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“You’d have been on a lot of medication,” Chad says with a laugh. “To stop from going crazy.”
“You’re not wrong.”
“Ally’s right,” Beverly, the new girl, says after setting down a tiny bear cub that was found on someone’s back porch. “It’s not easy. I know I haven’t been here long, but there were moments when I thought I wasn’t cut out for this.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re quitting,” Margie says, her face transforming into panic.
“No,” Beverly says. “I’m not quitting. But the first couple of weeks were rough. So, I also have to give props to Chad and Ally for being here so long.”
“I’ve wanted to do this job since I was a little girl,” I admit.
Margie’s eyes light up at something behind me, and I turn to see Archer walking toward me. “I like him.”
“Me, too.”
He’s tanned and wind-blown and everything I’ve ever wanted in my life. And he’s finally mine. He loves me, and he’s sticking.
I think it’s crazy, and I don’t know how we’ll work it all out, but I’m here for it.
A woman would be stupid to turn Archer Montgomery down. And I’m no fool.
“You’re having a party without me?” Archer asks, his blue eyes intent on the cake, making me laugh. “With food?”
“You’ll have to take a piece to go,” I inform him. “My car is ready to be picked up. Finally.”
“You don’t like my car?” Archer’s already stuffed one piece of the cake into his mouth and grabbed another for the road.
“I like it fine, but I need my own set of wheels. So, let’s go get it.”
Margie laughs, waving us off. “See you tomorrow, kiddo.”
“Have a good night.” We walk out to Archer’s Audi. I’m in an incredible mood. I feel like I have the best life in the whole world. “They surprised me because I’ve officially been at the job for six years.”
“Very nice,” he says and leans over to kiss me. “They’re good people.”
“Yeah, I think so, too. I’m excited to get my car back. And then I have plans to have drinks with Lindsey later this afternoon after she gets off work. We’re just going to the bar at the resort, keeping it simple, but it’ll be good to see her. We haven’t had any girl time in a long while.”
“I love it when you’re in a good mood,” he says as he kisses my fingers, driving toward the auto shop.
“It’s been a wonderful couple of weeks,” I say and roll the window down so the breeze can flow through my hair. “I have no complaints.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he says as he parks in front of the garage. I feel like I’m almost bouncing as we walk inside, and the smell of motor oil and rubber tires hits me.
“Hey, Ally,” Lee says with a wave from behind the counter. “We’ve finally got you all fixed up. Sorry it took so long. We’ve been pretty swamped.”
“No worries. It all worked out.” I lean on the counter and smile at the older man. “How much do I owe you?”
He gives me the figure, and I whistle.
“Wow. It was really broken.”
“I warned you it would be better to scrap it,” Lee says.
“This should get me through for another year.” My voice sounds more confident than I feel, and by the look on Lee’s face, he also has his doubts.
“I can point you in the direction of an honest used car person when you’re ready,” Lee says as he passes me my receipt.
“Thanks. For everything. Have a great weekend.”
I wave, and with my keys in hand, turn to Archer.
“I’ll follow you home?”
“Sounds good, babe.” He leans down to kiss me lightly, smacks me playfully on the ass, and we go our separate ways to our vehicles.
Yes, it’s a damn good day.
I adjust my seat and mirror, roll down the windows to clear out some of the mustiness from it sitting so long, and start the engine.
It fires up and purrs like a kitten.
Okay, it sputters a bit, but it’s running, and that’s the most important thing.
Archer pulls out ahead of me, and when I’m behind him, we take off toward his house. I can’t help but turn the radio up and sing along with the Journey song wailing through the speakers.
I have a few hours before I’m due to meet with Lindsey. I can either jump on Archer and have my way with him for a while, or head over to my cottage and start cleaning up the remnants of that fiasco.
I just haven’t had it in me since the robbery to go in and start dealing with the mess. It’s going to take several days. And now that it’s been defiled so badly, it’s lost its luster for me. I know I’ll eventually have to go back and make it my home again, but for now, I’m procrastinating.
