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“God.” Connie’s red Subaru shuddered, her tire dragging and thumping as she wobbled onto the feeder road and parked. “Damn it.” She called Grayson but got his voice mail. “Babe, I have a flat tire. Can you come give me a hand?” She told him where she was. “Call as soon as you get this. Bye.” She hung up, got out the car and checked the tire.
A silver, Nissan Sentra crept up behind her, headlights beaming.
“Oh, no.” She groaned. “Of all people.”
CeCe hopped out of his car, leaving the door wide open. “What happened?”
“I have a flat tire in the front.”
He checked it out, squinting. “You got a spare?”
She showed him to the trunk.
“I’ll have this changed for you in no time.”
“That’s okay.” She faked a smile. “I left a voice mail for Grayson. He’ll be here soon.”
“You can’t be sure of that if he didn’t answer the phone though, right? Come on, Connie. You won’t even let me change your tire?”
She sighed, moving back. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” He hauled the spare out the trunk as if it were a pillow. “Where’s your tools and stuff?”
Connie grabbed the red tool box.
“All righty.” CeCe propped the spare against her car. “Where are your wheel wedges?”
“My who?”
He grinned as he got the two red wedges from her trunk.
“Oh, those.” Connie chuckled, avoiding eye contact.
He stuck them behind the rear tires and knelt beside the flat. “I’ll have this off in no time.”
“You don’t have to.”
He displayed a slow, sensual smile. “I want to.” He set the flash light on the pavement and removed the hubcap with the wrench. “Watch my back. These people drive like idiots out here.”
Cars flew past.
“You’re not lying.” Connie propped her hands on her backside. “What do I owe you?”
“It’s my pleasure.” He got the jack from her trunk and secured it under the frame. “Nothing I’d rather be doing right now.”
“You make this look so easy.”
He raised the car and removed the lug nuts. “So, how’s things going with you and Grayson?”
“Um...” She batted her eyes. “Fine.”
“Mm.” He lowered his head but she could still see his smirk. “I was hoping you’d say you were miserable so I could steal you away and we’d ride into the sunset.”
“That’s not an appropriate thing to say.”
His gaze traveled up her body. “You two got plans tonight?”
“That’s not your business, is it?”
“Nope. Curious that’s all.”
“Look, I appreciate you fixing my tire but this isn’t happening, CeCe.”
“What’s not happening?”
“Let’s not play games. You’ve been watching me at work.”
He removed the tire and set the it aside. “When have I been watching you?”
“I’m not interested in you, okay? You’re wasting your time.”
“I’m confused.”
“You gave me the yellow rose, didn’t you? That was unprofessional.”
“I was just being nice.” Darkness overtook his face. “If Grayson is so great, then why isn’t he here when you need him the most? You’d be stuck out here if I hadn’t come along.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And, you just drove through the exact time I was here.”
“Are you accusing me of messing with your tire?” He applied the lug nuts to the spare and tightened them with the wrench. “Wow, this is your idea of gratitude?” He stood and lowered the vehicle. “You’re done. Don’t forget your tools.” He put them into the box and gave it to her.
She set the box in the trunk and he got the old tire.
“I’ll get rid of this for you.”
“Thanks.” She closed the trunk and got in the car.
“You want me to follow you home to make sure you make it all right?”
“No.” She gave a flat smile, putting on her seatbelt. “I’ll see you.”
“You sure?” He leaned at her window, winking. “It’s no trouble. I know where you live, remember?”
“Stay away from my house, CeCe.” She pushed the key into the ignition, hand shivering. “I mean it.”
****
“Is everything okay?” Jonathan took another bite of the Philly Cheese steak casserole while the women sat around the dining room table with their faces lowered to their plates. “Emma, this casserole is amazing.”
She dabbed her mouth, avoiding eye contact with him.
Jonathan looked at Rena’s empty seat between Ana and Jinghua. “All right.” He dropped his fork in the plate. “It’s obvious you’re all upset with me.” He loosened a piece of steak from in between his teeth with his tongue. “Let’s talk about it then.”
“Are you sure you want to?” Asia raised an eyebrow. “You won’t like what you’re gonna hear.”
He placed his hands in his lap. “I’m listening.”
“What you did today was heartless.” Ana’s red hair lay over her shoulder in a thick braid. “We won’t tolerate that kind of treatment.”
“We can’t explain how hurtful what you did was not only to Rena but to us,” Jinghua said. “You don’t know what it’s like to be a woman.”
“You’re right I don’t.”
Asia stuck out her lips, breathing hard. “What happened today can never happen again.”
“I’m sorry.” Jonathan nodded, his heart heavy with guilt. “I didn’t mean to hurt Rena or any of you.”
“We’re not prostitutes, Jonathan,” Emma said.
“Yeah,” Ana chimed in. “You can’t treat us any way you want. We demand respect.”
“You’re right.” Jonathan took his napkin out his lap and set it on the table. “I hate what happened and I promise it will never happen again.”
“You made a mistake.” Candra’s sweet voice cut through the tension. “I know your heart, Jonathan. I trust that you won’t do it again.”
“Did anyone ask you?” Asia snapped. “You shouldn’t even be here.”
Candra wilted in the chair.
Shauna sat beside her, watching the timid young woman out the corner of her eyes.
“I’m surprised you of all people have nothing to say, Shauna,” Jonathan said.
She bit into her sweet roll. “You know you were wrong.”
He rolled his eyes, pressing his lips together. “Is Rena joining us?”
“No.” Emma tapped her plate. “You can’t be surprised she doesn’t want to see you.”
Jinghua squinted, her Asian eyes becoming even smaller.
“Will you ever forgive me?”
“That depends on Rena.” Asia grabbed her glass. “If she does, we will.”
Jonathan stood, holding the back of his chair. “Where is she?”
Ana got her drink. “In the garden.”