“If you were calling for help, I can change the tire for you.”
She huffed, crossing her arms. Had he said something offensive?
“I know how to change a tire. At least, I’m sure I could figure it out,” she said, voice quieter. “There’s probably instructions. How hard can it be?” She motioned to her car. “I was calling my brother-in-law because my car’s packed full. Every inch of it. I’d have to unpack the back to get to my spare, and since I’m almost to my sister’s house, it made more sense to see if they could bring the truck. That way I could load everything into it, and I wouldn’t have to move all of my stuff onto the side of the road.”
Her convoluted logic made sense. Graham must be losing his mind.
“So, you need a ride to Cash and Olivia’s? That I can do.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Were you...headed in that direction?”
“No, but it’s not far.”
The toe of her boot tapped as she contemplated. A quick shake of her head was coupled with tight-pressed lips. “No, thank you.”
No? What did she plan to do? Walk? Hope for cell reception? She was crazy to think he’d leave without helping her.
“I don’t want to interrupt your plans.”
What plans? Graham hadn’t done anything social in the past...five years or so. Not since Mattie was born and then losing Brooke. He didn’t exactly have a busy social life. Work? He had plenty of that. And colored pictures on his fridge. He had lots of those. Plus, he played a mean game of Go Fish on Saturday nights.
“My daughter and I were just headed home. It will only take us a few minutes to drop you off.” If he had to be direct or demanding in order for her to accept his help, so be it. Anything to make this encounter go a bit faster. Lucy made him feel...uncomfortable. As if he wanted to loosen his tie, even though he wasn’t wearing one today.
After a minute of contemplation, she let out an earth-shaking sigh. “Fine.” The word came through gritted teeth. “I appreciate your help.”
He got the impression she didn’t like his offer of help one bit, especially when her forced tone was accompanied by crossed arms and eyes that flashed with displeasure. Their bright blue color punched him in the chest. Unique. Brilliant. He wasn’t sure exactly how to describe them. Not that he needed to write a report. What he needed to do was drop this woman off at her sister’s and then head home to get his week organized before the craziness of Monday hit. No doubt his medical office would be slammed tomorrow morning as it was almost every Monday. But at least there he felt useful. At least there he was too busy for the images of his past failures to haunt him.
“Let me grab my purse.”
While Lucy did that, Graham opened the trunk to his car and checked the bolt pattern on his spare. It didn’t match the one on Lucy’s wheels. Just as well. Graham wasn’t sure he’d live through the experience of changing a flat tire with this woman. He’d seen what Lucy could do with a shoe. What harm could she accomplish with a lug wrench?
He started his BMW and pulled up parallel to her car. She came over with full hands, so he leaned across the seat and popped the passenger door open. Lucy slid in, dropping a purse and jacket on the floor of his car. When she shut the door, the scent of lime and coconut came with her.
It was the end of January, and she smelled like summer. Graham hadn’t known the season had its own scent before.
He motioned to the backseat. “This is my daughter, Matilda Grace. Everyone calls her Mattie.”
Lucy buckled and twisted to face the backseat while he put the car in Drive. “Hi, Mattie Grace. It’s nice to meet you.”
In the rearview mirror, Graham could see the name earned a smile from Mattie. A shy one.
“I’m Lucy.”
“Ms. Lucy,” he said.
Those eyes of hers jutted to him, giving off a spark of something close to annoyance before she softened and turned back to Mattie. “What grade are you in?”
“Kindergarten.”
Graham could feel the mix of interest and shyness oozing from Mattie in the backseat. His daughter tended to be on the serious side with an older-than-her-years nature. She was compliant, sweet and entirely more than he deserved. He thanked God for her every day.
The short distance to Cash and Olivia’s took only a few minutes. When they arrived, the three of them got out, making their way up the wide porch steps.
Lucy knocked, then opened the door, calling out her arrival. She stepped inside, and Olivia squealed, tugging her into a very enthusiastic hug.
Cash Maddox appeared at the door, surprise evident. “Hey, Red. Mattie. Come on in.”
At thirty-one years old, Graham was a few years older than Cash, but the two of them had grown up together and they’d always had an easy friendship. Cash was one of the few people who understood losing someone—not that he’d lost a wife, like Graham had, but grief was one emotion they shared knowledge of.
Even though Graham was close to six feet tall, Cash towered over him. His friend passed him in inches...and brawn. The fact that Cash ran a ranch from dawn till dusk and Graham saw patients inside all day might have a little something to do with that second thing.
“I can’t believe you’re finally here!” Olivia took a step back from her sister, her brown hair contrasting with Lucy’s sunshine blond. “Where have you been? I thought from the last time I talked to you that you were going to get here an hour ago.”
“Flat tire.” Lucy grimaced.
“Where’s your car? Did you change it? What happened?”
Lucy laughed, a lyrical sound that tightened Graham’s throat. Was he coming down with something? There’d been a lot of rash/fever combinations in the office last week. It was either that or this woman had some strange effect on him.
Definitely had to be germs.
“Still on the road. No, I didn’t change it because I didn’t want to unpack everything. And Graham stopped and ended up giving me a ride.”
Olivia’s gaze jumped to him. Seemed she hadn’t noticed his arrival. But then, he would guess Lucy’s entrance anywhere would pretty much overshadow anyone else’s.
“Thanks for taking care of my little sister, Graham.”
He nodded.
“Yeah.” Lucy flashed bright white teeth in his direction. “Thanks for the ride.”
He opened his mouth but no sound came out.
Olivia bent to eye level with Mattie while Graham still choked on his words. Or lack of them. Honestly. What was wrong with him?
“Hey, Mattie. It’s good to see you.” Her hand trailed along one of Mattie’s brown pigtails, coaxing a grin from his daughter.
“Mattie is practically a superhero. She swooped in and saved me from having to make the choice between a long walk or unloading my car.” Lucy shared a fist bump with Mattie, her head tilting in his direction. “Along with her trusty sidekick.”
Graham’s mouth gave in to a slight curve at the acknowledgment. He’d take the demoted status just for the look on his daughter’s face.
Lucy turned to Cash. “About my car. I thought maybe I could borrow your truck. I’ll change the tire. I can do everything if you’ll just let me—”
“What?” Cash snorted. “You really think I’m going to send you back out to take care of a flat tire on your own? What kind of brother do you think I am? I’ll take care of it.”
By the way Lucy’s chin jutted out, she wasn’t satisfied