When I'm With You (Little Hollow Series, #2)(5)

“What’s on the books today?” I ask, towel drying my hair as I walk out the bathroom after my shower.

She slides the appointment book toward her and starts running her finger down today’s page, which reminds me that we really need to stop putting off getting a computer system.

She huffs. “What isn’t on today? It’s gonna be a long one.”

I smile, long means busy; busy means less talking.



She’s right, it’s a really busy day and I have to take on some of her clients much to their dismay, as one turned up late making everyone’s appointment run into one another’s. Each one is silent during their appointment but I prefer it that way, it gives me time to think about what I’m going to say to Lewis later on. I don’t know why I care what he thinks, but I do.

I finish my last client and huff out a breath, wafting a magazine over my face. It’s hot as hell in here. “We really need to get this air con fixed, it’s so hot in here I’m about to melt into a puddle.”

She scrunches up her nose. “No one can get to us until next week.”

Damn. I guess these shitty little fans will have to do for now. I start helping Sam sweep up.

“What do you want to do tonight?” She asks, humming along to a song on the radio.

I shrug. “Well you know I’m going to set things straight with Lewis after we’ve finished cleaning, then we can do whatever you want when I get back.”

“Why are you hell bent on going over there?” She asks, stopping sweeping.

“Because… I’m sick of people judging me and last night, I proved everyone right. I need to apologize for being an insensitive bitch.”

She snorts but it turns into a full blown laugh, her head thrown back. She’s stunning anyway, but when she laughs it opens up her whole face. I smile and tell her, “You should laugh more often.”

“Yeah, I should,” she answers, looking at the floor. Changing the subject, she carries on, “Why don’t you head off then? I can do this.”

“Are you sure?” She nods in answer. “Thanks, Sam, I need to get out of this hot box.”

I tell her I’ll be back soon and head out the door.



Stopping across the street from Lewis’s garage, I puff out my chest. No point in dragging this out any longer.

Walking through the side door I nearly knock right into the guy that Lewis was sitting with last night.

“Oh, hey, Keeley,” Lewis says, sounding bored with an unreadable look on his face

The guy from last night nods a hello at me and turns back to Lewis. “I’m not quite sure yet but thanks for the beer Lew. I’ll see you around.”

I watch as he walks out the same door I’ve just come through until Lewis clears his throat and I turn to face him. Better get this over and done with. “Erm, can we talk?”

“Sure, can we do this in my office?” He asks, walking away from me, not waiting for an answer.

I hesitate for a second then follow after him as he walks through a row of cars. I stop at the sight of a beautiful bike. “I didn’t know you fixed Harley’s.”

He faces me, smiling a little. “I didn’t know you were into bikes.”

I tense up a little, calm down Kee he doesn’t know anything. “Sure, I’ve always loved them. Do you mind?”

I point at the Harley and he shrugs his shoulders, which I assumes means he doesn’t.

I run my hand along the seat and hunker down next to it to admire the unfinished detail on the side. “Did you do this?”

I stand up, he’s beaming that megawatt smile now. “It’s just a hobby, I don’t normally customize anything. It isn’t that sort of garage.”

Before my head to mouth filter has a chance to work, I blurt out, “Well you’re hella dumb for not making it into one of those garages, you’d make a fortune off customizing bikes.” My hand flies to my mouth. “I’m sorry that isn’t my place to say.”

He laughs and motions for me to follow him into his office. “I just don’t have the manpower or the funds to make it that sort of garage at the moment. And... I have no idea why I just told you that.”

He rubs the back of his neck as he sits down on the sofa against the wall of his office. I sit next to him and choose not to comment on his money troubles.

“Listen-“ “I’m just going to-“ We speak at the same time. I laugh and he motions for me to go first.

“Okay, well I’m not one to beat around the bush so I’ll just come out with it and say I was a total bitch last night, and I’m sorry. I had no idea you looked after your mom, so again, I’m sorry.” I can’t look him in the eye, I don’t apologize to people unless it’s really called for.

He laughs, actually laughs. I narrow my eyes and his hands shoot up in protest. “I’m laughing because it’s no big deal. I was actually worried I’d upset you, so I’m sorry too for not explaining.”

He was worried he had upset me?

He stands up and reaches into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. “I was gonna come give you this after work and explain myself, but you saved me a job.”

He winks at me and I just stare at his outstretched hand with the bills in before my walls fly up. “I’m not a charity case, I don’t want or need your money.”