Chapter 1 #5
One of my best friends owns a car dealership. I bet he’ll cut us a deal. We can get you a new car and then I’ll take you to lunch.
Alissa sat there for a moment, thinking.
Was it appropriate to let a man that she didn’t really know help her?
A new used car? How could she afford one?
If she took on another shift at the club, she risked being too exhausted to give one hundred percent to her students.
The only reason it worked now was that her shifts were on the weekends.
She couldn’t ask her mother for money, and Sophie needed every penny Alissa made now.
She would just have to take out a loan. If she continued working at the club, she could pay it down quickly. Unless something else happened. Her fate seemed to be working at the club into perpetuity .
Sure. That would be nice. I’ll be ready at noon if you want to come by and get me.
I’ll be there.
Jed’s friend worked at a Honda dealer with both new and used cars.
Jed’s friend quickly talked Alissa into leasing a new Civic instead of buying, new or used.
That way, she needed no down payment, and it only increased her monthly bills by a few hundred dollars.
Two additional shifts a month should cover it, she reasoned to herself.
She hated to work more but at least she’d have a reliable vehicle.
Her hands shook signing the paperwork. Was this the right thing to do? Please, God, let it be.
After completing the paperwork and driving off in her new car, she met Jed at a small café in downtown Redmond. They ordered sandwiches and sodas and sat at a table by the window. Outside, the rain pounded the sidewalks. A gas fireplace warmed the room, both in temperature and atmosphere.
He’d come to pick her up in a pair of faded jeans and knit sweater that clung to his muscular torso. Now, he pushed up the sleeves and drank from his soda.
She nibbled on the end of her straw, thinking about what to do with her old car.
“What’s wrong?” Jed asked. “Buyer’s remorse?”
“No, not that. In all the excitement, I forgot about my old girl, and that I’m going to have to pay to have it removed from the parking lot. Rif won’t like it rusting away there for long.” She sighed and tugged at her earring. “Just when I get ahead, something happens, and I fall behind again.”
He looked away from her to the window. Was it her imagination or did he look guilty?
“I already took care of it,” he said. “While you were signing paperwork, I called a tow truck and had it hauled off to the junkyard.” He reached into his pocket.
“As a matter of fact, the guy gave you three-hundred-dollars for the parts.” He laid three hundred-dollar bills on the table.
“He’s going to mail me a check, but I’ll give you the cash now. ”
She stared at the money. “But…but that’s too easy. You shouldn’t have done that. I mean, we barely know each other.”
He tapped the table with his fingers. “I thought you might feel that way. I mean, I thought about that after I already did it. Are you mad?”
She met his gaze. “Not mad. I’m not sure I love a man taking over my decisions.”
His shoulders rose and fell. “I’m sorry. I do that sometimes. I’m very action oriented. If I see a problem, I try and fix it.” He looked so crestfallen that her heart softened.
“I grew up with a single mom and three sisters,” she said. “We take care of ourselves.”
“I respect that, of course. But sometimes it’s nice to have a friend take care of you, right? Isn’t that what you’re doing with Sophie?”
“You remembered her name?”
He tapped his temple. “Anything to do with you, I’ve committed to memory.”
In spite of her uncertainty, she had to laugh. He was adorable.
“It feels different when I’m doing it for a girlfriend,” she said. “A man doing it for me seems wrong somehow.”
He put up his hands. “If you forgive me, I promise never to interfere in your life again.”
She returned her gaze to the cash in the middle of the table. “That will come in handy. And the car payments are not as much as I thought they would be.”
“I told you my guy would take care of you,” he said .
“Now you sound like a gangster. Maybe that illegal moonshine is still in your blood.”
He tilted his head and looked way too cute. “Do you like a guy with a little bad boy in him?”
“I do not like bad boys. Not even a little bit.”
He grinned. “Then we’re in business.” Sobering, he leaned forward, as if inspecting her for smudges on her face. “You’re beautiful. Do you know that?”
She did actually. Just then, staring into his dark blue eyes, she felt like the most beautiful woman in the world.
When Alissa arrived at work that night, there was a bouquet of two dozen pink tulips waiting in Rif’s office for her, along with a note.
Looking forward to our date tomorrow night. XO, Jed
Rif, behind his desk, placed his hands over his belly. The chair creaked in complaint as he tilted backward. “He follows directions. This is good.”
She sank into the battered love seat across from his desk. “You won’t believe what he did.” She told him the entire story, including having her car hauled off to the junkyard.
“I thought he was a good guy,” Rif said. “But I wasn’t sure he was good enough for you. This rarely happens, but I think I was wrong. He might be a keeper.”
Still dressed in her jeans and sweater, she crossed one leg over the other and pushed back her bangs. “It was a little heavy-handed, don’t you think? I’ve known him less than twenty-four hours.”
“You young women and your rules these days,” Rif said. “A man who likes you did something nice. There’s nothing wrong with that. Let him court you. Make him work for it, of course, but allow some romantic gestures.”
“What do you know about romantic gestures?” she asked .
His chair squeaked as he rocked back and forth. “I’m romantic as hell. Just ask my wife.”
“When was the last time you sent her flowers?”
“Last week for her birthday.”
She narrowed her eyes, like she did when she suspected her kindergartners were lying to her.
“I’ve got the receipt to prove it,” Rif said.
“Fine. I’ll take your word for it.”
“Listen, about this car payment. You’ve been doing a good job around here for years. I’m not sure how you take care of the weekend crowds without breaking a sweat but you do the job of two people. I’m giving you a raise. Another three bucks an hour.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Are you sure?”
“My wife hates that I make you wear that skimpy outfit, so I feel a little guilty. Yeah, I’m sure.”
She sat up straighter from where she’d sunk into the cushion. “Does this mean the costume is out?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Anyway, you’d be too warm in real clothes—the way you move around here.”
“Okay, well, I gratefully accept the raise, and now I have to go change into said outfit.” She stood up from the couch. “What do I do about the flowers? I don’t want the other girls to see them and feel bad.” She couldn’t remember anyone getting flowers delivered to the dressing room ever.
“I’ll keep them in here. You can take them home at the end of the night,” he said.
“He asked me what my favorite flower was.”
“I sure to hell hope it’s pink tulips.”
She grinned, ridiculously happy. “It is.”
He groaned and rolled his eyes. “You make sure to text me where he’s taking you tomorrow, okay? Just so I know where you are, in case I have to send the police searching for you.”
“Will do,” she said. “And thanks for looking out for me.”
“Anytime, kid.”