Page 15 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“My son said you gave him breakfast.”
Jason wiped his hands on a rag as he considered his response.She looked lovely, even with an annoyed expression.The color of the robe set off her caramel-smooth skin, and the ribbed fabric appeared soft to the touch.He wondered what she wore underneath it.Although the outfit wasn’t meant to impress, the casual style appealed to him.It reminded him of the comforts of home and the pleasure of female companionship.
With some difficulty, he returned his attention to the topic at hand.He’d given her son breakfast, and she wasn’t happy about it.Maybe the kid had food allergies.“I didn’t come in, but I did give him a sandwich.”
“How?”
“He opened the window.I passed it through.”
She glanced at the window, which was still open.“You knocked on the glass?”
“No.He did.”
She shook her head, sighing.“That boy will be the death of me.”
“We fixed the screen door.You need a new screen for that window too.”
“I need coffee,” she mumbled.
He gestured to the extra cup on the porch railing.“I brought you one.”
She moved toward it like a lifeline and chugged a good amount.“What are you doing to my car?”
“Checking it out.”
“Are you a mechanic?”
“I was on my first tour.”He’d been recruited for the bomb squad because of his ability to take engines apart and troubleshoot electrical problems.He’d agreed to a second tour as an EOD tech because he’d wanted to see more action.
He’d seen more action.
“Do you know what’s wrong with it?”she asked.
“I have a pretty good idea,” he said.She seemed kind of stressed, so he didn’t elaborate.He took a seat beside her on the porch steps.He let her drink her coffee and waited for the caffeine to kick in.
“How did you sleep?”she inquired politely.
“I got a few hours.You?”
“Same.”She gave him a sidelong glance.“Your eye looks terrible.”
He touched the tender spot.
“Does it hurt?”
“Not really.”His bruised ribs were uncomfortable, but he didn’t say that.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.It’s not your fault.”
She sipped her coffee.“I thought you were leaving today.”
He couldn’t tell if she was eager to get rid of him or not.“Do you want me to fix your car before I go?”
“Can you?”
“It depends.”He asked her a few diagnostic questions to narrow down the possibilities.“I think it’s the alternator belt or the alternator itself.I won’t know for sure until I remove some parts and get in there.”
