he exited his car. It was replaced with the wry, appreciative smile he’d come to associate with her during the six months she’d dated his best mate, Steve.
Pippa pushed her heavy black-framed glasses up her nose and scanned him head to toe as he approached.
“You’re definitely not what I was expecting when I sent up a prayer for a guardian angel.”
“Long time no see,” he said easily.
Pippa’s smile slipped a fraction and he knew that—like him—she was remembering the last time they’d seen each other. Driven by god-knows-what stupid impulse, he had visited her at the hospital after the birth of her daughter, Alice. The most uncomfortable fifteen minutes of his life so far, hands down. She recovered quickly, pushing her glasses up her nose again.
“How have you been, Harry? How’s Hogwarts going? Cast any good spells lately?”
The Harry Potter/Porter jokes had gotten old around the time Ms. Rowling had made her second billion, but Pippa was one of the few people he allowed to get away with them. They’d always got on well and, unlike most of Steve’s girlfriends, he’d regretted it when things had gone pear-shaped and she’d disappeared off the scene. She’d always had something interesting to say, and she’d always laughed at his jokes, even when they sucked.
“Made some underwear disappear the other night, if that’s what you mean.”
She laughed appreciatively. “Dirty dog.”
“How about you? How are things?”
“I’ve had better days, you know.” She shrugged, her dark, wavy hair brushing her shoulders. A sparkly clip was pinned at one temple. Combined with her heavy glasses, it gave her an arty, slightly eccentric look that was reinforced by her old-fashioned floral dress and timeworn tan oxfords.
Not for the first time he wondered how she and Steve had ever hooked up. She was a million miles from the tight-T-shirted, tight-jeaned women his mate usually went for, and Harry had always figured Steve wasn’t exactly Pippa’s normal dating material, either. Which only made it more problematic that they’d created a little girl between them.
“How’s Alice?” he asked, glancing at the backseat.
The baby seat was empty, however.
“Mum’s visiting, so she’s got her for the day. I was supposed to be getting a few chores sorted, but Old Yeller had other ideas.” Her tone was heavy with irony as she gave her car a rueful glance.
“Let me guess—it overheated?”
“To be honest, I have no idea. One minute I was driving along, the next minute there was this bang and then steam and smoke was pouring out from under the hood …”
Harry frowned. Steam sounded right for overheating, but not smoke. He moved closer to lean over the engine bay. It took him only a moment to spot the oil dripping down the engine block and sprayed across the other engine components.
“Looks like you’ve blown a head gasket.”
Pippa joined him, peering at the engine. “That’s bad, right?”
“It’s not great. It basically means the engine is no longer sealed properly, so the oil that’s supposed to stop things from seizing up when they get hot leaks out.”
“Does that mean the engine is seized now?” She looked alarmed.
“Not if you pulled over immediately.”
“I did. Straight away.”
“Then it’s probably okay. But the only way to know for sure is to crack the engine block open and take a look.”
“That sounds expensive. Am I right?” A worried expression filled her brown eyes.
“It can be. Depends on parts, what they find when they get in there …”
She nodded. “Right. Well, I guess me standing here swearing at it won’t change any of that.”
Harry pulled out his phone. Since he couldn’t help her, the least he could do was organize a tow truck.
“Who normally services the car?” He knew most of the workshops in this part of the Mornington Peninsula, as well as a number of the tow truck operators.
“Oh, um, I don’t know the name off the top of my head. A place down in Mornington.” She waved a hand vaguely.
“Sweet Motors? Beachside Workshop?” he suggested.
Pippa shook her head, her gaze sliding from his face to the car. “I think I’ve got their card at home.”
“Do you want to get it towed to your place, then?”
“No, then I’d have to pay twice. I’ll just go home and sort it from there. But thanks for the thought.”
Her words were light but the frown creasing her forehead remained. Harry hesitated, but there was something about the way she was trying to be so casual about what was clearly a major hassle that made him want to help out. Even though it wasn’t his place, and they weren’t really friends anymore.
“My dad owns the workshop in Mount Eliza Village. I could give him a ring. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind helping out with a tow.” Technically, this was true, since Mike Porter had always been a soft touch for someone in distress, but it didn’t mean Harry wouldn’t cop some grief for his impulsive offer. He could almost hear his dad now: It’d be different if you actually worked for Village Motors, mate. Then you’d be within your rights to make offers on my behalf.
The fact that Harry had chosen to work for someone else once he’d finished his apprenticeship had always been a minor bone of contention between him and his father, although lately it seemed there was more weight behind his father’s comments and jokey asides.
Still, Harry was willing to wear the inevitable heat if it meant helping Pippa.
“That’s really nice of you, but I don’t want to put anyone out. Besides, my car club offers free roadside assistance. I can call them from home and get everything sorted.”
“You won’t be putting anyone out. The workshop is up the road. It’s no big deal.”
Pippa’s expression became determined. “Thanks, but I’ve got it covered.” She softened her rejection by touching his forearm briefly. “I appreciate you stopping, Harry. A lot of other guys would have kept going.”
He frowned. The reality was, if she’d been one of Steve’s other exes, he would have simply blown past without a second thought. He wasn’t sure why it was different with Pippa, except he’d always liked her. And—maybe—because he felt a little sorry for her, given her situation and the way things had turned out.
“Can I give you a lift home, then?” he heard himself offer. Even though every minute that ticked past chewed up his weekend and delayed the moment when he had an ice-cold glass of beer in his hand.
“Thanks, but Mum can come get me.”
Pippa
