Page 11 of Suits and Spark Plugs

“Who wesawhe was,” I retorted.

“Fine, who he used to be. I don’t think he’s the same person anymore. There’s something really great about him.”

I dried my hands, and we walked together toward the exit. “Are you trying to replace me with him?” I teased.

She hooked her arm through mine. “No. He’s nicer than you, and I’d miss your snark.” At my expression she grinned. “Just take your car in. I’m sure he’d be happy to look it over. It would get Blaine off your back and give you a chance to make your own judgments about Connor.”

“I’ll think about it.” I bumped my shoulder against hers.

“Good. Oh, and dibs on the bar seating tonight.” She let go of my arm and wiggled her eyebrows as she hurried out to claim her area.

I didn’t bother reminding her that Jake scheduled us where he wanted us to work. It was pointless. Kelly worked the sections she was in the mood for, and I worked the other. It was life with Kelly, and I’d long ago accepted it with good grace the same way she accepted my quirks. I watched her chat with a customer and promised myself I’d be there to catch her when this newfound friendship of hers broke her heart.

CHAPTER FOUR

As promised, two days later Blaine came for breakfast while I was working the morning shift. His eyes were bright and his smile warm as he sat down on a stool at the bar where I was working. He was dressed in his signature blue hues, but this time he’d added a trendy bow tie, and, honestly, he looked pretty great.

Also as promised, we were not done discussing my car. While he told me what a junk pile he thought my car was, I zoned out completely. I hadn’t meant to do it, but I was working and uninterested. Sadly, I was seriously busted when he interrupted my daydreams about an afternoon nap by clearing his throat. I looked to him and saw his expression shift into one of annoyance. Oops. My face warmed.

“I can see what you’re thinking,” he said.

“More juice?” I replied, hefting the carafe I was holding in my hands.

“I’m being serous here.” The barstool squeaked under him as he shifted. He put his utensils down and shook his head as I once again wiggled the orange liquid his way. “Your car needs help.”

“Be right back,” I tossed over my shoulder as I turned and walked down the long counter to replace the carafe and pick up the next order.

The diner was hopping. It was seven-thirty in the morning, our first pre-work rush, and much too early to be receiving a lecture about my car. In fact, never o’clock would have been my preference.

I glided by with another customer’s order, avoiding Blaine’s eyes, and smiled at them as I set their food down before making my way back past Blaine again. “I’m happy living in denial,” I said to him. “Getting told my car is barely cheating death is not my idea of fun.”

He pulled a face, but I’d walked away before he could reply. There were some definite bonuses to having him attempt this conversation while I was distracted. I doubted he’d be patient for long. I got the feeling that Blaine Harris was not a man used to being put off.

“Olivia,” he called after I’d delivered the next plate.

Before I could answer, Kelly walked by and mouthed “Olivia?” at me. No one called me Olivia, except occasionally my mom. I’d gone by Liv since kindergarten when I’d introduced myself to my teacher that way. My teacher had looked to my mom who had shrugged, and that was that. However, Jake had gone with my legal name on my name tag. I’d never bothered to correct Blaine, who had met me when I was wearing it.

Kelly turned to him before I could. “She’s working. Be patient.” She walked out from behind the counter to attend to the booths and gave me what we liked to called the solidarity smile when Blaine looked away from her and back to me.

“Look,” he said, “I know you’re working right now, but we seriously need to have your car looked at. I wasn’t sure you’d make it back home the other night. I worry about you.”

“The risk is all part of the excitement,” I replied with a grin.

“Worry isn’t exciting,” he stated.

I raised my eyebrows but said nothing as I walked down the bar to take an order. I watched him go back to eating his breakfast out of the corner of my eye. His shoulders were tense. I felt a little bad. I wasn’t trying to be difficult. Still, I had a very full plate in life and no interest in addressing what I saw as a non-problem.

After a few more minutes I stopped in front of Blaine again with an apologetic smile. “Let’s go on pretending my car is fine by making sure we always take your car,” I said. “Win-win.”

“If your car breaks down, you won’t be able to get to work.” He reached out and snagged my hand before I could dart off again. “Please, babe. I hear there’s a local guy who is magic with cars. We can take it to him.”

Babe? Another step I wasn’t aware we’d progressed to. First automotive repairs and now pet names. The thought distracted me enough that I had to replay the entire sentence in my mind. When I did, the thought that he’d been asking around about local mechanics didn’t make me feel looked after, which was probably what he’d been going for. I was completely capable of handling automotive issues when, and if, I felt like it. Heck, half the time I drove with the fuel light on for two days just to see how far I could go. I hadn’t run out yet. A couple of times when my car wouldn’t start, I’d just banged on things until it had worked again. I trusted that the car would do its thing. And when it stopped doing it, I’d figure that out.

“I can walk to work. It’s a small town, things are close,” I replied, tugging at my hand.

He held me firm and stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. “It’s January. It’s cold and sometimes you work early mornings or late nights. Walking in the dark isn’t safe. Besides, is it honestly that big of an issue to have this man take a look?”

It was a big deal. I was about as broke as I could be, and I knew exactly who the mechanic was that he was talking about. Hewasa magician, but instead of getting balloon animals and a laugh, I’d end up with a debt I couldn’t pay back. Once again, my face betrayed me as it heated. Having to occasionally remind Blaine that I was perpetually short of money was embarrassing. I looked away and shook my head.

---