Chapter 17
Lightening strike – how it feels to get the surprise of a lifetime
Mercy
I groan as I wake up. My body aches in places it hasn’t ached in a long time. In places it’s never ached before. Gibson knows how to make my body sing. And he did over and over last night.
I roll over to wish him good morning but his side of the bed is empty. I listen for any sounds in the house but it’s quiet.
“Gibson!” I call, but there’s no reply.
Did he leave me alone in his house? What the hell?
I pound my fist against the mattress. I’m such an idiot. Of course, he took off. He warned me enough times how he isn’t interested in a relationship or love.
I should give him a piece of— The time on the bedside clock catches my attention. Damn. I’m late for work.
Gibson’s lucky I’m late because otherwise I would snoop through all of his things. And I do mean all of his things. Drawers, closets. You name it and I’d snoop through it. How dare he run away after the night we shared.
The night we shared? This is fake, Mercy. Fake. Fake. Fake. But it sure felt real last night when Gibson whispered sweet nothings into my ear while he moved inside me. When we stared into each other’s eyes as we came together.
It felt magical. Another reminder magic doesn’t exist.
I get out of bed and search the floor for my clothes. My panties are ripped beyond repair, so I throw them in the trash in the bathroom.
If Gibson expects me to chase after him, he’s going to be sorely disappointed. I’m done chasing after men. It’s time they chased me instead.
Enough of this stupid contemplation about a man who will use my body but doesn’t want me. I need to get to work and stop standing here thinking up ways to get my revenge on Gibson.
I hurry to the town hall where there are golfcarts residents are free to use. I hop on one and drive as fast as I possibly can to Basil’s garage. Which isn’t very fast. I bet I could tinker with this engine and make it faster.
When I pull into the garage, Basil steps out and crosses his arms over his chest as he waits for me. Thoughts of tinkering with the golfcart engine evaporate as I rush to him.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I’m usually on time.”
He looks me up and down and chuckles. I squirm as he takes in the clothes I wore yesterday. “If I had remembered your boyfriend’s band returned from their tour yesterday, I would have told you to take the day off.”
Busted. I feel my cheeks warm, but I power through it. “Don’t you worry. I’m young. I can work all day after a few hours of sleep.”
“A few hours of sleep? I need to talk to your man. He shouldn’t have let you sleep at all.”
I slap his shoulder. “You’re a menace.”
He waggles his eyebrows. “I may not be young anymore but I’m still fun.”
“I bet you are.” I motion to the garage. “Shall we get to work?”
He clears his throat. “Actually. I have something to discuss with you first.”
“Are you firing me for being late one time? I promise it won’t happen again.”
“I’m not firing you for being late.”
“I already apologized for having to redo the paintjob. I didn’t realize the paint was still wet.” Good thing I was wearing overalls because blue automotive paint doesn’t come out of jeans. Ask me how I know.
He scratches his chin. “Why do you think I’m going to fire you?”
“Because nothing ever goes well for me for very long and the downfall has already begun.” I snap my mouth shut before I admit Gibson ran out on me this morning. The town is too interested in our relationship as it is.
“Nothing ever goes well for you for very long?”
“Nope. Did I not tell you about the time I built up this great business and thought things were going awesome? But then I found out my boyfriend was cheating. And when I left his ass I discovered my name wasn’t on any of the business documents and I had nothing? Not even a job when my ex fired me?”
“Your ex sounds like an asshole.”
“He sounds like an asshole because he is one. He’s also a sucky mechanic. I bet the business is failing without me there.”
Not to brag or anything but the customers came for me. Not for him. Which would have been hard since he was always taking off for ‘house calls’. House calls my ass. He was sleeping his way through Kansas City.
Basil pats me on the shoulder. “You’re better off without him.”
“Damn right I am.”
“And Gibson seems good for you.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you seriously trying to get gossip out of me? Are you a member of the gossip gals?”
“Since I’m a man, no.”
“But you are trying to get the gossip.”
He shrugs. “I’m an old man. I need to live vicariously through someone.”
I snort. “I’m not blind. I saw the woman sneaking out of your house the other day.”
He grins. “Never said I was a monk.”
“Obviously not, you dog you.”
“Anyway, let’s have a seat in my office. I have a proposition for you.”
“I won’t do anything for less than a million dollars,” I quip.
He shakes his head as he leads me to his office. I study the room when we’re inside. I’ve never been in here before. It’s a mess. There are papers piled everywhere. There’s also a carburetor on the desk leaking oil on the papers there.
I motion toward the filing cabinets. “Maybe you should buy more of those.”
His chair squeaks as he sits in it. “Have a seat.”
The only other chair in the place is piled high with paperwork. I lift the pile up and set it on the floor. “Have you seriously never filed a piece of paperwork in your life?”
He shrugs. “Paperwork is for pencil pushers.”
I’m not much for paperwork myself. I’d rather work with my hands.
“What do you want to discuss?”
He leans back in his chair. “I want you to take over the business.”
My nose wrinkles. “What business? This business?”
He nods.
“But you barely know me.”
“I know enough. I know you’re a hard worker. I know you’re a damn fine mechanic.”
“It’s true. I am a damn fine mechanic.”
He chuckles. “And modest, too.”
“Being modest will get you nowhere when you’re a woman working in a man’s field.”
“I don’t have any experience but I expect you’re right.”
“Trust me. I am. It happens more often.”
“So, what do you say? You want to take over my business?”
“The tow truck business?” I ask since he can’t possibly mean his renovation business.
“All of it. The tow truck. The car renovation business. The garage. Everything.”
“Yes!” I shout. “I’d love, too.” I’m already thinking about how I can celebrate when I remember. I have no money. Sixty-eight dollars won’t exactly buy me a business. “But I can’t afford to.”
He waves away my concern. “Ask your uncle for a loan. I’m sure he’ll give you one.”
“But he needs his money to pay for a nursing home. I don’t want him in one of those government ones where the nurses chain the wheelchairs to the wall.” I have no idea what government nursing homes are like, but I’m not chancing it.
“Ask him. He can afford it.”
“Is my uncle rich or something?” I joke but Basil doesn’t laugh. His gaze on me is steady. “Shit. You’re not joking.”
“Nope.”
Uncle Mercury’s rich? Why is he living in a house in need of serious repair if he has money? Why does he wear clothes worn clear through? We’re having a talk later today.
“Anyway, you’ll need approval from the town to take over the business.”
I hold up a hand. “Hold on. I jumped in with both feet without thinking again.”
“What’s there to think about?” He narrows his eyes on me. “Unless you’re planning to leave Winter Falls.”
I scratch my neck. I actually haven’t made up my mind one way or another about Winter Falls. I enjoy living here. I’ve made friends. The town is a freaking hoot with all of its festivals and unique shops.
And I have no interest in returning to Kansas City where everyone knows Zeke was cheating on me. And where my mom lives. I’m surprised she hasn’t been blowing up my phone asking where the money from the sale of Mercury’s house is.
“I’m staying,” I declare. There’s no point hemming and hawing over a decision. Staying feels right in my gut, so I’m staying.
“The next town business meeting is in two days. You can present your proposal to takeover the business then.”
My mouth gapes open. “Two days? How do you expect me to put together a presentation in two days?”
I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I haven’t given a presentation since high school. And somehow I don’t think the business people of Winter Falls will be impressed with my presentation on the brown antechinus and how the male can have sex for up to fourteen hours at a time during mating season.
“You’ll be fine.” He stands. “Now, let’s get to work.”
“But we haven’t even discussed how much I’ll pay you for the business and the garage and the tow truck.”
My heart speeds up until breathing becomes difficult. Even if Uncle Mercury lends me the money, it’s going to be a lot. And I’ll have to pay it back. Maybe I shouldn’t buy the business. Maybe I should stay in my lane.
Basil rubs my shoulder. “Calm down, Mercy. Everything will be fine in the end.”
“And if it’s not fine, it’s not the end?”
“Exactly.”
I inhale a few deep breaths to get my breathing under control and stand. I am not a simpering woman who stumbles at the first obstacle. I will get a loan. I will get approval from the town. And I will make this business a success. Car collectors will fight for my services.
Just you wait and see.