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Zara turned to look at Bess again. “Aww, the poor sweetie. You certainly can’t tell by looking at her. So how did you get her, then?”
Stopping at the top of the drive to wait for a break in the oncoming traffic, I didn’t answer at first. The memory still made me angry, and I frowned, my knuckles turning white as I gripped the steering wheel. “I went to a house to do a quote on a job. As I pulled up, I could hear yelling and Bess yelping. I went round the back and the owner had her by the collar. The bastard was actually hitting her with a pipe. I called out, he saw me coming. I thought he was going to hit me, but I didn’t care, I grabbed him by the shirt front and just shook him. I wanted to do more, but I didn’t. I just scooped Bess up in my arms and said, “Get someone else to do your job.” Then I walked out.” I flicked a glance at her, trying to push away the residual anger from that day. “But I didn’t hit him.”
“I’m glad you didn’t, but only because that would have made more trouble for you. I’m sure he deserved it. Anyway, she’s lucky you found her.”
CHAPTER7
Zara
Afew hours later, I was on my back on the garage floor, changing the oil on the Beetle when I heard Ally’s jeep pull up. “What’s all this?” Ally called as she got out of the car.
“Ruby’s Bug,” I replied, wriggling out from under the car and getting to my feet. Wiping my oil-stained hands on an old rag, I closed the hood.
“Oh my God, this is amazing!”
“I know! I didn’t even know it was here. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to read through all the paperwork from the lawyer, so I had no idea. They’ve kept it registered and everything.”
“It looks good as new.”
“Yeah, that’s what Matt said too.” Opening the driver’s door as I fished the keys from my back pocket, I said, “I’ll give it a good clean, and new tires, and it’ll be fine, hopefully. Now, let’s see if it goes.” Turning the key in the ignition, a delighted smile crossed my face when it started straight away.
Just then, Matt came around the side of the garage. “You got it going, awesome.” He flashed me a smile that did peculiar things to my insides. “Hi, Ally, how’s it going?”
“Hi, yourself. I’m good, thanks. What about you?”
“Great.”
Ally turned to me, dramatically fanning herself with one hand as Matt walked over to his truck, dropping his tool kit in the back and whistling for Bess. She came trotting over from the garden, where she had been sniffing at worms, but instead of heading for the truck, she veered off and broke into a run up the drive. “Who’s that?” Ally asked as a young woman rounded the curve of the drive, Bess dancing around her excitedly.
“That’s Emma,” Matt said, leaning his forearms on the side of the truck bed.
“Hi, Matt. Didn’t know you’d be here.”
I watched as the pretty blonde stepped up to Matt and, placing a hand on his arm, kissed him affectionately on the check.
“Hi, Em. How’s your dad?”
“Doing better, thanks.”
“That’s good to hear. Emma, this is Zara and Ally.”
“Hi! I’m so pleased to meet you. I’m your neighbor.” Emma smiled as she approached, shaking first my hand, then Ally’s. She had blue eyes and a dusting of freckles across her nose. It was hard to resist her gentle warmth; she was like a ray of soft sunshine.
“It’s so good to meet you,” I said with an answering smile.
“I’ll be heading off, Zara, leave you to it.”
“Okay.” I turned to Matt, my heart stuttering uncomfortably when he smiled at me.Get a grip,I said to myself.He’s hot, sure, but it’s not like you haven’t seen a man smile at you before.
“I’ll be back day after tomorrow, after lunch.”
“Sounds great, thanks. See you then.” I watched him walk to his truck, quite admiring the view, only turning back to Ally and Emma after he’d gotten in and gunned the engine. Ally was watching me, an amused expression on her face. Before she could come out with a hugely inappropriate comment, Emma broke the silence.
“Just thought I’d drop in and say hi and welcome and give you this.” She handed me a Tupperware container. “I’m sorry I haven’t come by earlier. I’ve been working the night shift and haven’t had the chance.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet, thank you. Wanna come in for a coffee?”
“Love to.”
