Page 9 of Sicilian Savior

“You’re the one doing me a solid,” she said back. “It’s the least I can do.”

“Lucia, you’ve got yourself a deal.” I stuck out my hand to shake hers then saw the look on her face. This time, it wasn’t fear causing her to stare at me instead of reaching out, it was the black grease smeared all over my palm. I cringed and pointed toward the laundry room. “Sorry. My bad. Let me just go wash up.”

I walked into her laundry room, making a list of all the things that needed repairing that I could see along the way. A lot. Her place was almost as bad as my uncle’s as far as the disrepair. At least hers wasn’t filled to bursting with old junk, though. Not only could I keep myself filled to the brim with Italian food for quite some time, it would give me a chance to spend more time with Lucia. That beat out Bolognese every time. And I really loved a good Bolognese.

I washed my hands then came back out. Lucia was outside in the garden picking out the weeds that had taken over.

“Why don’t I head back to my house? I’ll get some tools and stuff to get started, and I’ll drive my truck back tonight for you. You’ll just have to give me a lift back to my place afterward if that’s okay.”

Even though I had already considered tossing my motorcycle in the back of the truck so I could just drive myself home, I decided this would be a great opportunity to spend a little extra time with Lucia. I hoped she wouldn’t argue being in a vehicle with me now that she seemed to trust me more, and I smiled when she agreed.

“Okay. I’ll have dinner ready by seven.”

This time her face wasn’t twisting in hesitation and fear, and it made me happy she started to trust me. Whatever it was in her life that caused her to jump at every sound and look ready for fight or flight at any given second, it seemed I’d finally begun to become more friend than foe.

And I wanted to be her friend.

And more... if she’d let me.

CHAPTER FOUR

Lucia

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I stirred the Bolognese around in the pot, still questioning my sanity at letting Knox into my world. Even though he seemed safe, and he felt safe, it probably wasn’t a good idea. Letting him into my life meant opening a crack in my carefully constructed armor, and I considered texting him and calling it all off. I’d find a way to pay for the car repairs and figure out how to fix my stairs myself. It was better to rely on only me anyway if I wanted to live under the radar like I needed to.

But even though every neuron in my brain screamed at me to shut him out of my life, something deep inside me begged me to let him in. Maybe not in, but at least keep him near. It didn’t make sense. I barely knew him, yet my gut told me I could trust this man.

Today, he’d almost made me feel... safe.

That was something I never thought I’d feel again. Yet after he came and made no attempt to harm me, I realized with certainty, finally, that hurting me wasn’t his intention. It seemed he really did want to help me out. He’d had plenty of opportunities to hurt me, or worse, and yet he’d done nothing but continue to help me. And when I allowed myself near him, I felt safer and safer with each step closer instead of frightened. It was a strange sensation, to be sure. A man I barely knew, and a man who looked downright terrifying, made me feel protected for the first time in years.

My phone beeped, and I glanced down to see a text that Knox was almost here, five minutes early. My instincts told me to glance in the mirror to check my appearance, but I quickly reminded myself it didn’t matter. Romance was out of the question. Though I may be open to allowing him into my life to help around the house, perhaps have a kind of friendship, I didn’t want to give him any ideas.

Not that I didn’t have several ideas myself when I envisioned being wrapped up in those enormous arms. But I pushed those thoughts out of my head whenever they popped in.

Start a new life. Disappear. And eventually, when the time is right, find him.

That was the plan, and starting a romance with my undeniably attractive new handyman wasn’t going to help me with those goals.

I tossed the pasta into the boiling water and soon heard the chugging of an engine coming up my drive. I glanced out the window to see an old, blue square-body pickup truck grinding to a stop on its jacked-up tires.

Harvey. I chuckled to myself. It certainly fit the vintage truck.

Knox hopped out, and my heart palpated at the sight of him, just like it had earlier today. But I quickly reminded myself about my goals, and those goals didn’t involve lusting over a man... even one as handsome as him. In fact, one of my other promises to myself was to never, ever let a man into my life again. I’d learned that lesson the hard way.

Three raps on my rickety door announced his presence. I wiped my hands on my mother’s apron and walked over. I undid the three deadbolts I’d installed myself and then flipped the lock on the doorknob.

“Hey.” Knox stepped forward, his huge body filling up the entirety of the door frame. “Your chariot awaits.”

“Hi. Dinner isn’t quite ready yet.” I glanced at my kitchen and then back at him, questioning how I should handle his slightly early arrival. My plan was to pack up dinner for him to eat at home and give him a ride back, but it felt awfully rude asking him to wait on my porch for dinner to finish and not invite him in. “Uh, if you want to, you can come in while it finishes.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, his tone indicating he noted my hesitation.

I reminded myself he wasn’t here to hurt me and that he’d been incredibly helpful to me already, so I nodded. “Yes. Of course. Actually, if you want, why don’t you just stay for dinner tonight? We can eat here, then I’ll drive you back.”

“Only if you’re sure. I don’t want to impose.”