Chapter 8

8

Piper

The smile on Saxon's face when I drop him off at school while driving Cutter's massive SUV…

Let me just say it's a big smile. I'm not exactly a fan of finding that sense of happiness through money and material items, but I understand. Saxon looks like a badass climbing out of the SUV, then tossing his book bag over his shoulder.

A few of his friends hurry and run up to him to ask about the SUV.

The mom part of me wants to roll down the window and call out something embarrassing…

Saxon, sweetie! Mommy loves you!

Saxon, sweetie! Did you go tinkle before we left the house?

I don't put the window down.

I let my son have his moment of feeling cool.

It's not a shock Saxon loves this vehicle. It's a total guy vehicle for sure. The dark exterior color and the dark leather on the inside. The massive screen in the dashboard, ready to do everything from help you find a place, to finding the perfect song for the drive. The windows are all tinted, not completely blacked out, but close enough.

Reality sets in as I drive to the gym, knowing I have to deal with my car.

And I have to deal with Cutter Buckley.

I'm sure he's going to want his vehicle back.

Living in a small town there's only a few people to call for certain things. Luke Hallows drives the tow truck for his father's garage. His father Leon fixes anything but foreign cars with too much technology in it. Those are his words. Meaning if you need some modern repairs in a newer vehicle you have to go to the next town over.

I'm not a fan of talking to Luke so much. He must have asked me fifty times to go out on a date. I don't have to give a single reason to anyone why I won't date them. With Luke though, it's a different ballgame. He's been in an on-again-off-again thing with Kim Dohl since high school. Yes, that was a long time ago, but they go on stretches of being madly in love for weeks, months, and even years. Then they have a horrible breakup and they rush off to sleep with other people only to end up back together.

The moral of the story? I really don't want to call Luke for help.

Another option is Brian.

Not that he can use his hands for anything mechanical, he can help me find someone to actually help.

But seriously, would there be anything worse than asking your dickhead boss for help?

Plus, I know me. I won't be able to keep my comments to myself…

You know, Brian, if you paid better, I could buy a new car.

Must be nice to call yourself a ‘director' and somehow steal six figures from this place… right?

I pull into the back lot where I had escaped from the serial killer. My car still sits there. Quiet and calm. A pain in the ass for sure. I know I should just go get another car but I don't want to. Decisions like that are difficult when you're a single mother. As far as I approach life, everything revolves around Saxon and his future.

As his father so lovingly puts it - That kid isn't getting a sports scholarship. He's going to be expensive if he goes to college.

Sometimes I wish I could just punch Hunter so hard he forgets about me, about Saxon, and just vanishes to another country and is just gone.

"That's enough about me," I say out loud. "Tell me more about you!"

I laugh to myself.

Maybe I'm slowly slipping into a sense of insanity right now.

The fancy SUV turns off with the press of a button.

I climb out and stare at my car.

What if it just needed to rest overnight? What if I just sit in the seat, turn the key and it turns on? That can happen, right?

I open the driver's door and the first thing I see is a piece of paper on the seat. A folded white piece of paper.

Something from Cutter, perhaps? A handwritten note? A love letter?

I scoff in my head at the little voice and unfold the piece of paper.

It's from Cutter Buckley for sure, but it is not a handwritten love letter.

It's an invoice for a battery.

"Are you serious?" I whisper.

Down at the bottom of the paper there is something handwritten from Cutter to me.

Piper -

Just a battery. Pay me back when you can.

(No, I'm not trying to get into your bathing suit - even though you look cute as hell wearing that super tight swimmer's bathing suit.)

Cutter

I toss the receipt to the passenger seat and I pull the lever to pop the hood on the car.

When I lift the hood up, I look at the battery.

It's brand new.

So now here comes the million dollar question.

How did Cutter get my car started? How did he get the battery tested? How does he know…

I close the hood and get into the driver's seat.

I'll admit it - I bite my bottom lip as I gently place the key into the ignition, hoping the car doesn't start. Yes, that would really suck for me and mess up another day of my life, but I kind of don't want Cutter to have the satisfaction of being right.

I turn the key.

The car starts right up.

"Dammit!" I cry out.

I jump out of the car like it's on fire.

"Stupid car!" I yell as I kick the tire.

"Sounds like it's running fine to me," a voice says from behind me.

I can pick out Dorothy's sweet yet deep voice from anyone's in the world.

I turn. "Starts right up. Which it did not do last night."

Dorothy looks at Cutter's SUV. For some reason I feel caught red-handed doing something wrong. All the way to the point of my cheeks feeling warmer.

"Brian was wondering about that," Dorothy says. "Thought maybe you worked all night."

"Yeah, right," I smile.

"I told him you probably had car trouble."

"Everything is fine now. Just a battery."

I see Dorothy smirk. Her sweet, elderly face stood no match for her fiery eyes that screamed of being fifty years younger.

"What?" I ask.

"Keith and I looked at the security footage from last night."

My face drops.

Dorothy points behind her.

I'm not sure whether I should have known or not but there's a camera right at the corner of the building pointed right at me. Meaning Keith, Dorothy, probably Brian, and anyone else who wants to see, saw Cutter and I in the parking lot last night.

"Hunky baseball player saved the day for you," Dorothy says. "Or should I say… saved the night…"

"Stop whatever you're thinking right now."

"What? I know what I saw. You and him in the parking lot. Your car not starting. Then he gets his vehicle and brings it over. You take it. He stands here and calls for help. Well, calls to get your car fixed."

I swallow hard. "He really did that?"

"Yeah," Dorothy says. "You want to come watch the video? I don't know who he called or who showed up, but it was a little impressive. A guy came in a van. Like an auto parts van?"

"Well, he got lucky then. Assuming it was just the battery. He didn't have keys. No way to check it."

"I think the guy with the van took your battery out and did some tests. I don't know. I wasn't really paying attention to him, if you know what I mean."

Dorothy's eyes light up.

"Easy there," I say.

"Don't tell me to be easy. I'll take that baseball player in a heartbeat. He wants to see what a real home run is like?"

"Okay, big deal. Fine. Yes. After the commotion yesterday with aquatic aerobics, I guess Cutter decided to rehab last night. I just so happened to be here too. My time to swim, you know? We were on opposite ends of the pool. It's not that big of a deal. Just please make sure nobody releases that footage."

"Releases…?"

"You know, gives it away. Posts it. Sells it."

"I wouldn't even know where to start with that. But I understand what you mean. I'm sure it'll be fine. So, what's the plan now? How does the hunky baseball player get his SUV back?"

I don't respond. For two reasons. The first - I don't have a plan right now. The second - I can make a plan by texting Cutter but I don't want Dorothy to know that I have his number.

"I should get inside," I say.

"Maybe he should get inside," Dorothy mumbles.

Obviously not quiet enough.

She and I look at each other and we both laugh.

"Forget I said that," she says. "That one was too far."

Most of everything Dorothy says qualifies as too far.

"But, hey, look at it this way," Dorothy says as she hooks her arm into mine. "You got to spend some alone time at night with a baseball player that looks like Cutter does. Swimming. Bathing suits. Getting wet. Your car won't start. He fixes it. It's like watching a movie."

I stop walking and look at Dorothy. "Time to change the channel to something else."

We both start to laugh again.

The pool is really quiet today.

Half the lanes are open swim and the other half are laps only.

I've got one lap swimmer and two people in the other half of the pool.

Katie and I switch on and off every little bit. The same routine as always. Make sure our eyes are fresh.

I keep catching myself in a daze. Not even thinking anything in particular.

Well, maybe that's a lie.

It's no secret the elephant in the pool is Cutter Buckley and his damn SUV.

I'm sure he can make the necessary arrangements to come get it. He's got the contacts, money and all that. Whoever drove him to wherever he's staying can drive him right back here to get the SUV.

I can even leave his fancy key fob thing with Dorothy. Let her flirt with him for a little while and massage his ego.

"Hey, it's my turn," Katie says.

I blink a couple times, stand up and climb down from the lifeguard seat.

I walk right to the office and check my phone.

No texts or calls that have to do with Saxon.

I sit down and reach for a bottle of water.

I keep looking at my phone.

Just send a quick text. Short. Casual. Right to the point.

Cutter's little note floats through my mind. Telling me to pay him back. That he's not trying to get into my pants.

How cocky can he be? Right?

What, the famous, rich baseball player can't afford a car battery for a woman in need?

Piper… you can't take favors like that. He didn't have to help at all. You don't need or want his money. Or his generosity. Because, yes, it will lead to him wanting to get into your pants. (Or your bathing suit…)

I roll my eyes. But it makes sense.

I'll make arrangements with Cutter to come get his SUV and then when I get home from work, I'll write him a check to pay him back for the battery.

Then that's the end of this situation.

At least I hope so.

I can't imagine him staying here for very long. Then again, I have no idea why he's in town at all. He's a famous baseball player. They have their own training faculties. They have the best doctors and physical therapists and all that too.

Something about Cutter Buckley is just… off.

His name pops up on my phone screen as I say his name in my head.

HEY. IT'S ME. NEED YOU ASAP.

I study the message.

"What does that…"

Another message pops up.

EMERGENCY! PLEASE HURRY! NEED YOU!

I stand up and blink fast.

My mind goes into mom mode.

I text Cutter that I'm on my way.

I'm not sure what's going on but it must be serious for him to text and ask me for help.