Page 23 of Hearts on Ice
His shields went right back up at that. She could literally hear them click into place.
“You can see where I might not believe that, where I might not have evidence.”
She pressed her lips together. “I’m trying to give you evidence.”
“Get the contract signed. That will be the first step.”
She threaded both hands through her hair and pushed it behind her. “First thing is to get the car fixed.” She couldn’t do anything until that happened.
He considered her a long minute. “You could sign it right now.”
“Not without a lawyer looking over it.”
“A lawyer? Or your lawyer?”
“A lawyer.” She didn’t want to tell him she didn’t have a lawyer anymore. Instead, she said, “My lawyer is on vacation this week. Do you think Evan would look at it for me?”
He angled his head. “Evan wrote it.”
“I know. But he would still listen to my concerns, right?”
“Colby.” Her name was a long sigh. “I’m sure you could find a local lawyer to look it over. It’s a simple contract.”
“I’m not sure who to trust.”
“We can ask Evan, maybe one of his friends will do it. Would that make a difference? If Evan trusts them?”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“Now, let me see if I can get your battery started.” He walked to the front of the car, leaned over and opened a plastic cover to reveal what even Colby recognized as a battery. He looked up at her. “I guess it’s too much to ask if you have jumper cables.”
She hesitated, but then an image popped into her head. “I know where they are.” And if she imagined that he looked a little impressed when she walked to the back of the car and returned with the cables, well, she would take it.
But even the jump wouldn’t start her car, and the finality with which he closed her hood after nearly half an hour of trying, well, that hurt.
“I’m sorry to take up so much of your time,” she said after he called a tow truck for her. “Where were you going, anyway?”
“I was going to pick up some lunch.”
“Ah. Sorry I put you behind schedule.” She wasn’t really accustomed to apologizing, but he had gone out of his way to help her, and he hadn’t needed to.
“Do you—do you want to come with me?” He motioned to his truck. “Or do you want to stay here and wait for the tow truck?”
“I mean—do I need to wait?”
“No, I gave him the information and where to take it. I could—take you to get something to eat, drop you off at—wherever you’re staying.”
What other choices did she have? She’d have to get a ride share, or taxi or something, and this way, she wouldn’t be out any extra money. And she grasped onto the gesture that might be the peace offering she’d been waiting for.
“I would really appreciate it,” she said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.
The acknowledgment was not quite a smile, but he motioned for her to get in his truck.
She was kind of surprised to see he had to pull some folders from the passenger side toward the middle, tucking the files into his console to make space for her. Two half-full bottles of water sat in his cup holders, and he took them both and tossed them over the seat into the back.
“Why did you buy a truck?” she asked. He’d never expressed interest in a truck before.
“I got it used, and found it is pretty useful. We go up to the mountains to go skiing every now and then, and it’s handy. Also for camping.”
