Page 28 of Sawyer
“Yeah, she has that effect on people,” I mumble, not really thinking.
“Does she now?”Hudson asks curiously, and I pause.
“Well, so I’ve heard.”I try to cover up my loose tongue.
“Hmmmm.I gotta run, so you’re off the hook.Talk later.”Hudson ends the call, and I throw my cell on my desk and rub my eyes.
I try to go through emails and reply to a few before I let my thoughts get away from me.I hardly know Annabelle, and I sure as hell shouldn’t be starting anything with a woman with two kids, on a farm on the outskirts of a town I have no permanent ties to.But here I am, unable to focus, as she’s at the center of my mind.
While a flat tire is usually a quick fix, now that I think about it, her tires were all looking a little bald.Knowing she’ll be stressed about it and worried about how to pay for it, a thought comes to mind, and I call Tanner.Because looking after the townspeople is what he wants me to do, so I might as well start today.
13
Annabelle
It’s been a long day, and after I dismiss the kids, I grab my things and walk to my car.As I do, I catch a glimpse of myself in the window reflection of the school door and cringe.God, I look a wreck.Usually managing the kids and working at the school is great and I love it.But after the issue with the tire and rushing around, being late to school, I’ve felt frantic all day.
With Kevin playing baseball with Harvey after school, I just need to pick up Noah on my way home.Not that he’ll want to come.Debbie, the lovely lady who watches him for me during the day while I work in exchange for soaps and eggs, makes delicious cookies and cupcakes for him and he never wants to leave.
As I walk to my car, I pull up short.It looks different.Frowning, I run my eyes over it and look at the tire that I changed this morning, seeing it gone.The old yellow metal rim is no longer there, and in its place is a brand-new one.In fact, the entire car has four brand-new tires.I walk toward my car slowly, my mind whirling, my eyes wide, trying to figure out what’s happened.Did someone mistake my car for someone else's?Putting my bags down, I peer into my car, thinking maybe I’m the one who’s mistaken, but I spot the box of tissues on the seat, the ones I used to rub the dirt and grease off my fingers this morning, and Noah’s racing car in the back.
“Heard you had a hectic morning,” a voice says from behind me, and I scream.Jumping as I turn around, my body clearly still in fear mode from this morning, my back flattens against my car and I look at him, wide-eyed.
“Shit, you okay?I didn’t mean to startle you.”Sawyer strides toward me, his hands falling to my waist.He holds me tight as his eyes canvass my body, and my breath catches in my throat.“I’m sorry.I thought you heard me walking up.”His words rush out, his face laced with concern.
I’m not sure if it's the adrenaline moving through my body or the way his thumbs are rubbing my waist tenderly, but I shiver as I take in a deep breath, willing my eyes not to water.Things are just getting too much for me today.Clearing my throat, I try to pull myself together.
“Sorry.”I wish this insane fear that I’ve seemed to develop would leave me so that I could at least act normal.
“I shouldn’t sneak up on you.I should’ve known better.”
I grab my hair, twirling it a little with my finger, the move centering me.
“I’m okay, just a little startled.”I fake a wide grin, giggling awkwardly.“I didn’t hear you coming.”At least that part is the truth.I was so bamboozled by my car, I didn’t hear anyone next to me.It’s probably extremely stupid of me.I need to keep my wits about me at all times.
“You sure?”His frown deepens as he steps closer, his eyes on mine.I plant my feet on the ground.All it would take is another small step forward, and I would be in his arms, burying my head in his chest, and that can’t happen because I would break.But I would be a liar if I said I didn't want to.
“I’m sure.”I bring my hands to rest on his forearms, him still holding on to me.This is nice, I can do this.Have him in my space, not feel scared by having a man's hands on my body.I’ve never felt this comfortable before, and with a complete stranger at that.It should feel weird, my body should tense at being this close to him, but I almost melt every time he touches me.I find myself blushing each time I catch him looking my way.
I hear the school door open with more staff filing out.They look toward us, some of the ladies grinning before walking away.
“I heard what happened this morning.”Still looking at me, he lifts his hand and pushes my hair off my face, not dissimilar to how he did at my place on Saturday night.But this time, I don’t flinch.I lean into his touch.
Only, then his words hit me, and panic flares.How would he know about the slashed tire?Only Kevin and I know what happened.It dawns on me just as quickly that he’s talking about my flat tire, not my slashed one, and I offer him a small smile in the hopes it communicates that I’m fine.But I can tell by the way he’s looking at me he doesn’t believe me.He’s very perceptive.I wonder if that’s a natural ability of lawyers.They see through people's bullshit easily.
“Oh yeah, I just had a flat.But I… um…” I swivel around in his arms, looking at my car again.“But I…” As I walk to the back of my car, looking at the tires and then back to him, his arms drop from my waist.“I’m just not…” I can’t understand how I have all new tires now.
“I had your tires changed,” he answers my confusion, and my head whips up to look at him.
“You what?”
“I heard you had a flat this morning, and I remembered seeing your tires were a little bald on the weekend.So given that I knew you needed one new one and all the driving you do from home to town each day, I just had a guy come from Williamstown and change all of them.Thanks for leaving your keys in the car, by the way.Very helpful.”He acts like it's no big deal as he pulls my car keys from his pocket and offers them to me.
I blink a couple of times, my head scrambled.I was so rushed this morning, I even left my keys in the ignition.
“But I can’t afford new tires.”I feel slightly embarrassed, but he needs to know.This is me.Frantic, always something going on, can’t afford four brand-new and what looks like top-of-the-line tires.Hell, I wouldn’t be able to afford the cheapest tires right now; that horrible yellow rim spare was going to stay on for a few months, at least.
“That's fine because I paid for them.”He clearly sees nothing wrong with this at all.
