Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

Crap!

Okay, one issue at a time. Either way, she was going to have to part with some money to get her car fixed. If she had her way, she’d take it to old Joe who lived three streets over and took care of the neighborhood cars for a case of beer and a pack of cigarettes.

Of course, that could be the reason her car was now smoking, considering Joe had just given the motor a tune-up.

Awesome.

He grabbed a rag and undid that same cap. That would have been much smarter than just reaching for it with her poor hand, which still throbbed.

She pushed the pain to one side. She couldn’t do anything about it then, and looking at it would just make it hurt worse.

“Can you fix it then? I’m going to be late for work.” She didn’t want to sound rude or ungrateful, but she really had to get to work. Her boss hated tardiness.

She was certain that if he had his way she’d live at the office. He practically did.

“Unfortunately, I can’t.”

“But I thought you were a mechanic.” Maybe, like old Joe, he wasn’t a very good one.

“Shame. Looks like he should be good with those hands,” she muttered to herself.

“Excuse me?”

Her eyes went wide as she stared up into the handsome man’s face. A smile curved at his lips as his eyes danced down at her. “Did you just say I look like I should be good with my hands?”

“Nope, I didn’t say that.” Because that would be way too embarrassing.

The look he gave her told her he thought she was a complete and utter liar.

“Can’t do it now, I’ll have to get it towed back to my garage. It’s not far from here.”

She chewed at her lip anxiously. “Can’t I drive it now and get it to a garage after work?”

“Not unless you want to blow your engine up,” he replied. “And that I can’t fix.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

She thought about her options. The car couldn’t stay there, it would just get towed and she’d never be able to pay the towing fees and the fine. But if she let this guy tow it to his garage who was to say he was any good? Or that he’d charge a fair price?

She sighed. Only one option was clear.

“I’ll get it towed myself. Thank you.”

He gave her a skeptical look and shut the hood, turning and leaning his ass back against it. “I’m good at what I do, and I don’t hike my prices.” His gaze turned thoughtful. “Tell you what. I won’t charge labor; you just pay for any parts that are needed.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that,” she said.

“You aren’t asking, I’m volunteering.”

She shook her head, feeling ashamed. “I don’t need charity.”

Reaching out, he tilted up her chin. That time she didn’t flinch back. His blue eyes stared down into hers. “Go on a date with me then.”

“P-pardon?”

“Payment for my labor. Go on a date with me. Unless you have a boyfriend?”

She blinked. “No, I don’t. You’re seriously going to tell me that