“Wait. What’s going on here?” I step around Owen and look at the manager.
“He took care of everything, Ms. Massey. Your car is as good as new.”
“Owen?”
“Thank you,” he tells the manager. “We’ll take the keys now, but we’ll be back to pick it up later this evening.”
“No problem. Thank you for your business.” The manager shakes his hand and disappears down the hall.
Owen turns to face me. “Ready?”
I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. “What just happened here, Owen?”
“Come on. We can talk about this in the car.” He reaches for me, and I step back. “Layla.”
“Tell me, did I imagine this, or did you just pay to fix my car? I don’t have the money, Owen. I can’t pay you back for this.”
He exhales loudly. “I don’t want you to pay me back. Let’s go to the car, and we can talk more privately.”
I look around and see that the guys in the garage are watching us through the window. “Fine.” Turning on my heel, I stomp out to his rental car. I slam the door harder than needed, but I’m angry, hurt, embarrassed, and hell, I’m so damn confused about what’s going on here.
“Layla,” he starts, but I turn in my seat, and the look on my face must stop him.
“Why? Why would you do that? I was taking care of it. I needed to work a few more shifts, but I was handling it. Why would you go behind my back and pay to have my car not only fixed, but apparently you had them do an overhaul? You don’t even know me, Owen.”
“I don’t expect you to pay me back. I did it because I can. Because I see how hard you work, and because from what you’ve told me, you were dealt a shitty hand at life, and I wanted to do something nice for you.”
That takes some of the wind out of my sails. “You don’t even know me,” I say again, this time with less heat.
He reaches out and cradles my face in the palm of his hand. “I do know you. I know you bust your ass for a tiny wage, you work your life away only to feel like a hamster in a spinning wheel. I know you have no one, other than Ronnie and Linda. I know that your feet hurt, but you can’t afford new shoes. I know that you give food to the thugs who hang out outside of your apartment building. You are scraping to get by, yet you give what you have to those in need. You’re an amazing woman, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about you.”
My heart flips over in my chest. “How did you—”
“They told me. After I paid them to leave the last two nights so that I knew you would be safe. I didn’t find out until after I paid them off the second night that they sort of look out for you.”
I nod. “I tried to tell you they were harmless.”
“I know you did, but what I saw was this beautiful woman, living on her own in a rough part of town, and a group of guys catcalling and making lewd comments to her.”
“It’s not your problem,” I remind him.
“You know, I tried to tell myself that too, but it seems as though when it comes to you, I’m making it my problem.” He leans in closer. “I can’t seem to help myself, Layla, not when it comes to you. You captivate me, and you’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever met.”
“That doesn’t make it okay.” My voice is barely a whisper as he leans in closer.
“I know.” His lips are now just a breath away from mine. “I’m going to kiss you now,” he says, his voice husky.
“Are you asking?” My heart is racing, and my palms are sweating. He’s going to kiss me. I’m sure of it, no matter what I say. What I’m even more certain of is that I want him to.
“I’m telling.” And with that, he leans in and presses his lips to mine. He’s still giving me the chance to back away, but I don’t take it. I want to know what it’s like to kiss this sexy, overbearing man.
When his tongue traces my lips, I open for him, and he growls. His hand that was once on my cheek slides around to the back of my head, and he holds me close, sliding his tongue past my lips. It’s slow, sensual, and sexy. The feel of him holding me to him, the way he tastes, the heat of his body, it’s better than I ever could have imagined, and I confess that over the last week, it’s been a recurring image in my mind.