Until Arden

She gives me a sympathetic glance. “I’m sure Dash wouldn’t mind—”

I nod once. “It just feels a little weird.”

Janelle giggles and kicks back in her seat. “He’s about as honest and reliable as they come, sometimes to his own detriment, but he doesn’t have a deceptive bone in his whole body—also sometimes to his own detriment.”

She frowns for an instant, as if there’s far more to that statement, but quickly shakes it off.

“So, I’m not going to end up on a missing person’s report?”

She rolls her eyes. “No. I assure you.”

This still sounds like a terrible idea. At least I have the next two days off to sort this mess out.

Returning to the dining room, I linger in the doorway for a moment and stare at Dash. He’s alone now, sipping on a glass of water. When he sees me, he sits back, stroking a hand over the dark beard that stops an inch above that little v at the base of his neck.

Until now, I’ve been trying desperately to ignore his appearance. He just looks like one of those guys who can snap his fingers and get anything he wants. He’s older than me, maybe five years. His hair is buzzed on the sides, but long and disheveled on top. His long arms are muscled, and his hands appear rough from work.

I almost turn back, but I only see a few ways out of this situation and, as Mom always said, beggars can’t be choosers. But when was the last time that listening to her worked out for the best? “So, if you’re still offering to call a tow truck, I’d appreciate the help.”

“Sure. They’ll be here in about thirty minutes.”

He already called.I roll my eyes and rock back on my heels.

“I figured if you said no, I’d call and cancel, but otherwise, I may as well get the process started because I’m sure you don’t want to be waiting around long after your shift.”

I roll my shoulders back, and the movement makes me wince.

“Do you have a ride home?” he asks.

I shake my head.

“Janelle mentioned you need to pick up your son.”

Of course she did. I wish she’d have warned me long before moving here that everyone in this town is quick to know everyone else’s business. Or at least ask about it repeatedly until their curiosity is sated.

If one more stranger walks up to me and brags about how cute Holden is, and immediately asks about his dad, I’m going to scream.

I bite back my anger and meet his gaze. His deep brown eyes stare back at me, filled with concern, although his features remain relaxed. It’s such a contrast to Shane’s emotionless, dead eyes, but I still don’t want to trust him.

I’ve made that mistake before, but it’s either this or... Well, there isn’t an or. My babysitter doesn’t have Holden’s car seat, so she can’t bring him home.

“How much have you had to drink?”

“Two beers and two glasses of water, over the course of the last two hours.” He holds up his glass of ice water. “Lots of alcohol the night before working construction all day in a house with no air conditioning isn’t a good idea.”

“You learn that from experience?”

“Unfortunately. And even worse, I didn’t take that lesson seriously the first time. Why so curious about my drinking?”

“Well...” I see the tow truck pulling into the lot, and apparently Dash notices as well because he’s on his feet before I can get another word out.

“If you’re okay with it, I’ll take you wherever you need to go.” He nods me toward the door and walks next to me as we head to the parking lot.

Okay with it, no. Without options, yes. “I appreciate it, and I know I’ve been a cynical pain in the ass, but—”

Dash chuckles. “No need to explain. We should grab the car seat from your Saturn before he loads it up.”