Page 77 of Shattered Hearts

Her cheeks bloom with colour like a spring field, and for a beat, I consider that she might actually be impressed. Is me spending time with Knox proving to her that I’m becoming more mature?

Turning on her heel, Laynie walks beside me towards the main house. She grabs a hold of my arm, and I feel my skin heat at the contact. I have to push away the urge to hold her and kiss right here in the middle of the ranch.

“I spoke with Sadie about the house,” she starts.

“And?” I ask, curiously.

Her gaze drops to the ground as we slow our steps. “She’s going to find her own place, but I don’t want her to rush. There’s still time before the baby comes, and she’s been through so much… But I feel better now that we’ve spoken about it.”

I smile. “I’m glad it helped.”

“It did.” She grins before adding, “Also, before I forget to tell you, Betsie is making some weird rattling noise. Do you think you’ll have time to look at her?”

My frown reappears. “Does it sound like it’s coming from the engine?” I ask, my tone shifting.

She shrugs lightly. “I think so. It’s hard to tell at this point. She’s getting geriatric.”

I snort and slip my arm over her dainty shoulders, loving the feel of her body pressed against mine. I could get very used to this. “I’m sure Holden and I could take a look for you after dinner,” I offer as we keep walking.

“That would be great, thank you so much. Saves me asking my dad for help, because he will take ages trying to fix it and every other issue. I’m hoping this will be a quick fix.”

And a quick fix it is. It’s only the engine oil and coolant. Easy peasy.

Holden tops up the coolant, and I lie under the car on the wooden dolly, changing the oil to a better quality one that we put in the utes. Makes them run a lot smoother, and Betsie needs all the help she can get.

“Should be sweet after this,” Holden says, having a look under the bonnet. “The belts are fine, shields are in place, and the engine mount isn’t broken.”

“Easy done. I’m almost finished here, then you can top up the oil.”

“Good.” He fiddles with some more things as the oil stops draining. I place the end back on. Sliding out from under the car, I wipe my hands on an old cloth, wiping oil off as Holden fills Betsie up with some fresh liquid.

“This should do it.”

Smiling, I toss the rag down as the wooden door to the garage rolls opens. Cole walks in. “Hey, losers.”

“Who are you calling loser?” I scoff lightly with a grin. “We didn’t come second in the race on the weekend.”

Cole mutters out a curse, and Holden tsks like the dad he is.

“I only came second because the last pit was longer than it should have been. They could have put less petrol in, and I would have won it, but no. They insisted on adding more,” Cole defends.

“We’re only kidding, man. You did great.” I clap his shoulder.

Holden drops the bonnet and dusts off his hands.

“What are you both doing here?”

I nod towards the car. “Laynie needed us to take a look. Just needed some oil and coolant.”

“Ah,” Cole breathes, digging his hands in his jacket pocket. “Are you done? I want to get out of the cold.”

Holden sniffs a laugh, putting everything away on the shelves.

I ask, “Then why did you come in here?”

“I was walking past and heard you two talking, so I thought I would come and get you. Unless you’d prefer staying out here. It’s also starting to drizzle.”

“Lucky Laynie is staying the night,” I murmur, but I don’t think either of them hear. The last thing I want her to do is drive home when it’s wet and slippery.