to form. “You know what? I just might do that. Now, what sounds good to you?” I ask. “I have one quick stop to make, and then we can grab some food.”
“I’m up for anything.”
“Layla, that’s not what I asked you. Tell me,” I urge her.
“Honestly, Chick-fil-A.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I don’t eat out ever unless you count work, but we get a huge discount. It’s been ages since I’ve eaten there.”
“Chick-fil-A, it is.”
“We could get it to go and go sit on the beach,” she suggests.
“Done.” I point my rental in the direction of the garage, and lucky for me, I remember a Chick-fil-A being nearby as well. It’s not where I had planned to take her, but the light in her eyes when she talks about the simplest of things such as eating fast food, how can I not take her there? Eating with her on the beach is just the icing on the cake.
Chapter 6
Layla
“What are we doing here?” I ask Owen when we pull into Parker’s Garage. “My car isn’t ready yet. It won’t be for a while. I have to get some money together,” I say, feeling the embarrassment of my words sitting on my shoulders.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back,” he says, ignoring my question and climbing out of the car.
I open my door and follow him inside. “Owen.”
“Layla,” he counters. “Do you ever listen to what you’re told?”
“Do you ever ask instead of telling?” I fire back, crossing my arms over my chest.
He sighs. “Frustrating beauty,” he mumbles under his breath.
“Mr. Riggins.” The guy I recognize as the manager who said my car would be okay here until I gathered the money to fix it greets Owen. “We’ve got you all fixed up. Your assistant just called, so we’re all set.”
“Wait. What’s going on here?” I step around Owen and look at the manager.
“He took care of everything, Ms. Massey. Your car is as good as new.”
“Owen?”
“Thank you,” he tells the manager. “We’ll take the keys now, but we’ll be back to pick it up later this evening.”
“No problem. Thank you for your business.” The manager shakes his hand and disappears down the hall.
Owen turns to face me. “Ready?”
I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. “What just happened here, Owen?”
“Come on. We can talk about this in the car.” He reaches for me, and I step back. “Layla.”
“Tell me, did I imagine this, or did you just pay to fix my car? I don’t have the money, Owen. I can’t pay you back for this.”
He exhales loudly. “I don’t want you to pay me back. Let’s go to the car, and we can talk more privately.”
I look around and see that the guys in the garage are watching us through the window. “Fine.” Turning on my heel, I stomp out to his rental car. I slam the door harder than needed, but I’m angry, hurt, embarrassed, and hell, I’m so damn confused about what’s going on here.
“Layla,” he starts, but I turn in my seat, and the look on my face must stop him.
“Why? Why would you do that? I was taking care of it. I needed to work a few more shifts, but I was handling it. Why would you go behind my back and pay to have my car not only fixed, but apparently you had them do an overhaul? You don’t even know me, Owen.”
“I don’t expect you to pay me back. I did it because I can. Because I see how hard you work, and because from what you’ve told me, you were dealt a shitty hand at life, and I wanted to do something nice for you.”
That takes some of the wind out of my sails. “You don’t even know me,” I say again, this time with less heat.
He reaches out and cradles my face in the palm of his hand. “I do know you. I know you bust your ass for a tiny wage, you work your life away only to feel like a hamster in a spinning wheel. I know you have no one, other than Ronnie and Linda. I know that your feet hurt, but you can’t afford new shoes. I know that you give food to the thugs who hang out outside of your apartment building. You are scraping to get by, yet you give what you have to those in need. You’re an amazing woman, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about you.”
My heart flips over in