to spend the evening with Lilly.

She stood outside of the library waiting for him. The moment she spotted him, she rushed toward his truck.

He quickly climbed out, offered her a hand to help her inside.

“Thank you. I thought I’d gotten tonight mixed up,” she said.

“I had a couple of people who needed some advice.” They’d arrived at the gate as he closed it. He’d told them both to come back to the shop tomorrow.

“Wait, before we go.” Lilly reached into her bag and handed him a file. “This is for you. I think it’s only fair you get to have a read. You did buy me a course.”

Lilly had no choice but to cut some of her hours back as the classes she took were at night. Three hours a night, three days a week.

He took the file from her hand and looked at it.