Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“I’m sure.”
He nods. “Fine, I’ll take care of it. You’ll get the family discount, so everything at my cost, and free labor.”
“I can pay for labor, Declan.”
“No, instead, I want you to watch the kids so I can take my wife out to dinner, just the two of us.”
“Done.” I hold my hand out to him to shake. “Just tell me when.” He takes my hand in a firm grip and grins. “She’s cute, though, right?”
“Yeah, Ada is a cutie.” Fuck, what’s wrong with my brothers today? Cute? Do they really think Stella is just cute? Are they fucking blind?
Declan bursts into laughter. He’s grinning like a fool. That’s my cue to leave. I stand and he does the same. Before I can open his office door, he slaps his hand on my shoulder.
“Can I be there when you call her and tell her about this?”
“No.” She’s going to be pissed, but there is just a part of me that can’t let her get back into that car unless I know that she and her baby girl are going to be safe.
“I’m pretty sure we have everything we need in stock. I should have it done for her today.”
“Okay. I’ll call her.”
“Good luck, brother.”
“Thanks.” I follow him out of his office, wave to Alyssa, and make my way to my truck. I pull out of the lot, drive to the grocery store, and park. I didn’t want to be at Declan’s shop, and I didn’t want to be at home where Merrick could hear this conversation either. Not that I keep things from my brothers, but something tells me I’m going to have to charm Stella into accepting this gift, and well, I don’t need their commentary when I try to do it. I have no doubt that Declan will be sure the others know of my act of kindness.
Grabbing my phone, I dial her number.
“Hello?” she answers hesitantly.
“Morning, Stel.”
“Maverick? Is everything okay?”
“Of course it is.”
“Why are you calling me?” It’s easy to hear the confusion in her voice.
I gasp as if I’m appalled. “Can a guy not call his friend?”
“Are we friends, Maverick?” The question is whispered as if she’s almost afraid to hear my answer.
“We are.”
She exhales softly.
Was that an exhale of relief? Yeah, that’s what I’m going with. “I’m calling with good news. Declan should have your car all fixed up by the end of the day.”
“Wait. No, I mean, I need to call him and talk about cost.”
“It’s taken care of.”
“What do you mean it’s taken care of?”
“I took care of it.”
“You… took… care… of… it?” she asks slowly. “What does that mean?”
“It means a friend is helping a friend.”
“Maverick. No. I mean, thank you, but no. I can’t let you do that. I can’t pay you back. I don’t even have a job right now.”
There’s panic in her voice, and I rush to assure her. “It’s a gift, Stella. I don’t expect a single thing from you in return.”
“There’s a catch. What’s the catch?”
“No catch.”
“There is always a catch. I’m not sleeping with you.” Her voice is stern and maybe a little guarded. I’m sure some asshole made her feel like that’s all she’s good for, making a name for the entire male population when there are still good guys out there.
“Whoa, hold up. That’s not on the table. I’m just trying to help. I want to think that if it were one of my sisters or someone I’m close to and I wasn’t there, that someone like me with no other motivation other than to help someone out would step up for them.”
“I thought you only had brothers?”
“My sisters-in-law are my sisters. Not by blood, but by heart.”
“Damn,” she mutters. “Maverick, I appreciate you, but it’s too much.”
“It’s not. Besides, I’m getting the family discount, and Declan is desperate for a kid-free night out with his wife. I volunteered to babysit for labor costs. It’s all been taken care of. We even shook on it. Brothers can’t take back a deal made with a handshake.”
“That’s ridiculous.” She laughs.
My shoulders fall at the sound of her laugh. I was certain she was going to let me have it. “You can’t go back on a handshake, Stel.”
“It’s too much.”
“It’s not.”
“Yes, it is,” she counters. There’s less conviction in her tone. She wants to accept the help because she needs it. I don’t know if it’s pride or guilt. My guess is that a little of both are keeping her protesting.
“Someday, when you’re able and have the time, you can pay it forward.”
“That day will never be here, Maverick. I’m a single mom without a job, living with my grandparents because my parents kicked me out when I told them I was pregnant. My daughter’s father is a deadbeat who reminds me daily he doesn’t want to be a father. I can’t see a time in my life that I’ll ever be able to pay this forward.”