Max cursed himself for seven kinds of a fool as he drove back to the auto parts store. He’d had a delivery to make and, on a whim, stopped by the diner. Sky appeared glad to see him, and when she smiled, he all but lost the ability to speak. Maddie’s assertion that he would be a suitable male companion for her mother weighed on his mind. He struggled with the desire to get to know her better, hashing out the pros and cons but unable to take that next step. What if it turned out to be a disastrous mistake for all of them? After a lot of soul searching, what-ifs, and maybes, he talked himself into exploring the possibility.
And then Cade Jackson showed up.
He owned the local hardware store and looked every inch the Texas cowboy. From his dark Stetson hat and starched white shirt to his faded jeans and snakeskin boots, he commanded attention. Tough, lean, and sinewy, he certainly looked the part, though Max doubted he’d ever been on the back of a horse in his life. Three inches shorter than Max, he was still an imposing figure.
And he’d been a thorn in Max’s side since high school.
Some folks, Cade more so than anyone, considered him a ladies’ man, and Max knew he was attractive and unscrupulous enough to go after any woman he wanted.
Apparently, he’d set his cap for Skylar.
“Not this time, asshole,” he muttered as he went back to work. “Not this time.”
Sky pulled into the drive after picking up Maddie, refusing to admit how disheartened she found the absence of Max’s truck. It was Saturday night. Unlike her, he probably had a life.
“Miss Gail let me help her make some cookies today.” Despite being close to her bedtime, Maddie was full of chatter. “I told her you made some for Max when he fixed Blue, so we made him some for helping her.”
“He helped her?”
“Yes, ma’am. He wrapped her pipes and fixed a faucet.” She opened her door and got out. “I bet he could fix that leaky one in the bathroom.”
Headlights and the familiar rumble of the Ford’s powerful engine announced Max’s arrival, quelling any retort.
Maddie ran to the front of Blue and waited for him. “Hi, Max.”
He slowly rolled forward and killed the engine, abruptly filling the air with silence and opened the door. “Hey, Tink.”
Maddie looked at her mother. “That’s short for Tinkerbell.”
Silhouetted by the interior light, Max grabbed something from the other seat and slid to the ground, a sack from a local fast food restaurant clutched in his hand.
So much for him having a life.
“Evening, ma’am.” The cold air formed a vaporous fog around his mouth when he spoke.
“If you don’t mind,” said Sky as she dug in her purse for the house key. “I prefer Sky to ma’am.”
He moved the sack to his other hand. “Yes, ma’am. I mean Sky.”
Her hands were so cold, she had trouble getting the key in the lock, and then the stupid thing wouldn’t turn. Again. She needed to ask Mr. Jenkins about it.
Maddie immediately turned to Max. “I bet you can unstick it, can’t you?”
He stepped up beside Sky, jiggled the key once and handed the bag he held to Maddie. “Hang on to this for me, Tink.” He went back to his truck and pulled a tool box from behind the seat. He removed a can of something that he sprayed inside the lock. He reinserted the key and rotated it smoothly.
He twisted the knob a couple of times, sprayed the little piece that stuck inside the notch in the door, then rotated the knob again. All without saying a word.
By the time he handed her the key, Sky was chilled to the bone.
“Go on inside, ma—uh, Sky, before you freeze.”
“I need to get some stuff from the car.” She turned, and he touched her elbow. A tingle, like an electrical shock, raced up her arm, and she flinched.
Immediately, he removed his hand. “I’ll get it. Go inside.”
“In the front seat,” she managed through chattering teeth. “Two sacks.”
She went inside and flipped on the light. Next, she lit a small gas heater against the back wall, and she and Maddie stretched their hands toward its warmth.
Max entered and placed the sacks on the counter. He walked to where Maddie stood in front of the heater, still holding his supper. He reached for the sack. “Thanks, Tink. See ya later.”
“Can you fix this leak in our bathroom, Max?”
Blood pounded in Sky’s temples as unwelcomed heat raced up her cheeks. “Maddie!”
Dark eyes, gleaming like volcanic rock and filled with a strange, faintly eager look before being quickly hooded, locked with hers. “It’s all right…Sky. I’ll check it out tomorrow and see if I can fix it.”
She couldn’t meet his gaze. “I hate to impose on you again.” Her voice dropped to an embarrassed whisper. “I can’t, I don’t…”
Max rolled the top of the sack tighter. “Do you work tomorrow?”
She nodded. “Eleven till two.”
“I’ll come over tomorrow afternoon and look at it. Probably just needs a gasket replaced.”
