To Love Someone (Baytown Boys #14) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,7

clean, the three men leaned back and groaned in satisfaction.

“Jason tells me that you’d like to volunteer with the fire department,” Zac began.

“It’s something I can do, and I’m more than happy to help.”

Jason leaned forward, his forearms now resting on the table. “I talked to Rose last night after I got home, and she had an idea. Actually, I can’t believe I didn’t think of it at the beginning. Since I only need some tattoo work on the weekends, and right now I have two mechanics working for me in the garage bays, where I need help is an extra person to run the tow truck. When a call comes in now, one of them has to stop working on a vehicle. And I’m telling you, calls for the tow truck come in all the time.”

Joseph nodded slowly, liking that idea of staying busy. “I got no problem driving a tow truck. I’ve also got some mechanical knowledge from some of the jobs I’ve done. I worked on oil field machinery and the engine of the shrimp boat I was on for a while.” Chuckling, he added, “Hell, when I worked at the whiskey distillery in Tennessee, I helped them with their ancillary equipment.”

A bark of laughter erupted from Zac. “Damn, you always could pick up something easily. If somebody showed you how it worked one time, that was it… you nailed it.”

“You were the smartest person I’d ever met,” Jason said, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “I always thought it was funny that you’re such a fuckin’ genius and loved hiding it.”

He scowled and mumbled, “Not hiding it. Just not fuckin’ flaunting it.”

The other two laughed and his scowl deepened, only interrupted when Doneeta popped by again. He handed her a wad of bills to cover all three breakfasts plus a generous tip.

“Sugar, you’re giving me too much,” she protested, her brows raised to her bouffant hairline.

“No, ma’am. It’s for you. Good breakfast. Good service.”

Her eyes widened as she sucked in her breath. She reached out and rested her hand on his shoulder. “Well, Lordy be. My Harvey was a generous man, too. I’ll share this with Marlene. I might have served, but she did the cooking.”

With that, she bustled off again, and he turned back to the other two, seeing their wide grins. “Shut it,” he rumbled, sliding out of the booth. The others followed, and the three men walked into the sunshine.

“I’ve got to get to the station. Come by sometime, and I’ll show you the ropes.” Zac tossed a wave and headed to his SUV.

Jason clapped him on the back. “If you’re ready, we can head to the shop. We’re just getting into vacation season, and I’ve got no doubt the tow truck will be called for soon.”

With a nod, he slid his sunglasses onto his face and climbed into Jason’s SUV. Looks like my quick visit with friends is turning into a bit of a stay. Strange, but that thought didn’t scare him.

3

“What are you doing? This makes no sense!” With her hands planted on her hips and her fingers curling into fists, she wondered how everything could go so wrong. An errant strand of dark hair fell from her neat ponytail, most likely from swiping her hand over her face several times in frustration.

Samantha Collins stood in the middle of the lobby of Robertson’s Veterinary Clinic, her gaze following Tom Robertson as he hustled back and forth between his office to the right of the reception area and out to his truck before returning and making the trip again with boxes in his hands. Tall and bespectacled, his short, dark brown hair was sprinkled with gray, and his usually warm eyes now avoided looking at her.

She’d arrived early like she had every day since he’d hired her. Today, instead of finding him prepping for the animals that would be seen, she found him emptying his office. After shock and disbelief shifted to the side and a tide of anger rode in full force, she jumped in front of the door, spread her arms out, and speared him with her glare. “Stop!” For a second, she wasn’t sure if he was going to plow straight through her, but his feet halted even as he returned her glare. “What the hell is going on? Jesus, Tom, talk to me!”

His shoulders slumped as the air escaped his lungs in a rush. He dropped the box to the floor, his hands lifted to the side, and he