Take a Chance on Me(43)

Mitch raked his hands through his hair in obvious irritation before moving away.

Mary Beth dragged Maddie into the office and shut the door.

When they were enclosed in the room, which was littered with papers and an old metal desk that looked like a prop from an old police television serial, Maddie raised a brow. “What exactly is going on?”

Resignation clouded Mary Beth’s cute face. “You know men, always looking out for us.”

Anger lit like a match inside Maddie as she turned narrowed eyes on Mitch through the windows. She didn’t know what was going on, but she was in the mood for a fight, and this was the perfect excuse to have one.

He gave her a sheepish look, and Maddie wanted to throttle him. She turned away. Her veins practically raced with adrenaline. She’d been tamping down her temper so long she’d forgotten how intoxicating it was to let it rise to the surface.

How much effort did she spend repressing her emotions? The better question was, why did she continue? She stiffened her spine. Not anymore. Through gritted teeth she said, “Yes, I know.”

Mary Beth’s expression turned consoling and she made some motherly “tsk” noises, even though she couldn’t be much older than Maddie. “They can’t help themselves. It’s in their nature, but obviously execution is not their strong suit.”

Maddie turned her attention to the woman. She’d deal with Mitch Riley later.





“What in the hell is going on in there?” Mitch cursed. This was the worst thought-out plan in the world. Why did he leave the details up to Tommy? He knew better. He scowled at the mechanic. “You can’t lie for shit.”

Tommy shot him a droll look. “What about you? You could have jumped in any time, but no, you just stood there like an idiot.”

“I hired you to lie to her so I wouldn’t have to, dumbass.” With his jaw clenched, the words came out like a growl.

Tommy jabbed a finger in his direction. “Ha! I knew you were *-whipped.”

“I’m not *-whipped.” One had to have sex to be *-whipped. Not that Mitch was about to volunteer that information. “I just don’t want to lie to her.”

“Same difference, dickhead.”

Irrational anger flared hot in his blood. God, he wanted to take someone out. He was so f*cked. “If you’d thought of a halfway decent story, this wouldn’t be happening.”

“How in the hell was I supposed to know she’d know anything about cars?”

“She has brothers.”

“Yeah, well, you could have mentioned that.”

Through the glass window, Maddie shot him a death glare.

Yep, totally f*cked.

He shouldn’t have told her about his past; it was another strike against him, one he knew from experience couldn’t be overlooked. Between tarnishing his knight-in-shining-armor image and the subterfuge, somehow he didn’t think he’d be granted a third strike.

They watched the women. Mitch tried to decipher the expressions playing across Maddie’s features and finally gave up, resigned to his fate.

Ten excruciating minutes later, the door opened, and Mitch steeled himself for the fight that was sure to come. He didn’t care how he managed it, but she wasn’t leaving. Maddie walked across the dark gray, grease-stained floor, and unable to stand it any longer, he said, “Now, Maddie, I can explain.”

“There’s no need.” Her voice held no trace of emotion.

Not good.

“But—” he started, but before he could say any more, Maddie flung herself into his arms. Shocked, he caught her and held tight. He raised a questioning eyebrow at Mary Beth, and a satisfied smirk curled over her lips.

“I told Maddie how her transmission blew,” Mary Beth said in a pleased tone. “And how it cost twenty-five hundred dollars, but Tommy knows this guy over in Shelby who can trade him for a sixty-five Corvette carburetor so it would only cost her around four hundred. Unfortunately, I had to explain how Tommy was doing you a huge, gigantic favor so you agreed to represent Luke in his legal troubles.”

While Maddie’s honey-and-almond shampoo enveloped Mitch, he glowered at Mary Beth. He hadn’t agreed to that, and she knew it. All he’d said was that he’d look at Luke’s file.

Damn Mary Beth. The sneaky woman had managed to ensure that Mitch couldn’t back out of helping her nephew without looking like a total ass.

Maddie pulled away and stared up at him, her green eyes shining with appreciation. “I can’t believe you did that for me. I feel terrible with everyone going through all this trouble.”

“It’s no big deal.” But it was a big deal. With his reputation, how could he hold a young boy’s future in his hands?

She wrapped her arms around his neck, went onto her tiptoes, and pulled him down. Her warm breath brushed his ear. “Don’t try and fool me. I know exactly how big of a deal this is.”

He squeezed her tight.

“I’m going to repay you, every cent.” Her small frame pressed against his, and he instantly drew taut with desire.

“You will not.” His voice strained with the lust that threatened to boil to the surface any time she came within arm’s reach. Last night, as she’d lain cuddled up in his arms, sleeping peacefully, he’d promised himself he’d slow down and give her space to decide if she wanted to continue down the path they were on.