Page 28 of Full Throttle

“Almost as good as you.”

I reached for my wine. I had a feeling I was going to need it.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Cherry

Neither of us spoke much during dinner. The odd comment, lots of looks passing between us. He was different tonight. Always intense, he had an underlying sense of unease or sadness about him. It was reflected in his eyes at times. I longed to ask him, but I had a feeling he wasn’t ready to talk. But I also sensed what was bothering him might have led to this impromptu visit. I knew I had to be patient. When he was ready to talk, he would. Hannah was much the same way, and I had learned when to push and when not to.

We finished dinner and sat back, sipping the last of the wine.

“I didn’t bring dessert,” he mused. “I didn’t think.”

“I can handle that,” I said with a grin. “It’s covered.” I stood, taking our plates. “I’ll tidy up and make coffee. You sit and tell me about your day this time.”

He stopped me with a hand on my waist. He gazed up at me, and once again, I saw the sadness lurking in his eyes. But he smiled and tugged me down, kissing me gently. “This dinner has been the best part of it,” he murmured.

I kissed him back, unable to hug him since my hands were full. “Mine too,” I admitted.

“Getting used to me?” he teased.

I shrugged. “A little.”

He grinned and pushed me away. “Get to work.”

I put on the coffee to brew and tidied up. There wasn’t much since Dom cleaned as he cooked. I put the dishes in the small portable dishwasher in the corner, rinsed out the pan he’d used for the steaks, and wiped down the counter as he talked. He told me a funny story about a customer in the garage that made me laugh.

“She insisted she wanted the ‘good air’ for her tires. She told us the garage she’d used in Toronto kept it special for her. She even showed us the bill.”

“I assume she knows nothing about cars.”

He shook his head. “Maxx explained it to her and the fact that she’d been ripped off for a couple of years. When she found out there shouldn’t be a charge for filling her tires, she was upset. Maxx went through all her bills. They’d charged her for all sorts of things. Extra thick oil, extended warranty spark plugs—the list went on. Charly was so incensed that she called the garage while the customer was there and tore them a new asshole. They agreed to refund some of her money, but not enough. She advised the customer to go to the Better Business Bureau with a complaint.”

“How did she find you?”

“She was driving by, and her tire pressure light came on. Maxx thinks they were underfilling her tires purposely so she would go and they would ‘top them up.’ She was paying a monthly maintenance fee for it since they told her that was the cheapest route. Maxx—all of us—hates to see people, especially women, get ripped off. He convinced her to come to the classes we hold so she could understand her car better. She’s young and pretty and, frankly, clueless—an easy target.”

I carried the coffee to the table and set it down with a couple of plates. I bent and kissed him. “She’s lucky she found you guys.”

His eyes crinkled in pleasure at my statement.

“Now, don’t laugh when you see dessert.”

“Okay.”

I opened the refrigerator, taking out a small box. I slid the contents onto a plate and set it on the table. Dom stared at the small birthday cake in silence. “What is that?” he asked, his voice sounding strangled.

I sat down, meeting his gaze. It was pain-filled and shocked. I was confused.

“My local bakery makes cakes. If one isn’t bought, she reduces them. I can never resist a white bakery cake. It cuts into two easily, so I treat myself on occasion.” I paused, noticing the fact that his hands had begun to shake. “Dom, what is it?”

“I can’t…” he choked.

I took the cake and put it back in the fridge. He stood and crossed to the living room, pulling his hands through his hair. I walked up behind him, sliding my arms around him, puzzled as to why the sight of a small birthday cake would cause him such sadness. “I’m sorry.”

He turned and wrapped me in his arms. “It’s not your fault. I didn’t expect that. I was trying to forget, to let it be another day, but then the cake—” He stopped, his embrace tightening. I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat gallop.

“What about the cake?” I asked.