Chapter 5

From the artist who went away for college after a flirtation that never went anywhere to the jerk from the pizza joint who'd cheated, my luck in love sucked.

Now I'd have to say so did my luck with employment. It had been over a week since I'd… interacted with Jude at Brooks' Greenery and helped with Owen's sneakers.

And nada. He hadn't so much as sent me a form reply thanking me for my application, but he had to go in a different direction.

No response at all.

I mean, yeah, he'd asked how much for me to come home with them right then, but maybe I'd misheard him. Because that didn't really make sense, did it? It hadn't really seemed kosher. Especially when he'd never made any other contact.

Then there had been a mix-up with his flowers so his rush order had been delayed. If he'd paid by credit card, we would've refunded the fee via credit card. But he'd paid with cash, so just yesterday, we'd left a voicemail regarding the bogus exorbitant rush fee being refunded if he'd stop by the shop.

By the time I'd left work last night, he hadn't yet returned our call.

Whatever. I wished him luck on his nanny search.

I felt bad for the cute kid, but it wasn't as if I could do anything about any of it. I just had to hope he'd end up with a decent nanny, even if it wasn't me.

The 4 th of July was looming very soon and the flower shop had been ridiculously busy all week. Which was where I was headed yet again—after I went home to change into work-appropriate clothes—if my damn ancient Honda could handle the short trip.

I beat my fist against my burning hot steering wheel, squinting at the dashboard and the flashing tire light. Lovely. That light had just been on a couple of weeks ago, but it had gone off after Christian had checked it for me. I was pretty sure he'd added air to the tire, but if the light was already on again, that didn't say positive things about the health of it.

Maybe my slow leak had turned into a faster one?

Ugh.

I tried to put the tire situation out of my head for a couple blocks and then I noticed the brakes weren't handling well, so I slowed down along the curb and put on my flashers just in case. I didn't feel comfortable driving on this tire until my brother could look at it again.

And if he didn't think he could manage to fix it, that would mean an imminent car repair bill. Just what I did not need.

Frowning, I glanced down at my almost sheer bandeau top and too short shorts in deference to our current heat wave, wondering if it would be okay to wear these clothes to work just this once to cut down on my travel time. I'd have on my long apron, anyway, so it wasn't as if I'd be flashing too much skin.

Why hadn't I worn something less revealing for my errands? Heat wave or not.

With a groan, I cut my gaze to my rearview mirror and noticed a familiar dark open-air Jeep trailing after me. No way. No possible way.

Jensen? It couldn't be.

He'd be back from college for the summer, but I hadn't seen him or talked to him since last winter when we were both working at The Mason Jar. I'd thought maybe something was happening between us, and then he'd gone back to school for the spring semester and I hadn't heard a word from him.

So, what the hell?

Stopping my car, I pocketed my keys in my too tight denim shorts just before I hopped out of my Honda and shielded my eyes from the bright overhead sun. "Hey, stranger. What are you doing on this side of town?"

With a grin, he waved and climbed down before flipping his ball cap around from the back to shield his own eyes. "Hey, gorgeous. I thought it was you. What's up with your car?"

"Huh?"

"You have your hazards on," he said patiently, tucking his thumbs in his jeans pockets. "Something wrong?"

"Oh, yeah. Stupid tire light keeps coming on. My brother added air, but it's on again so I don't know what's up now." I crouched near the back to take a look at the tire and then looked up as Jensen loomed over me, his gaze lasered to my chest. My bandeau top must be working to highlight my modest gifts from Mother Nature.

"I can add air," he said softly, though his tone indicated his thoughts were squarely somewhere else.

I tossed my hair back, wishing I'd put it up before heading out for my errands. I aimed a smile up at him. "Can you?"

"I can. Just wait here and I'll go get my pump." Somehow that phrase sounded far more salacious than it should have considering the content of his statement. He'd no sooner shifted to go back to his Jeep when the sound of nearby rolling tires took my attention. A car was pulling up to the curb behind Jensen's vehicle.

A vintage Jag. Really? How was this my life?

I jumped to my feet and put my hands on my hips as Jude swung open his door and stepped out, his aviators in place to go with today's dark suit and air of imperviousness. But the thick facial hair he'd had going the first day I'd met him was now trimmed into just a bit of scruff.

"Maddie?" His question held no warmth. "Everything okay here?"

"Everything is fine," Jensen answered before I could, stepping down from his Jeep with his mini air pump in hand. "We have it all under control, don't we, Maddie?"

"I believe I asked the lady, but thank you." Jude's eyes narrowed on my face, his gaze riveted strictly above the neck. He didn't even seem to be aware of what I had on—as in clothes that put my slight curves on display. "Madison?"

I bit my lip to try not to shiver. It was far too hot out here for me to be getting a chill but something about the way Jude said my full name had my entire body springing to brutal awareness. Especially my traitorous nipples. Yet his gaze still didn't waver from mine. "I'm fine," I said quietly. "Jensen is an old friend, and my tire is just being annoying."

His pitch dark eyebrows lifted. "Annoying how?"

"The warning light is on again. Last time, I was low on air."

Jude pulled out his phone and was already calling…someone. "So, let's get it into the shop, make sure all is as it should be."

"Oh, that's not necessary. Jensen has a pump."

But Jude was already speaking authoritatively to someone. Taking charge as if this was his situation to handle.

As if I was.

I shouldn't find his sense of command hot. I knew I shouldn't. In fact, I should remind him of his lack of appropriate response to my application and tell him to mind his own business.

How much would it cost for me to come home with them was not an appropriate response.

Yet I stood there with taut nipples and trembling thighs while fighting my impulses on how to deal with these two men.

I'd been pleased to see Jensen. Until Jude had arrived. Then it had instantly become Jensen who?

Not even a moment later, Jude clicked off. "Dare's on his way. He'll take care of it." His attention snapped to Jensen and the air pump in his hand. "She doesn't need your help now, but thanks."

Well, I supposed that meant at least he'd taken my advice about where to get his rearview light replaced. That was something, I supposed.

Jensen didn't react, other than his back snapping to attention. I expected him to tell off Jude but he just angled his head and spoke in a soft voice. "What do you need, Maddie?"

Imagine that. Someone asked what I needed and actually waited to hear the answer instead of pissing on the nearest fire hydrant as if I was property meant to tussle over.

Jude also hadn't liked it when James had wanted me to call him after we went to the shoe store, I recalled. Not that I had called him or had any intention to.

"My tire needs air. It may have a slow leak, and I may need to take it in to Dare's, but I'll decide that after we try adding air once more." I cut my gaze to Jude, who was silently glowering. "Can you contact him and tell him he doesn't need to come? That I'll bring my car in if necessary?"

"Why don't you just turn it over to him and let him do what needs to be done?" Jude's tone was entirely too reasonable. As if I was being not.

"Oh, hmm, why don't I pay for service I may not need? Because, obviously, I have an endless amount of cash for needless repair bills, right?" Annoyed, I resisted kicking my tire, but it was a close thing.

"I called him, I'll pay." Jude crossed his arms over his chest. "You need a reliable vehicle to get to work."

"No kidding, Sherlock." Narrowing my eyes as Jensen spun on his heel to head back to his Jeep, I braced my hands on my hips. "Where are you going?"

"Home. You two can figure this out amongst yourselves. Good luck, Maddie." He gave Jude a sharp look before he climbed into his vehicle and swerved away from the curb, barely remembering to even signal. He definitely wasted no time in leaving.

I couldn't even say I completely blamed him.

"You don't have to pay for my tire. My car, my problem."

"Yes, but my heavy-handedness is what drove him away. Not that I regret it," he quickly added. "You shouldn't take chances with your safety, and some little air machine isn't good enough to fix your tire."

"Air machine?" I snorted. "Are you for real right now?"

From the pinch of his handsome, autocratic features, he clearly was. "Dare will take care of it," he said dismissively.

"Jensen's air pump could've too, at least temporarily."

"A temporary fix isn't useful. You'd just be wasting money and time. Let me handle it," he said yet again, his voice gentling just enough that I found myself leaning toward him instead of away.

What the hell was wrong with me? I couldn't even trust this man to call me like a normal employer when I applied for the job he'd listed in the paper.

He was no knight in shining armor. Definitely wasn't mine.

Yet I had so few answers on so many levels, his domineering behavior actually was soothing to me. Someone had the answers, even if it wasn't me.

And he hadn't turned his back on me and my problem, unlike Jensen. The dude who had split on me with barely a word before to boot.

I could talk to Christian again, and he could see if adding air again would help.

Temporarily.

Dare's tow truck turned onto the street as if commanded on cue. I took a deep breath and crossed my arms over my still traitorous nipples—not that Jude had looked their way once. "Thank you," I said reluctantly. "You're probably right. I'll repay you when I can."

"Maddie, don't worry about it. Seriously. I owe you, anyway."

"You do?" I asked, surprised.

For exorbitantly overcharging you for your rush delivery? Though I didn't say that part aloud.

"I do," he said softly without elaborating as Dare steered his tow truck into position and hopped down. "You helped me get Owen sneakers he loved. He keeps mentioning you." His lips curved. "Well, Baddie."

Before I could find out more about that, I hurried to fill in Dare. I didn't want him to needlessly waste time or effort. "Oh, I don't need a tow."

"Helps to be prepared in case," Dare said with an easy grin. "Never know for sure until you give it a look."

A short time later, Dare stood up from where he'd knelt down beside my tire, dusting off his hands as he shook his head. His kind blue eyes had many crinkles, which were hopelessly appealing. "We'll do a more thorough check in the shop, of course, but I'm pretty sure the tire has a nail in it or something of the like. We'll also check all your tires too to be on the safe side, but I'd recommend a new tire if you were my girl."

At Jude's pointed look, he tilted his head. "If you were my daughter," he corrected, making me flush. With effort, I barely resisted scuffing the toe of my shoe on the pavement.

Great move, Maddie. Seem totally shy and inexperienced and way out of your league.

Then again, maybe it was better if I did after that what price to come home with us nonsense.

"We'll be replacing all four tires," Jude said dismissively as if he was discussing buying a gallon of milk.

"Oh, no, just the one?—"

He gave me a quelling glance that made my belly flutter helplessly. That whole butterflies taking flight deal? Had nothing on Jude's gentle, persuasive voice telling me what to do while his dark blue eyes settled on mine. Not in a demanding way. Just in a let me handle this for you sort of manner that apparently set fire to my libido. "We'll take four of your best tires, whatever you recommend. Thank you, Dare."

Oh, hey, look at that. He did know how to say thank you. Went to show there were always new sides to a person if you looked closely enough.

And I was looking very closely at Jude today, regardless if he'd yet to respond to my resume in a typical manner. That seemed not nearly as important right now, after he'd done such a big favor for me.

Even if I'd be saving to pay off those tires for years.

"Thank you, Dare," I echoed softly while he grinned and clapped a hand in support on my shoulder. Yet again Jude's gaze snapped to me, and though Jude didn't growl, it seemed like he might at any moment.

"Say hi to Kelsey for me," I added to Dare. " Your wife."

"Oh, I will. She's so happy to be on summer vacation. School is a lot." He let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, hey, do you want to see the latest photos of the kids? Though we have news on that score too." He cocked his head. "Winter baby for us next year," he added as if he was imparting a great secret.

As if everyone in the Cove wasn't pregnant constantly.

You're not. Not even a possibility for you.

Okay, there was a thought I'd never expected to have. So what? I had plenty of time for all that—if and when I wanted to go there.

I mean, sure, kids were cute and all, and Christian's almost-wife Honey was only a bit older than I was. Barely older. She was a happy stay-at-home mom part of the time and worked part-time as a police dispatcher and a bakery clerk the rest of the time.

For a while, she'd thought she would become an educator, but eventually, she'd realized the reason she hadn't been able to completely settle on her career was because she loved kids and she wanted to be with them. But not as their teacher, it turned out.

"Wow, congratulations to you and Kelsey," I finally said, remembering Dare's comment before my baby-related spiral. "Do you want a boy or a girl this time?"

"Just a healthy baby, but I think Kelsey wants a little girl since she's the only female at home now. Too many men." He laughed, shifting his gaze to Jude, probably wondering if he'd chime in with his own congratulations anytime now.

It was a good question.

"Congratulations," he said finally after I pinned him with a look. At least he could respond to cues. "While Dare puts on your new tires, do you have plans?"

I started to say no, since I wouldn't have a vehicle. But I still had that pesky thing called my job to deal with. "I have to go to work."

He waved a hand. "Can't that wait?"

I wanted to say, um, no, rich dude. But I played along. "Why?"

"Owen wants more sneakers. He loves his new ones so much. And of course, I have to go to the florist to fix the problem with the flowers. Whatever it is."

Finally.

"Just some clerical issue. You can stop by and talk to Mr. Brooks. He'll return your rush fee."

He waved that off as if he didn't care. "And then you can come with us shopping again?"

"I can come to get more sneakers if you need the help." I heard myself answer and then reminded myself Mr. Brooks needed me, so what the hell was I doing? "I'll figure out work at the florist," I added, unsure if I was making the right move.

Dare looked between us as if he was watching a scintillating tennis match. "I'll just drive your car in then and pick up Gage. I'll bring him here so he can take the tow truck back. No reason to waste a tow, but I'd feel better just in case the tire has a catastrophic failure."

"Yes, do that," Jude snapped, though when I zeroed in on him with my gaze, he inclined his head in silent acknowledgment he was acting like an ass.

Or at least that was what I told myself his gesture meant. "Thank you for your help, Dare." He cleared his throat. "We really appreciate it."

"Oh, well, no problem. We'll get those tires all fixed up and I'll call you when your car is ready," he said gently to me, but Jude held up a hand with a black credit card tucked discreetly inside.

"Use that for the bill."

Dare took his card and went back to the truck to do some swiping thing on a portable machine before he returned the card to Jude. "I'll call," he said again before tipping his ball cap at me and returning to his truck.

"Let's go." Jude gestured to his car. "After you," he said, sweeping open the passenger door.

With a lengthy look, I slipped past him and slid inside, glancing up at him while I snapped on my belt. His position—him looming above me—made my heartbeat race and my throat tighten—along with some definite tingling and tightening in other sexually charged parts of me.

"Where's Owen?" I asked suddenly, my last hope of keeping proper distance from this man.

"He's home with my admin. We'll pick him up and head to the—" His phone went off in the inside pocket of his jacket and he whipped it out with a frustrated breath. "Caro, we're on the way. What? How high?" His jaw worked before he closed his eyes. "Give me a few minutes."

"What's wrong?" I asked after he circled the hood and dropped into the driver's seat.

He started the car and clenched the wheel. "He has a goddamn fever."

"Owen?" I wanted to saw off my tongue as he cut his chilly gaze to mine,

"Why the hell isn't Sydney here yet," he said under his breath as he started the engine. It purred to life with barely a vibration.

Sydney who? But I wisely didn't ask as he veered away from the curb mere moments after Dare did the same with my car.

I wasn't sad to see my Honda go. She'd been nothing but problems lately.

As Jude clenched the wheel with both hands, I followed instinct and reached over to touch the back of his hand. "He'll be okay," I said softly. "Don't worry."

Shocking me, he turned his hand over and threaded his fingers through mine before he moved our joined hands to his thigh. "Thank you," he said tightly. "Thank you for being here, Maddie."

Nodding, I said nothing and curled my fingers tightly into his.