Page 66 of The Love Playbook

“Brynn may have also mentioned you asking whether she and Jace might be able to take you home sometime this week, and I just thought, seeing as how it’s Sunday, and I have the day off . . .” He shrugs. “I thought we’d go get your car today and fix it, so you can drive yourself when you need it.”

My mouth thins. I’m going to kill Brynn and her big mouth.

“There’s no point.” I shake my head. “The mechanic called me with an estimate. I can’t afford to fix it right now, so it looks like I’ll be bumming rides until winter break so I can earn some cash to pay for the repairs.”

“Right, I know,” he says with an amused grin as he polishes off the rest of his cinnamon roll. “That’s whyI’mgoing to fix it.”

“Um, no.” I shake my head. The last thing I want is to be in debt to him. “No way. I can get it fixed myself as soon as I can pay?”

“It’s the transmission, right?”

“How did you . . .” I trail off, narrowing my eyes as he rubs a hand over the back of his neck with a guilt-stricken expression.

“Lockport is a small town, and there’s only one mechanic between your mother’s and father’s house, so I made a few calls.”

I gape. “You called around about my car?”

“Maybe.” He tips his chin toward me. “Depends. How pissed does that make you?”

When I don’t immediately answer, his gaze shifts to my mouth, and I wonder if he keeps thinking about the kiss like I do.

I bet he tastes like sugar and cinnamon and . . . Focus!

I shake my head as if I can rid myself of the thoughts.“You’re not going to fix my car.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t have the money to pay you.”

“I don’t want to be paid.”

“And the parts?” I gawk. “Last I checked, transmissions aren’t cheap.”

Chris shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I know a guy, and he owes me a favor. He got me one from the junkyard.”

“So, you’re telling me you can fix my car for free?”

“Pretty much.”

I narrow my eyes. “And what’s the catch? Because if you think I’ll change my mind?”

“Shit, Lettie, can’t a guy just do something nice for you without wanting something in return?”

I stare at him for a moment because, quite frankly, no. Not that I have a lot of offers from men banging on my door trying to help me with my problems, but even if I did, I wouldn’t accept. I pride myself on my independence. I don’t rely on men, ever. Reliance means dependence.

Just the thought makes my skin itch.

But I could really use my car.

Even though it’s only been a couple of days since my visit home, I need to check in with my mother, and a car is essential if I’m to commute from her place to school, and back again. Plus, I’d love to rub it in my father’s face that I managed to get my car fixed so quickly on my own?with help from his fiancée’s son, no less.

Still, I don’t want something for nothing. If I’m to take him up on his offer, there needs to be an equal exchange. Tit for tat. Otherwise, I feel like I owe him in the future, and owing debts is something I try to avoid.

“Fine. But if we do this, I’m giving something to you in return. So, what do you want?”

His gaze heats as he leans back on his hands, his gaze flickers down my body and back. “What are you offering?”

“Notthat.”