Chapter 3
DANNY
M ichelle Singer was sitting right next to him!
Danny cleared his throat, doing his best to play it cool as he reached for the gear stick. The problem was, he didn’t feel remotely cool. He felt like a drowned rat who’d just won the lottery and couldn’t quite believe his luck.
Michelle Singer. In his truck.
This was the girl he’d harboured a gigantic crush on right the way through secondary school.
The girl who’d been completely off-limits thanks to the ridiculous grudge that existed between their fathers.
The girl who’d disappeared from Crumbleton to her shiny new life with that flashy boyfriend of hers before Danny could build up the courage to do anything about his feelings… like actually speak to her!
Now, here she was, sitting in his passenger seat with Elvis draped across her lap like they’d been friends for years.
Danny eased the truck forward, hyper-aware of every little detail about her—from the way her long fingers danced across Elvis’s ears to the way her damp hair was starting to curl around her face.
He sucked in a deep breath, trying to get a grip. It didn’t help in the slightest as he caught a faint hint of her cinnamon scent.
Pull it together, you muppet!
Danny cast a quick glance behind them to check that Michelle’s heap of rust was still secure on the back of the truck.
It had been a bit touch-and-go there for a moment.
The poor little car was in such a state that there hadn’t been much solid metal left to attach the chains to.
For one horrible second, he’d been convinced the winch might just pull the whole front end clean off.
That would really impress her, wouldn’t it? Destroying what was left of her car before he’d even got it back to the garage!
Thankfully, everything seemed to be holding together. Just about.
‘Right then,’ he said, trying to sound casual and professional rather than like a teenager who’d just been handed the keys to a Ferrari. ‘Where were you headed?’
‘Crumbleton.’
The word came out as a sigh, and Danny glanced across at her. Michelle looked miserable as she focused on the dog, and something was telling him there was more going on here than a simple breakdown.
‘You… erm… staying with your parents at the moment?’
She nodded.
‘Your dad’s going to love this,’ he added under his breath.
‘Sorry?’ said Michelle, glancing over at him.
‘Nothing,’ said Danny quickly. ‘Just thinking out loud.’
Danny had never really understood the feud between their families, but this clearly wasn’t the moment to bring it up.
Just because he was convinced it was ridiculous to drag around some decades-old grudge, it didn’t mean Michelle felt the same way.
Hell, for all he knew, his slightly soggy passenger might loathe him on principle.
Perhaps he’d better just keep his mouth shut and get her to her parents’ place. He’d just have to hope Brian wouldn’t catch him in the act!
Still, of all the people to rescue tonight, it had to be Brian Singer’s daughter. The one girl in Crumbleton who’d been completely off-limits since… well, forever. The one girl he’d ever wanted.
Not that Danny had ever dared to do anything about his ridiculous crush.
Michelle Singer had always been way too good for him.
She was gorgeous, funny, and kind to everyone she met.
She was the sort of girl—woman—who helped old ladies with their shopping, and baked cupcakes for people on their birthdays.
‘So,’ said Danny, desperate to fill the awkward silence and put a smile on her face, ‘been anywhere nice today?’
The moment the words left his mouth, he wanted to kick himself. Been anywhere nice? What was this, a bloody taxi service small-talk special?
Michelle let out a mirthless laugh. ‘Oh, you know… just a delightful jaunt to collect the last of my worldly possessions from my ex’s place.’
Ex?
Danny’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. Michelle was single? Since when?
What had happened to the prat she’d moved away with? Lawrence something-or-other. Danny had done his best not to spend too much time wondering why someone as amazing as Michelle would pick a knobber like that.
Danny had only seen the guy once or twice, but that had been enough. He’d been wearing loafers with tassels and a cream jumper knotted around his shoulders. The idiot was like a walking red flag. He’d looked like the sort of bloke who’d never crawled under a Ford Transit in his life.
But it wasn’t the posh-boy costume that had turned Danny’s stomach. It was the way he’d stared at a bunch of teenage girls outside the sweet shop. That look had made Danny’s skin crawl, and he’d had to suppress the urge to head straight over and rearrange the pretty boy’s face for him.
‘So… yeah,’ muttered Michelle, yanking his attention back to the present.
‘My day’s been absolutely magical. A real barrel of laughs.
Nothing quite like packing your life into cardboard boxes while dodging the bloke who decided his secretary made a better Tuesday night distraction than the golf club. ’
‘Ouch.’ Danny winced. ‘Sorry.’
What kind of idiot would cheat on Michelle Singer? Danny had always imagined that if he ever got lucky enough to be with someone like her, he’d spend every day trying to prove he deserved her. The idea that the prick had actually had that chance and thrown it away was completely mental.
‘Not your fault,’ said Michelle with a shrug. ‘Though I have to say, getting stranded in a flood wasn’t exactly on my list of ways to improve the day.’
‘Well, look on the bright side,’ said Danny, splashing through yet another massive puddle, ‘at least you got to meet Elvis.’
As if on cue, Elvis lifted his head from Michelle’s lap and gave Danny a look that clearly said you’d better be nice to my new best friend.
‘He’s lovely,’ said Michelle, scratching behind Elvis’s ears. ‘How long have you had him?’
‘About a year now,’ said Danny. ‘He started turning up in the yard around the garage and kipping in the abandoned showroom next door. We reckon he was dumped.’
‘Poor baby!’ Michelle crooned. The tone of her voice made Danny’s stomach flip.
‘He was half-starved and scared of his own shadow. It took me ages before he’d let me within three feet of him. We made sure he had a soft bed, plenty of blankets, food, water… and we mended the gap he’d been sneaking through so that he couldn’t wander out onto the road.’
Danny had spent every lunch break sitting near the heap of blankets in the old showroom, just letting the dog get used to him being there.
Eventually, Elvis had crept close enough to sniff at his lunchbox and the treats he’d packed specially for him.
It had taken a whole fortnight before he’d actually taken food from Danny’s hand.
‘It took a while, but we became friends,’ said Danny, shooting a smile at the dog. ‘Then I got to work on feeding him up, getting the mats out of his coat… taking him to the V.E.T. He wasn’t chipped, so we made it official.’
‘Sounds like you saved his life,’ said Michelle.
‘I don’t know about that,’ said Danny with a shrug. ‘But he’s definitely saved my sanity. He’s great company—especially on days like today when everyone’s having car trouble because of the weather.’
‘You’ve been busy, then?’ said Michelle.
‘You could say that,’ said Danny. ‘We started with a tourist who’d toppled sideways into one of the ditches, and we basically haven’t stopped since.’
‘Thank you for stopping,’ said Michelle, suddenly looking apologetic. ‘And… sorry to add to your workload.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ said Danny quickly. ‘It’s what I do. Besides…’ He trailed off, realising he’d been about to say something dangerously cheesy, like how rescuing her had been the highlight of his day.
‘Besides?’ said Michelle, turning to him with a raised eyebrow.
‘Besides… I’m guessing you’d been there for a while?’ he quickly invented. ‘You might be a Singer, but I couldn’t exactly drive straight past, could I?!’
Nice. Way to sound like you’re picking a fight!
Michelle shot him a wry smile. ‘Your dad might have.’
‘You’d be surprised,’ said Danny. ‘The old git’s mellowing.’
He closed his mouth and swallowed hard. The sudden lump in his throat felt like it was trying to choke him, and he stared intently out at the rain. With any luck, his passenger wouldn’t notice that he was suddenly blinking back uninvited tears that were threatening to fall.
Peering ahead, Danny let out a long, slow breath. He could just about see Crumbleton’s lights through the rain. In just a few minutes, he’d have to drop Michelle off, and then… what? Go home to his dad’s empty cottage? Go back to pretending Michelle didn’t exist?
It really was pathetic, wasn’t it? Danny Dalton—local bad boy—getting his knickers in a twist over a girl he’d fancied since school.
‘Where do you want me to drop you off?’
‘Mum and Dad’s place,’ said Michelle, before pulling a face. ‘Though I’m really hoping Dad’s still at the pub. Yours might be mellowing, but I’m not sure how mine’ll react to me turning up in a Dalton tow-truck.’
Danny’s jaw tightened. Right . There it was again—the elephant in the cab. The stupid bloody feud that meant he could rescue Brian Singer’s daughter, but heaven forbid anyone should know about it.
‘If it wasn’t raining so hard, I’d suggest dropping you outside the City Gates to save you being seen with me,’ he said, keeping his voice carefully neutral. ‘But you’d get soaked!’
‘Yeah,’ said Michelle, wrinkling her nose before shooting him a cheeky look. ‘Not sure I’m up for that. I guess you could always hide underneath Elvis’s blanket if we spot Dad…’
‘Not sure he’d let me share!’ Danny snorted. ‘Anyway, I think the truck would be a bit of a giveaway… and the fact that your car’s on the back of it.’
‘Good point,’ said Michelle. ‘Well, we’ll just have to go for the door-to-door service and risk the wrath of Brian Singer!’
‘And set the Crumbleton tongues wagging while we’re at it,’ muttered Danny.
‘Why not?’ said Michelle. ‘I’m down for a little bit of intrigue if you are?’
Danny swallowed. Was she… flirting?!
Get a grip, Dalton. She’s just been through a breakup. The last thing she needs is you making things complicated.
‘Okay, door-to-door service it is,’ he said evenly. ‘But I’m not getting out.’
‘Deal,’ said Michelle, with a little nod.
Two minutes later, they were trundling through the City Gates and across the cobbles towards the Singers’ little cottage.
Normally, he’d do pretty much anything to avoid navigating the narrow streets in the truck – especially with a car on board.
But nothing about tonight was normal. If Michelle wanted to be dropped off at the door, that’s what she’d get.
‘Looks like the coast is clear!’ she said, peering along the rain-drenched road.
Danny nodded. As far as he could see, there wasn’t a soul in sight. Well, at least that was one complication out of the way. He’d let Michelle hop out and make sure she was safely inside before worrying about turning the truck around.
‘Right then,’ he said, trying to keep his voice light. ‘Here you go, home sweet home.’
‘Yeah. Thank you.’
Michelle looked at him. For a split second, her expression shifted—to something like regret or maybe longing. But then Elvis chose that moment to stretch and yawn, breaking the spell.
‘Come on then, you daft mutt,’ he said, wrapping his arm around the sleepy dog in an attempt to haul him off his new favourite lap. ‘I think it’s time to give Michelle her blanket back.’
‘Keep it,’ said Michelle. ‘It kind of suits him, don’t you think?’
Danny grinned at her and nodded. ‘Well… thank you. To be honest, he’d probably sulk for a week if you tried to take it with you.’
Michelle smiled - the first proper, full-wattage smile he’d seen from her since he’d picked her up. It hit him like a punch in the gut.
Bloody hell, Dalton. You’re in trouble.