Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“Josh can be intense. So can Grim, but we’ve all agreed to the parameters of the relationship.” Except she’d lied to them because if she could leave before this weekend, she might. Or might not.
She was trapped between doing the expedient thing and what her body and heart wanted more than anything—more time with them.
“If you’re certain,” Heather allowed. “But I meant what I said. You don’t have to go through this alone. I can help you. Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
She couldn’t tell her that story or Heather would be calling the police. Luckily she was saved by the door to the shop coming open, and a man who looked to be in his late thirties/early forties stuck his head out.
“Hey there, Miss Nicole,” Greg greeted. “Sorry. We were out back working on Leah Raine’s old Jeep. Didn’t know you were here. Come on inside.”
Nic stood, taking a deep breath and thanking the universe for the save. She needed a halfway decent story to tell Heather if she wanted the woman’s help. “No problem. We were just enjoying the nice weather.”
Greg held the door open for her and Heather.
“Hi, I’m Heather Turner. I’m staying in town for a couple of weeks and find myself right next to Nic here.” She walked in, and Nic followed her. “I thought I’d come down with her. It’s a nice morning, and I could use the steps.”
Nic was fairly certain Josh and Grim would be irritated she hadn’t waited for them, but they should get used to the idea that she was independent.
Or not. They should sadly get used to the idea that she would be gone soon. And she was about to find out how soon. “I have the cash for my car. Your dad gave me an estimate of twelve hundred dollars. Which seems high. Couldn’t I buy a whole car for that?”
Greg frowned. “What century are we talking about buying from? Do you have a time machine because if we went back to the fifties, we might be able to find a car for that much. Do you want to look on Craigslist? I bet we could find some scam artists who are willing to sell you a car that works long enough for them to disappear.”
She did not appreciate his humor. “I get your point. Here’s the cash. How long do you expect the work to take?”
Greg accepted the payment, opening the register and making a couple of notes as he logged the payment. “Oh, it’s a pretty easy fix. I suspect we’ll be done in a day, two tops, once we get the parts in.”
Nicole’s stomach threatened to clench. Two days. She would have to make a major decision in two days. Somehow she’d thought she might have more time with them. If she was stuck here, then it wouldn’t hurt to see them. But if she had the chance to run, she had to take it, right? “So I’ll have the car back before the weekend?”
Greg looked up. “Well, if by the weekend you mean two or three weekends from now, then yes. You’ll have it before a weekend. I guarantee.”
Nic was confused. “What? I thought you said two days tops.”
“Two days after I get the part,” Greg explained. “I’ll order it tonight, but it’s taking a couple of weeks to get anything in these days. Everything is backed up in some canal. Wouldn’t have this trouble if we made anything in this country anymore.”
She did not have time for his political opinions. “Three weeks? Are you kidding me? I’ve already been here for three weeks. You knew I was going to fix my car but you didn’t order the part you knew would take three weeks to come in?”
“Well, you hadn’t paid for the part,” Greg said, altogether too reasonably. “You can’t expect us to front you the money.”
“People do it all the time.” She felt her teeth clench. “If I were in a city…”
“She’s good.” Heather stepped in. “Order the part and let us know when the car is ready. We’ll be going now.”
“I don’t…” Nic began but Heather hauled her out. “He has my money and my car, and I’m stuck here for weeks.”
“There’s nothing to be done by arguing with that man,” Heather said sensibly. “You’re in a small town where the next nearest shop is over an hour away, and you would have to start this process all over again. If you need a ride to your new job… Oh, there’s no job, is there?”
Slowly she nodded, frustration forming tears in her eyes. “I never stay in any one place this long. Never.”
Heather reached for her hand. “I’m going to help you. I have to go home for a couple of days, but I’ll be back on Saturday, and I’ll have thought through a plan by then. I think I might know a place where you can go, but I have to make some arrangements first.”