Page 33 of Savage Ends

“Hello,” she said.

At this time, he didn’t feel he should be overly familiar with Hazel, so he glanced over at her and then behind her.“Can I help you with something?”

“My name is Hazel Beckett, my daughter introduced us, and I’d like to talk to you.”

“Beckett?Are you a relation to Ava?”he asked.

“Cut the crap,” Hazel said, folding her arms across her chest.“I’m not a fool and don’t treat me like one.”

Okay, he liked her.She had fire.

“I know who you are,” Pat said.

“Exactly, so you know why I’m here?”

“I’m guessing you’re here to warn me against seeing your daughter,” he said.

Hazel sighed.“No, I don’t want that to happen.If you stopped seeing Ava, she would know.Look, my daughter ...I don’t know what your game is, but I don’t like it.”

“I’m not playing a game.”

She took a step forward.“I know you’re used to women that have slept around and know the score.After Ava’s father died, she never was interested in boys.As far as I know, she is not even interested in men.She works and loves to sew, that’s it.And then you turned up on the scene, and I know Ava likes you.I’m asking you not to break her heart.”

“Do you make it a habit of meeting with all the men who are interested in your daughters?”Pat asked.

“No, this is the first time and I may not know you or the club personally, but I’m not a fool.I’ve heard the rumors, seen the fallout.All I am asking is that you do the decent thing, and don’t toy with my daughter.My husband may be dead, so he can’t give you the warning, but if you hurt Ava, break her heart, I will be your worst nightmare.”

Pat looked at her and he knew she wasn’t kidding.He wasn’t afraid.Hazel was a momma bear protecting her young.He got it.Ava was a young woman.

“I’m not toying with her.Ava and I, we’re just ...hanging out,” he said.“That’s all.”

“I’m the mother of two children.I was happily married for a long time, Pat.Do not take me for a fool.It starts with hanging out, and then it develops.Ava is not a woman who can be passed around.Think about that when you have your fun.”

With that, she spun away from him, and he watched as she walked right out of the gate.

“Okay, I don’t think that chick even knew I was here,” Rusty said, popping out from under the hood of a different car, complete with what looked like part of the engine in his hand.

“I don’t think she would be partial to being called a chick,” Pat said.

“Tell me.She made me fucking hard, though.Do you think she’d be into me?”Rusty asked, getting to his feet.

“No.”

“Come on, man, look at me.A lot of women want to go for me.”

Pat wiped his greasy hands on the cloth he held, and looked up at Rusty.“She’s a widowed woman, and I don’t think she goes for the kind of guys who get sexually transmitted diseases for fun.”

“I don’t get them for fucking fun.I’m just unlucky is all.That’s not cool, man.”

Pat ignored him, and went back to looking over the car.It was all good.There were no major faults.The cost of the service wasn’t too high, and with no parts needing replacing, it was a pretty easy job.Grabbing the clipboard, he went through all the major checks, signed off on it, and then made his way into the main reception.

Maddie was behind the counter, typing away at the computer.The moment the door closed, she looked up and smiled at him.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey.I’ve got one done,” he said, handing it to her.

She glanced down, nodded.“I’ll call them.”