Chapter 3
October
Manny
After buttoning up the front-end alignment on Mrs. Dugan’s old Caprice, I take it for a quick test drive around the block, knowing that as soon as it snows, the ol’ girl will hit another curb, and the Caprice will be back in for another appointment again.
She’s done it so many times in the last couple of years that the garage owners, Ezra and Aaron Curtis, give her an extra discount along with her senior discount now.
I’ve been anticipating seeing the lovely, albeit awkward, Leah Dawson today.
I’ve wondered more times than I care to count over the last few days whether, if I tucked her caramel-colored hair behind her ear to reveal her pretty brown eyes, it would feel as soft as it looked.
And if I did, would those eyes still be shadowed with vulnerability?
There’s just something about her that captured me.
Something… I don’t know… authentic. Like maybe the broken in me recognizes the broken in her, or some such cosmic bullshit.
All I knew then was that I needed to touch her, so I held out my hand and introduced myself.
The instant her smooth, cool skin slid against the warm roughness of my own, I swear, every clichéd metaphor I’d ever heard came true.
Struck by lightning. Check. The earth stood still.
Check. Hit a brick wall. Check. Check. Check.
I could hardly wait to see her, maybe flirt with her some more, just to see if I could get that lovely shade of pink to color her creamy cheeks again.
Was the attraction arching between us as intense as I’d thought, or was it only one-sided?
But then she dropped off her truck before seven, leaving the keys in the drop box, so I missed the chance of seeing her.
Needless to say, I was disappointed, not to mention low-key anxious all damned day.
And isn’t that a mind-fuck? I spent a year with Jolie and never had this sort of reaction.
Twenty minutes in Leah’s company, and I’m suddenly invested.
I’ve even gone so far as to write down the site number and drive through the campground to see if I could spot her again on my afternoon off.
Is it stalkerish as fuck? Hell yeah, but she isn’t like any woman I’ve ever met, and I’m seriously interested in getting to know her.
She also hasn’t been at her site, so I feel doing it isn’t quite as creepy as it could have been, but man, I feel like she has me by the balls… in a good way.
With a short puff of amusement, I tromp through the garage’s side door and into the office. Della, the white-haired busybody who replaced Jolie at the front counter, gives me a weak half-smile as her eyes dart toward Ezra’s closed office door and then back to me.
Here we go again. Ezra and Aaron must be on their weekly conference call with Jolie.
Even though she left Montana, she still handles all the HR and payroll stuff remotely.
I wish everyone could get it through their heads that there isn’t any animosity between us, even if Jolie alluded to me being the one to end it.
She never outright lied, but she hasn’t told them the truth either.
I guess that made it easier for her to get away, not that she was a prisoner here, but she kind of left me the bad guy, holding the bag, especially in her sister Jorie’s eyes.
Yeah, I could have argued everyone’s assumptions, but I chose not to. Jolie’s and my breakup really wasn’t a big deal; it was a relief for both of us. It wasn’t anyone else’s business, especially Jorie’s, even if her change of attitude toward me stings.
“Della, the Dugans’ car is ready. Can you call her and her son and let them know?”
I don’t wait for an answer. Instead, I head out into the garage and raise my bay door so I can keep an eye on the front lot.
Mrs. Dugan’s car was the last one on the schedule for the day and the week, unless we get a wrecker call or someone stops in.
I have a couple of hours to put in until the workday is over, but there are always things to do, so I spend some time cleaning my bay and organizing my tools.
Grabbing the shop broom, I sweep up the floors, then I check over the hydraulics on each lift.
That’s where Aaron finds me. “Hey, Manny, I need your help with a delivery.”
I frown. We don’t usually make deliveries, and it’s getting really close to quitting time on a Friday.
“Yeah, I know, but the owner of the blue Dodge truck called. Seems Larry was her ride over, but he slipped and threw his back out this morning, so he’s laid up.
She’s willing to pay an extra delivery fee, and she settled the bill over the phone, so I need you to deliver it to her.
I’ve got a few calls to make, and then I’ll follow and bring you back here to pick up your truck. ”
“Yeah, okay, I can do that.” You bet your ass I can do it!
It’s the golden opportunity falling right into my hands. There’s no way I’m going to waste it. Sure, I feel bad for Larry, and I hope he’s gonna be alright. He’s the only cabdriver in town, and it’s his livelihood, but man, this couldn’t be more perfect.
“Hey, do you know if the special orders came in? There’s a kit of fuses belonging to the same customer. It’ll save her a trip and all.”
“Uh-huh. Good customer service, man.” Aaron smirks. “I heard she was pretty.”
He knows exactly what I’m doing. Hell, before he met his wife, Brielle, he’d be doing the same thing.
“Yeah, the orders are in. That’s actually one of my calls. Guess, I’ll see you in a bit, bro.”