Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

“Um, not exactly. My dad isn’t around much. So, what do you think?”

“If you don’t mind, that would be perfect. I’ll pay you, of course.”

“No need to pay me.” With what she figured she owed him; it would take her a good couple of months to pay him back.

“Thea,” he reached out and gently grasped her chin, raising her face, “I’m going to pay you and I’m not hearing any arguments about it.”

There was a dominant note in his voice that sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn’t dominant in the way Jardin was. Jardin had a natural air of authority. People looked to him to take charge and he did. Easily. Even though Carrick was bigger and rougher looking, he had more of a laidback air.

But it seemed he could be dominant when he wanted. And for some reason, she really liked that.

She had to stop thinking about Jardin. He was her boss. Nothing more.

“Well, how about I work off what I owe you?”

He opened his mouth and she kept going. “For the parts, I mean. I know you won’t let me pay you for your labor.”

He looked thoughtful. Then he glanced round the office. “All right, I can live with that.”

She smiled up at him. This worked out far better for her anyway. It would have wiped her savings clean to pay him back, that was supposing she even had enough.

Suddenly, Carrick crouched in front of her.

“What are you doing?” she asked as he reached for her shoes.

“Taking these off you,” he replied calmly. “You can’t walk in these.”

“Well, I can’t go into a restaurant in bare feet,” she joked. “And shouldn’t we get moving? We’re already late.”

He gave her a thoughtful look. “What if we skip the restaurant?”

He didn’t want to take her out anymore. She guessed that was his prerogative. And really, he was probably doing her a favor. She was tired and in pain.

“Okay, sure. I guess I’ll grab my car and head off. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. What time should I come in?”

She pushed herself off the chair, but he grabbed hold of her shoulder, pressing her back into the seat.

“Stay there.”

She gave him a confused look.

“I didn’t mean that we shouldn’t do something. My house is a few blocks from here. I was thinking, if you felt comfortable, well, I could grab a couple of steaks on the way and I’ve got some cold beer.”

“Do you have a fan?”

He blinked. “Uh, yeah.”

“And a bucket?”

“I guess so. Do I want to know the punchline?”

“What? Oh,” she laughed. “I was thinking as I walked those six blocks that I’d kill for a beer, a fan and a cold bucket of water for my feet.”

“That so? Well, think I can do you one better than a bucket.”

“Then take me to your place.”

He hesitated. “Do you want to text someone and tell them where you’re going?”