Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

He frowned down at her. “Are you well?”

“Umm. Yes. Just can’t believe that happened.” She was elated. But there was a part of her that was sad she couldn’t fight her own battles, couldn’t stand up for the boys herself. “She won’t change her mind about us, though.”

“Snakes never lose their venom,” he agreed. “But there are ways of removing it. Don’t worry.” He reached up with his free hand and brushed his fingers over her cheek. The skin tingled in his wake. “I can’t give you a ride home, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, that’s okay. We’ll be fine. We can take a bus.”

He frowned, sighing. “You’re not taking a bus.” He turned as a shiny, black town car pulled up behind him. He walked over and opened the door. “Inside, boys.”

Ace whooped. Keir still frowned but that was nothing new for her suspicious nine-year-old brother.

Crap. How to tell him she couldn’t afford to pay the fare for the town car? She couldn’t. She sighed. She’d get in and have him drop them off a few blocks over. Poor guy had to make something for this trip.

As she slid by him, she glanced up at him. “Thank you,

Jardin.”

“You’re welcome, Thea. By the way, the car is paid for. And I expect you at work on time tomorrow.”

7

Carrick couldn’t believe he was so nervous about making this call. Finding a date wasn’t a problem for him. But finding a woman who was interested in something more than just having him take them to bed was. It seemed that was all he was good for: fucking.

Taking a deep breath in, he let it out slowly. Just because he’d been treated like an extra dick in his last relationship, which had been a permanent ménage, didn’t mean that was all Thea saw when she looked at him. He didn’t know her. It wasn’t fair to bring his baggage to the table.

The past had to stay there. That’s what he’d learned over these last couple of years. That he wasn’t going to move forward until he stopped looking back.

It was harder than it sounded, though.

It had been hard not to check in with Thea every day. He found himself wanting to call her, ask her how her day was going and wish her a good night’s sleep.

Considering he barely knew her, he figured that would come across more stalkerish than caring. So, other than the voicemail he’d left her that first night, he hadn’t called or texted her. However, her piece of junk car was now fixed. It was time for his date.

Settling on his small back porch, he took a sip of beer before picking up his phone. Would she still want to go on a date with him? Maybe once she knew her car was fixed she’d turn away from him. Wouldn’t be the first time that had happened.

Shit. Sally had really done a number on his self-esteem. He might not be rich or live in a mansion, but he now owned his own garage and house. Well, the bank owned most of it, but he was slowly paying that debt off.

He was a good guy, had all his own teeth, and kept himself in shape. And he sounded like he was trying to sell himself.

Just make the damn call.

Hitting her name on the screen, he waited nervously as it rang. Would she even answer?

Course she will, she wants her car back, doesn’t she?

“Hello?” The breathless note in her voice hit him hard. Immediately, he frowned. Had he interrupted something? She’d said she didn’t have a boyfriend but still.

Stop being a suspicious ass.

“Carrick? Is that you? Are you there?”

“Uh, yes, hi. It’s me.”

Lame, man.

He blew out a breath. “How are you? Am I interrupting something?”

“More like rescuing me from something.”