being out on the highway.” The second he’d said that he’d realized his mistake.
“Mommy’s not safe?” Ellie asked, her eyes showing worry.
“Yes, she is, but I know how little girls can get. I’m switching on my blinkers.” He didn’t want the two of them worrying anymore. “That will alert anyone that there’s a stalled car on the side of the road.”
As he climbed from the cab, Paige said, “Be careful, Daddy.”
Ever since his wife had walked out on his marriage on Thanksgiving Day two years ago, Paige got scared easily, even a couple of times to the point where she’d become hysterical. He’d left the army earlier than he’d intended to raise his daughter, but her fears only escalated after Diane died of a drug overdose.
Evan strode to Julia, first assessing her, then the Mustang. Even in the dim light of dusk, he could tell that the tires were on their last thousand miles, if that. He motioned toward the nearest one. “Were you going to drive until there was no rubber left?”
She pulled herself up tall. “I beg your pardon.”
“Those aren’t even good for a tire swing.”
“I was going to get a new set in November right before winter weather sets in.”
He tipped back his hat, feeling the waves of indignation coming off her. “We don’t have that much winter weather—not like Chicago. November starts next week. You need to have Carl change all of them or you’ll have another blowout.”
Her chin lifted. “Just as soon as I get the money to pay for them.”
If he wasn’t mistaken, a northern chill had just blasted past him. “And while we’re at it, I would suggest getting a road-assistance service. There can be some pretty lonely stretches of highway outside of town. And since you are single—”
“I also plan on doing that,” Julia cut in, “when I can swing the money, but so you won’t worry about me, I don’t plan on driving outside of town.”
“You did tonight.” Evan removed his hat and slapped it against his leg.
“Point taken.” She swung around toward the sound of a vehicle approaching. “Oh, good, the tow truck.”
“After he hooks up the car, I’ll take you back to the ranch.”
“He can’t fix the tire after he pulls my Mustang from the ditch? I have a spare in the trunk.”
Evan chuckled and set his hat back on his head. “Ma’am, there’s a possibility there are more things wrong than just a flat tire.”
“What do you mean?”
“Carl will need to get it up on a rack and check the underside of your pretty little Mustang. I know because I once drove into a ditch and had three thousand dollars’ worth of damage, mostly not visible.”
“Oh.”
Her crestfallen expression tugged at him. From what she’d said about having to save money for the tires, he was ninety-nine percent sure she didn’t have a lot of cash sitting around for big emergencies. “You do have car insurance?”
“Of course.” Offense marked her voice and her face now. “But I have a thousand-dollar deductible.”
Carl limped toward them, wearing his usual Dallas Cowboys’ cap, jeans and T-shirt. “Whatcha got here, Paterson?”
“At the best a ruined tire.” Evan waved his hand toward the car. “At the worst major undercarriage damage.”
Carl studied the Mustang for a long moment, removing his ball cap and scratching his head. “I’ll take her down to the station and have a look. I’ll give you a call in an hour or so and let you know.”
“I appreciate it. We’ll be at the ranch.” Evan indicated she go first toward his pickup.
“But—” Julia started to protest, took a look at him and shut her mouth.
As Julia slid into the passenger’s seat in front, the two girls scrambled to the back and sat. On the short ride to the ranch, all Julia heard was Paige and Ellie whispering. She couldn’t figure out what the children were saying, but she got the feeling it was about Evan and her. No doubt they sensed the tension between them.
Yes, she was grateful that he’d come and picked her up, but he didn’t have to be so high-handed. He fit right in with the military personnel she had worked with while in Prairie Springs, taking command, inflexible in his attitude, with an air of authority.
Please, Lord, let my Mustang only need one new tire. I don’t have a thousand dollars for the deductible if the damage is extensive.
Evan parked by the barn. “I have one more stall to finish, then we can go up to the house. Do you mind?”
The man stared straight at her with a penetrating look that for a few seconds robbed Julia of any coherent thoughts.
One of his eyebrows shot up. “Do you, Miss Saunders?”
She would have to explain, and the reason she had told him in the first place—practically a stranger—was to discourage any further interest in her. She’d never done anything like that, surprised at her statement to him almost as much as he had been, because she guarded her privacy, especially her lack of marital status.
“No, of course not. I’ve missed dinner with Anna as it is. I called her and told her I couldn’t come after I called you earlier.”
Paige leaned forward. “Good, then you can stay and eat with us after Ellie and I ride. Daddy, you didn’t forget you promised us we could after you finished your chores?”
His mouth tilted into a grin. “If I had, I wouldn’t admit it now. But we aren’t eating here at the house, Paige. I don’t have anything. Grandma comes tomorrow with our meals.”
“Comes with your meals?” Julia asked before she realized she was sticking her nose into his business, and she definitely didn’t want to give the impression he interested her. Which he didn’t.
“I am the first person to admit that I’m a lousy cook. Paige’s grandmother prepares our dinners and a couple of lunches and delivers them to us twice a week.” His grin notched up another degree. “I can manage breakfast. It’s not too difficult to pour milk over cereal or pop a frozen waffle into the toaster. So I’m not totally inept in the kitchen.”
“I probably wouldn’t let Carmella’s know about your skills. I don’t know how you could handle being a chef and a rancher.”
His eyes narrowed. “I think you’re making fun of me.”
“There is no thinking about it. You are a single father. You should know how. I would be glad to give you a few lessons, that is if you are up for it.” The second the words were out of her mouth, Julia wanted to snatch them back. Why in the world had she dared him? He was the type of man who couldn’t resist a challenge. She wanted to spend less time with him, not more.
“You’ve got yourself a pupil.”
