“Thank you, Miles.” I already feel better knowing that he’s coming to get me.
“Anything for you.” My heart flutters. Miles is turning out to be my knight in shining armor. He’s too perfect to be real. But I’m going to let myself enjoy it while it lasts. Nothing this sweet lasts forever.
Chapter Seven
Miles
I pull over behind the tow truck and park. Eden is sitting in her car like a very good girl. I shoot a smile in her direction even though she can’t see it before making a beeline to the tow driver.
“This car’s got rust on it,” he says in disbelief. “How old is it?”
I squint at the late model German car. It does look like it’s on its last legs. Eden climbs out and joins us.
The tow truck driver, Tim, gives her an appreciative once-over. I clear my throat. Loudly. They both look at me. I shake my head at Tim in warning. There’s a small smile dancing around Eden’s lips, which helps to assuage my irritation at tow truck Tim leering at her.
“Why don’t you go sit in my car,” I suggest. “It’s cold out.”
“It’s eighty,” Tim chirps.
It’s like he wants to get beat down.
“It is cold,” Eden agrees hurriedly. She scurries over to my Tesla and pops inside.
Tim shakes his head as if to say I’ve got a screw or three loose, but I’m fine now with Eden out of his gawking zone. “What do you want me to do with the beater?” Tim asks. Drop it on your head? “Cheaper to junk it than fix it,” he adds.
“Take it to Family Auto Repair.” Eden needs a new car, but she doesn’t seem the type to want a handout. I leave Tim to do his job and walk over to the passenger window. Eden rolls down the window as I approach.
I lean down. “You got important stuff in your car? I’ll get it for you.”
“Yeah. There’s a folder in there.” She grabs the door handle.
I shake my head. “I got it. You stay put. It’s cold out, remember?” I give her a wink before jogging over to her vehicle.
Tim’s got everything hooked up.
“You ready to pay?” he asks. I hand over my credit card and then scribble my name on his phone screen. After retrieving the paperwork, I return to my car.
Eden looks tired.
“Home?” I ask.
She nods. “Yeah. I live above The Daily Drip.”
I ignore that. She’s coming home with me. I’m treating her to—wait. What about the brother? I make a left turn. Thankfully the wheels on this car corner like it’s on a rail.
“What’s going on?”
“I was taking you to my home,” I confess, “but then I remembered Ryan. You live with him, right?”
“Yes, but can we backtrack here? You were taking me to your home?”
I can see her head tilt out of the corner of my eye. “Yes?”
“I didn’t agree to that.”
“I have a nice home.”
“I didn’t say you didn’t, but you can’t just kidnap me because my car broke down and I foolishly called you.”
“I am glad that you called me. I wouldn’t have given you my number if I didn’t want you to call me.” I pull to a stop in front of her café. “Let’s get your brother, and we’ll all go to my house.”
“What’s wrong with my house?” She folds her arms across her chest and glares. “It might be small, but it’s clean and nice.”
“I don’t doubt it, but like you, I have a sibling I live with and I don’t want to leave her alone too long.”
Mention of my sister melts the freeze immediately. “Oh, okay. You should’ve said something in the first place.”
“I’ll remember to use my sister as an excuse for everything in the future. Eden, let’s have spaghetti tonight because my sister likes it. Eden, you need to stay over because it’s too late and my sister doesn’t want me to drive. Eden, you need to move in because my sister needs the company and she doesn’t leave the house.”
Eden laughs. “Funny, but I’ll go along with you tonight. It’s nice not to have to think about dinner. Today wasn’t a great day.”
I don’t think she’s referring just to her car breaking down, but I don’t press her. I don’t want to scare her off, so I give her a non-threatening nod. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Wait here while I go get my brother. You can help him with his homework.” She shoots out the door before I ask what the homework is. While she’s retrieving her brother, I give Violet a call.
“Baby sister, I’m bringing my future wife home. Do we have food in the house or should I order?”
“Do not call her your future wife in front of her, oh my God. This isn’t the 19th century where you can just carry off any woman and declare yourself married!” Violet chides me.