Page 30 of Family Affair

“I think the battery’s dead,” she felt compelled to explain. Cade was frowning, and for whatever reason his frown disconcerted her. Or maybe it was his unexpected presence that left her flustered. Although why it should matter, she couldn’t fathom. “If you could drive me to a store to get a new battery, I think…”

“You think it’s the battery?” Cade interrupted and pulled his sleeve up as he reached down to explore something.

“Yes. I had it happen once, just like that. My car wouldn’t start. It was during a holiday season, the parking lot was crowded, and it was raining. That car wasn’t old, though, just had a faulty battery…”

She cut off her rambling and touched her silly hair again, embarrassed by it and by her lack of experience with cars. Again, her embarrassment baffled her.

Cade, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious to her presence. He appeared to be quite comfortable peering into the Toyota’s innards under the hot sun while wearing a long-sleeved shirt and jeans. She stared at him, feeling her tank top plaster to her wet back. Come on, he had to be hot. Was there sheen of perspiration at his hairline?

His thick straight hair fell across his forehead, so it was hard to tell about the perspiration. The bright sunlight burnished its deep brown color to the point where individual strands shone coppery red, silky and smooth.

A latent redhead, she thought and didn’t know why she found the revelation funny.

Cade slammed the hood closed and looked at her - or at least she thought he looked at her - from behind his sunglasses.

“Nothing we can do for now.”

He turned to go. Somewhat surprised by his no-nonsense tone, Coco scrambled after him.

“Wait, what about the store? Or here’s an idea: how about you jump start my car? I think I have cables.”

“Coco, I’m sure you gave it your best shot, but there are other parts to the engine that can go bust. It’s not the battery.”

She stopped. “It’s not? What is it, then?”

“Something’s up with the fuel system. Your car cranks over but wouldn’t catch. Looks like not enough gas gets injected at the right time. We’re getting this piece of sh… metal towed, and then I’m taking you home.” Just like that, he had a phone in his hand. “You have roadside assistance?”

“A what? Yeah. Roadside… Yes, I do.”

In a matter of what seemed like minutes a tow truck materialized next to them, groaning and straining, loading her car on the flatbed to take to a shop. Cade made arrangements with the insurance company, with the mechanic, with the towing guy, discussed price and timing options, swapped contact information with all the involved parties and jotted down relevant phone numbers on a piece of paper, leaving Coco dazed by his efficiency.

“They’ll give you a call tomorrow,” he said, giving her the business card with the numbers. “If not, call them yourself. You need another car to drive in the meantime?”

“Yes, I do. Wait, no, I don’t. I mean, I have another car.”

He was looking straight at her from behind his sunglasses, and the veiled stare unsettled her precisely because she couldn’t track his eyes.

She pulled her wits together. “Thank you. I really appreciate your help, especially because you hardly know me.”

His expression changed almost imperceptibly, and she knew he let his gaze drop.

“It’s no trouble. Come on, I’ll drive you home.”

She climbed into the BMW and checked on Chap. The dog was sleeping peacefully under the cool breeze from the vents.

Stinker, she thought unkindly and stared at the beast a little hoping the force of her stare would cause him to experience remorseful dreams.

Cade got behind the wheel. “Where to?”

She gave him directions and they drove away from the clinic and on to the interstate.

Minutes ticked by and neither of them uttered a word. She didn’t know if Cade expected to drive for thirty minutes in silence, but she knew herself incapable of it.

“So, are you enjoying your visit to Atlanta, Cade?”

“Immensely,” he said, and she thought he sounded sarcastic.

“That’s good. Have you done anything fun with your brothers?”