Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“It’s not what you think, we’re just friends. Besides, she is dating someone.”
He shrugged. “If you say so. I’m guessing you’re trying to figure out how to get her new tires without her knowing it was you.”
I pointed to him. “Yes. She’s stubborn and nearly flew off the handle when I even suggested buying one tire.”
Hank laughed. “I was there, I remember.”
Looking around his garage, I asked, “Any suggestions?”
“Short of stealing her car and bringing it here, I have nothing.”
I rubbed at the back of my neck. “Shit.”
“Listen, I’ve known Haven and her family for a long time. They’ve always struggled financially, and after that low-life daddy of hers left, her momma has worked as hard as she can to provide. I know firsthand that neither she, nor her daughter, will take a handout.”
“It’s not a handout. She can pay me back if she wants.”
“You tell her that?”
I shoved my hands into my jeans pockets. “No. I haven’t talked to her since she left my house that day.”
A text came through on Hank’s phone, and he chuckled. “Today might be your lucky day, Nate Shaw. Haven is on her way to drop off her car.”
“Why?”
“Another flat. She wants me to see if I can plug it.”
“Where in the hell is this girl driving where she is getting so many flat tires?”
Hank let out a humorless chuckle. “They’re so bald I’m not surprised. I can’t plug another one, Nate. The tires need to be replaced.”
“Do you have them in stock?”
He nodded. “Made sure after that day I had them. I had a feeling I’d be getting a visit from you.”
Turning to look at him, he just laughed. Wisdom definitely came with age, I guess.
“Can I pay for them now before she gets here?”
He motioned for me to follow him to his office. After paying for them, I quickly headed out.
“Nate, what do I tell her when she magically has three more new tires?”
I thought for a moment. “Tell her someone was paying it forward, and she was the lucky recipient.”
He narrowed an eye at me. “And if she asks me who that person was?”
With a smile, it was my turn to shrug as I said, “Tell her it was Santa Claus.”
As I walked out of the office area of Hank’s garage, I heard him laugh. Maybe even a ‘ho ho ho’ came out of his mouth. I climbed up into my truck and pulled out. I let out a sigh of relief that I hadn’t run into Haven on my way out.
The next stop was my lawyer’s office. I needed to find out how to donate anonymously to the new dog park coming to town. If I couldn’t have Haven the way I wanted, I would make damn sure she wasn’t stressed about money.
Chapter Six
HAVEN
I stared down at my car and the new tires that replaced the ones that literally had zero tread on them. “Hank? Why does my car have all new tires on it?”
He looked at the car, nodded, and said, “It does seem to have new tires on it.”
My hands went to my waist. “Hank?”
He held up his hands. “It wasn’t me, Haven. Someone was, um…paying it forward. They said to take care of the next customer, and you happened to be that customer. Pure luck.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I said, “Did this someone have a name?”
Hank grinned. “Santa Claus was the name I believe he gave.”
I tilted my head and regarded him. “Is that so?”
“Yep, that is the way of it.”
Sighing, my hands dropped to my sides. “Was it Ted?”
Hank choked. “Ted?”
“Ted Reynolds?”
Hank laughed. “The farrier?”
“Yes.”
“Why would it be him?”
I could tell from his surprised response that it hadn’t been Ted who had done the good deed.
When I didn’t answer, he said, “Are you dating him?”
“Well, I mean, we’ve gone out a few times.”
Hank whistled and said, “Nate know?”
My heart felt like it dropped to my stomach. “Nate did this?”
“What makes you think that?”
I narrowed my eyes and pointed to Hank. “Hank, you never were a good liar. Was Nate Shaw playing Santa Claus today?”
He closed his eyes as he scrubbed his hand down his face. “Well, damn it. Please don’t tell him I told you.”
I blinked a few times, looked at my car, then back to Hank. “Nate bought my tires?”
He nodded. “He said if you wanted to pay him back, you could, but I think he wanted to do this for you, Haven.”
My mouth opened, and I quickly shut it. I didn’t even know what to say, but I shouldn’t be surprised. My mind drifted to the other night when he held me while I cried. He was so tender, and when he whispered he would be there for me, it had been the cause of more tears because I knew he would never be there for me the way I wanted.