Chapter 9
Noah placed the extension hose of the vacuum back into its holder. He thought he’d heard someone calling his name over the noise and turned to find his grandfather standing at the garage bay doors. “Hey, Big Daddy. What are you doing here?”
“I’m just dropping by to find out how your date went the other night.”
Damn Riley and her big mouth. He knew it had been a bad idea to mention his date with Leah to his sister, but his excitement wouldn’t let him keep it to himself. Riley vaguely remembered Leah from high school, actually pulling out her old yearbook to refresh her memory. She’d probably told the entire family by now. “It went fine.”
His grandfather walked into the garage, moving around the silver SUV. “It must have gone better than fine since you’re detailing her car.”
“What makes you think this Is Leah’s car?” It was her car, her uncle arranging to have it detailed as a gift for her, but Noah needed to know how his grandfather put the pieces together. It wasn’t unusual for him to do detail work, especially when the boys were busy.
“Just call it a hunch, Noah. The way you were cleaning that car tells me you’re trying to impress the owner.”
Noah would admit nothing. “Every car is a rolling testimonial, Big Daddy. Isn’t that what you always told us?”
Art Wesley Sr. leaned against the work bench, arms folded across his broad polo covered chest. “When do we get to meet her?”
Frustration laced Noah’s exhale. Not only because of his grandfather’s meddling, but because Leah had been trying to throw up walls since the night of their last date. The pair stayed at Dayo’s bedside until the wee hours of the morning. When he took her home, he told her he’d check on her later in the day. When she didn’t return his calls, Noah went back out to the hospital, finding her at her uncle’s side, the surprised look on her face admitting that she had indeed been dodging his efforts to get in touch with her. “Big Daddy, I’ve gone on a couple of dates with her. Don’t start putting up the altar, calling the preacher or throwing rice.” He picked up the chamois and climbed inside the SUV, working on the dashboard. “You only came by to snoop or do you wanna help me get this done?”
“Nope, the boys are helping out at the dealership today. I told Riley to drop them off here because they’re doing construction on the overpass and I wanted her to dodge the traffic.”
Seconds later, Noah heard the stampede of feet that often preceded his oldest nephews Wesley and Winston. “Hey, Big Daddy!” they said in unison. When Noah leaned out of the open car, tossing them a wave, they greeted him in the same boisterous manner. The preteens were both well on their way to being six foot plus, just as were all of the men in their immediate family.
“Hey Big Daddy, Bubba,” Riley said, walking in the garage, dressed in black leggings and a t-shirt. Looked as if she would be using the time away from the boys to workout. “How was your date with Leah?”
“He’s being real tight lipped about it, Riley,” Big Daddy chimed in. “I think she’s giving him a run for his money.”
“You have a girlfriend, Uncle Bubba?” Wesley was at his side, wanting in on the conversation.
“Is she pretty?” Winston asked.
“When did this become an interrogation?” Noah went back to wiping the imaginary film from the interior he’d already cleaned. “I need to get this done. It’ll be picked up soon.”
“That’s Leah’s car,” Big Daddy informed the audience, wearing a shit eating grin.
“Well,” Riley said, walking over to the two folding chairs close to the door that led into the building. “I think I might hang around a bit.”
The clock on the vehicle’s dashboard now read 10:52. “I didn’t say she was coming, I said the car would be picked up.” In fact, one of his guys picked it up from the rink after Dayo arranged the service and he was told that it should be ready around eleven or so. While at first, he hoped Leah would show, now he was having second thoughts. His family being here had not been a part of the original equation.
“Noah. That SUV ready? The lady is here to pick it up.”
Sticking his head out of the vehicle, he gave Greg a nod. “I’ll bring it out front.” He turned back to his family. “You all stay put.”
“Come on, Bubba,” Riley giggled, obnoxiously shaking her iced coffee. “We know how to behave.”
“I mean it, Riley. You too, Big Daddy. Stay put.” If it was Leah, the last thing he needed to happen was his family ambushing her. During the second hospital visit, she was nice, but definitely skittish. Nowhere near the open book she’d been on their stargazing date.
Noah backed out of the garage and guided the SUV to the front of the white brick building. Leah stood next to a black sports car, dressed in a blue sundress, the tail kissing the area just above her knees and the springy curls he itched to touch again were pulled back in a puff. She was effortlessly beautiful.
He clocked the moment she realized he was behind the wheel of her car. Deer in headlights was the only look that could perfectly describe the shock on her face. She threw a quick look over her shoulder into the windshield of the car she was leaning against, and he did the same, seeing another pretty female behind the wheel.
As she looked for a means of escape, Noah parked next to the small car, then stepped out of the vehicle. “Afternoon, Foxy. Got her all ready for you.”
“I didn’t know you owned this place,” was all she could stammer out.
Flustered Leah had to be the most beautiful thing he’d ever been blessed to see. Wide, expressive eyes told of the unease but he had no intentions of letting her off the hook. “Yeah, it’s right next to my dealership,” he said pointing to the glass and concrete building about a football field’s length away.
“Are you Noah?” he heard from inside the black car.
The look on Leah’s face morphed from flustered to irritated in the blink of an eye. “Why yes, I am. Who might you be?””
“I’m Damaris, Leah’s younger sister.”
“The Art Crime Investigator?”
The grin on her pretty face grew as she craned her head out of the driver’s side window. “Yes, I am.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Damaris.” Noah extended his hand to her and she gave it a quick shake. He turned back, returning his attention to Leah. “You and she look a lot alike, Foxy.”
“We hear that all the time,” she said, seemingly finding her voice. “Uh, do you have my key?”
“Right here,” he said, digging the square fob out of his pocket then letting it dangle from his index finger. His gaze held hers, and he waited as she slowly approached. She probably thought he would try to take hold of her and while he was tempted, he knew that could backfire. She quickly plucked the key from his finger then stepped away, putting distance between them.
“Thanks, Noah.”
“Any time. Foxy. I’ll call you later.” The noise she made was noncommittal. He nodded to her sister who mouthed “Sorry” and lifted her shoulders in a shrug. Noah let his gaze stray to the busy four lane road, needing to occupy his eyes to keep him from staring at Leah like a lovesick puppy. In the middle lane of the road, he saw a compact car with the hazards blinking and steam pouring from its closed hood. “Greg?” he hollered.
“Yeah, Noah?”
“Come out here real quick. I need you to help me move a stalled vehicle out of the road.” Not waiting for an answer, he started jogging towards the street, as he got closer, seeing a woman sitting in the back seat, holding an infant. He made his way to the back driver’s window, finding it rolled down. “How you doing, ma’am?” he asked.
The young woman, who looked barely out of her teens, hugged the sleeping child close. “I’ve been better.”
“I’m Noah and that”s my place over there.” He pointed towards the car lot. “We’re gonna get you out of the road and over in my parking lot. That way you won’t be a sitting duck.”
“I’ve been trying to call my mom, but she’s at work and this is my little sister. We”re on our way to our grandma’s and it just started smoking.” Greg was soon at the back of the vehicle and he noticed that his grandfather was working on getting traffic stopped.
Noah pulled open the door and motioned for her to exit. “Honey, go on over to the car lot. We’re gonna get the car outta the road.” After watching her safely cross the road, he and Greg guided the vehicle over into the right lane and up into the parking lot. As they neared the service area, a couple of the mechanics came out to the work area and added muscle, getting it into one of the work bays. “Charlie, find out what’s going on with this and let me know.”
He turned his attention back to the driver, who by now was joined by Riley and the boys, heading inside the building. “Bubba, go get her something to eat. I’ll keep her company until we can get in touch with her family.”
Nodding his head, Noah told Charlie to give his grandfather the details if he wasn’t back from his errand and made his way back next door where his truck sat. As he got closer, he was surprised to see Leah still parked in the same spot. “Everything okay, Foxy? Is something wrong with the detail work?”
“No, it’s fine. Great actually.”
The way she worried her bottom lip and her hesitant eye contact drove him to solve whatever was causing her unease. “What’s wrong, Leah?”
“Have dinner with me tonight,” she blurted out.
“When and where?” He wasn’t sure what led to the one hundred eighty-degree turn, but he didn’t care. He wouldn’t question fate.
“I need to finish up some work stuff but I’ll call you in a couple of hours to firm up plans.”
“I’ll be waiting to hear from you.” Noah watched her SUV pull out of the parking lot. “Huh.” Whatever was going through her mind, he couldn’t say, but he wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip through his fingers.