“Mommy, it’s too hot.” Liza tugged on Elizabeth’s hand as they walked around the used car lot at the Chevy dealership. She had already stopped by the Ford lot and sure enough, she’d been completely ignored while husband and wife teams had been met as soon as they’d parked. She had even walked inside to ask about an SUV and had been promised, by three different salesmen, that somebody would get to her in just a minute. Frustrated after waiting twenty, she had hopped back into the rental car and driven to the next dealership down the street.
Car shopping would be easy. All the dealerships lined both sides of the four-lane highway. If she couldn’t find a car there, she would never find one.
She and Liza had strolled the lot, peering in the windows of locked cars for less than a minute before a short balding man with a huge smile approached them. When she had insisted they were just looking at this point, he had followed about five feet behind them like a lost puppy until someone new parked in a customer space. She had finally given in and texted Matthew the name of the dealership.
As cars and trucks pulled into the lot, she kept an eye out for his cute little convertible.
“Lizzie.”
At the sound of her nickname she froze. Chills ran through her entire body. A vision of Mason coming up behind her, grabbing her around the waist, and pulling her back to his chest blinked through her mind. Although the voice wasn’t quite right, the inflection was perfect. But it wasn’t Mason, it was Matthew.
She turned to watch his long, lanky body saunter toward her. Damn. He looked so good in the comfortable jeans, yellow polo shirt, and broken-in black cowboy boots. She didn’t hold back her smile. “Matthew, thank you for coming.” She wanted to hug him the way she would Logan or Micah, but they weren’t that close of friends, yet.
When he reached her, he bent in and kissed her temple as though they were more than relative acquaintances. “It’s part of the show,” he reassured her in a whisper. Then he crouched down and sat on his heels. “You must be Liza.” He held out his hand, and to Elizabeth’s shock, her normally shy daughter took it and shook like an adult.
“I’m Elizabeth Ann Vatucci, but you can call me Liza like everybody else ’cause Mom is Elizabeth, too, and Grammy’s real name is Elizabeth. I ’pose I have to name my baby girl Elizabeth. It’s a family thing.”
Matthew smiled at her daughter’s adorable explanation. Elizabeth wished she could see his eyes, but once again, they were hidden behind the reflective aviator sunglasses.
“It’s important to keep up family traditions.” He looked at her in all seriousness.
“You got family taditions?” Liza’s innocent question made Elizabeth want to cringe.
She instantly kneeled beside her daughter. “Remember our talk about what we can ask other people? Was that on the list?”
Her daughter shook her fine blond curls. “No, Momma.” Then she quickly added, “I want to know his taditions. What does his family make him do?”
Both Elizabeth and Matthew burst out laughing. Liza got scared and stepped into her mother’s arms. “It’s okay, sweetie.” Elizabeth stood up holding her daughter.
“It’s fine for you to ask me that question.” Matthew ran his index finger down Liza’s nose. “But I don’t have any family traditions. I don’t have any family. There’s just me.”
“You don’t got a daddy, either? Mine’s dead. He’s never coming home ever again.” Liza’s unemotional statement of the obvious gripped Elizabeth by the throat. This was the first time her daughter had mentioned her father. Heat built up behind her eyes, not for the loss of her husband, but for everything the little girl in her arms had suffered.
Elizabeth was surprised when she looked down and watched Matthew rub her daughter’s back. He was so gentle and kind with her that it touched something deep inside. No man had ever treated her children with such kindness, not even Robert.
“But you at least have a mommy. Both my mother and father are gone.” Matthew’s confession hit her in the same spot that Liza had just touched. She suddenly realized how very little she knew about the man next to her.
“Well, sir, I’m glad to see you could make it. That’s one beautiful little daughter you have there.” The smarmy used car salesman had reappeared, his gaze nailed to Matthew. He held his hand out to shake but Matthew ignored it, and him.
“Lizzie, have you seen anything on this a lot that interests you?” His focus was completely on her.
She glanced around before returning her gaze to him. “There was a four-door Tahoe that I saw online, but I haven’t seen it here. On the other hand, we just arrived a few minutes before you did.”
They both scanned the rows of vehicles, and in sync, stared at the salesman.
“If you are referring to the red Tahoe with the oversized mud tires and winch on the front, it is right over here.” He headed to the left side of the lot.
Matthew raised his eyebrows. “Is that the one you were considering?”
“No. The one I saw was blue, or maybe black, about five years old.” She started toward a line of SUVs. “It was a decent price but had high mileage.” She couldn’t pull it up on her phone while carrying Liza.
They stopped at the first Tahoe. This one was only a year old with high mileage. She looked down the body and it was very wavy. It had most likely been in an accident and the repair shop sucked, or the owners pocketed the insurance money and had the lowest bidder do the work. It was too much money anyway.
The next was school bus yellow. Hard pass on that one.
Matthew followed her without a word. When she came to a dark blue one, she set Liza down and read the window sticker. “This may be the one I looked at.” She pulled out her phone and started punching buttons.
“There you are,” the pesky salesman called from twenty feet away. “Tahoe is one of Chevy’s best models. Would you like to see the engine, mister… I don’t believe I got your name.” He made a beeline for Matthew who continued to ignore the man. “Would you like to see under the hood?”
Matthew just looked at her. She wouldn’t have a clue what she was looking at except she could identify certain engine parts. They’d studied tanks at West Point, and she knew a few engine components.
Leaning close to Matthew, she quietly asked, “Would you be able to identify problems just by looking at the engine? I certainly can’t.”
“Hell, no. I have a mechanic I trust who checks out all my cars before I buy them.” He stared at her a long second. “We can take yours there too before you actually buy it.”
“They allow that?” She had no idea dealerships let other mechanics check out cars for potential buyers.
He grinned. “If they want to sell the car they will. If they refuse, then they’re afraid of what my guy will find. I wouldn’t let you buy the car in that case.”
He was already invaluable. She showed him the information provided online and double checked the VIN number to be sure it was the same vehicle. “What do you think?”
“This is an excellent SUV and priced right.” The salesman opened the driver’s door.
Elizabeth was smacked in the face with the smell of stale smoke and wet dog. She coughed.
“How about a test drive?” He shoved the key toward Matthew.
“She’s the one buying the car.” Matthew grabbed the salesman’s wrist and guided it to her.
“Mommy, this car smells funny.” Liza crinkled her nose.
Elizabeth stepped back. “No, sweetie, this car stinks.” She grabbed Liza’s hand and continued to back away. “Do you have anything else in this price range that’s family friendly? I have two children and I want something with a good safety rating.”
The salesman looked insulted. “Ma’am, I assure you, all of our vehicles have been rated by the Insurance Institute. They are all child safe.”
“I want to go. I’m hungry.” Liza wound up for a meltdown.
Elizabeth exchanged a look with Matthew who started punching buttons on his phone. When his eyes widened, she knew something was up.
Matt glared at the salesman. “That’s not true. This four-door Tahoe has not been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.”
Liza patted her thigh. “Mommy, I hungry.” Her poor daughter was hot and overdue for her afternoon snack. Then it would be naptime.
She picked up her tired little girl and slid Matthew a glance. “I’m sorry but I think I’d better go.”
“I think we should go, too. Lizzie, I don’t believe this misogynistic ass is ever going to talk directly to you, so cutting a deal on any car on this lot is out of the question. You don’t need to put up with this denigration. We’ll find you a car.” He stared at the salesman. “One that has verified ratings.”
Matthew plucked Liza from her arms. “Tell me, little princess, do you like ice cream? I feel like we all need ice cream. It’s hot out here.”
Liza immediately perked up. “Can I get strawberry?”
“You can get any kind you want.” He then grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and walked to her car. “There’s a cold stone style ice cream shop about a mile down on the right. I’ll follow you there.” He then handed her Liza and strode to a Land Rover several spaces away.
How many vehicles does this man have? And did he just call that salesman an ass? She could have handled that slimy jerk, but liked being defended, just this once.
She strapped her daughter into the car seat.
Five minutes later, she pulled into the crowded shopping strip lot. She’d never been to this chain. Dessert was a real treat for her kids and a mid-day sugary snack was even more rare.
Matthew met her at her car and patiently waited while she unbuckled Liza. When they started toward the ice cream shop, Elizabeth automatically took Liza’s hand.
The little girl reached up and grabbed Matthew’s huge paw. “We have to hold hands in a parking lot. I’m too little. Cars can’t see me.”
He shook his head as though in amazement. “You’re absolutely right. Good thing I’m big. Cars can’t miss me.”
As they stepped into line, Liza ran to the case, but it was too tall for her to see.
“Do you mind—” Elizabeth started to ask him if he would wait in line while she dealt with Liza.
“I’ve got her.” Matthew lifted her daughter under her arms, a bit awkwardly, but enough for her to see the choices inside. A father stepped up beside him with a little boy planted on his hip. Matthew immediately swung Liza up to his side, and she threw her little legs around his waist as though she’d been doing it all her life. He carried her from freezer to freezer having a serious discussion about flavors. They stopped in between two of the cases to watch a server use paddles to combine white chocolate mousse ice cream with gummy bears and peanut butter pieces. Liza’s eyes were huge as she stared at the process.
Elizabeth stepped forward. They were next. “Have you two decided?”
Matthew brought her daughter back to her side. “So, what is it going to be, princess?”
Just as Liza started naming off a long list of add-ins, it was their turn to order.
“I like strawberry best, but that would be yucky with Gummy Bears, so can I have chocolate and M&Ms in mine? And can I get ’nola in it too?” At a raised eyebrow from her mother, Liza added, “Please.”
The patient young girl at the register looked pleadingly at Elizabeth. “Granola. And you can put some in my chocolate as well. I’ll pass on the candy, though.”
“Both you girls are chocoholics I see,” Matt teased. “I’m a fan of butter pecan myself.” Matt put Liza down and had the bill paid before Elizabeth could find her wallet buried deep in her purse.
“You didn’t need to do that,” she scolded him as they moved over to the frozen marble slab to watch the mixing show.
“I know, but since it was my suggestion, I pay.” He lifted Liza back onto his hip so she had a great view.
Liza received her cone first and immediately started licking, but she couldn’t keep up with the dripping mess. Out of habit, Elizabeth had grabbed extra napkins and tried to catch a drop before it hit Matthew’s shirt. Too late.
“I’m so sorry.” She dabbed at the spot. She hoped it would come out.
“Don’t worry about it.” Matt handed her the cup of chocolate and granola. “Why don’t you go find us a table. Mine should be ready in a second.”
When she reached for Liza, her daughter leaned into Matt. “I watching.”
“I’ve got her.” Then he turned his attention to Liza. “We’ve got this handled, right?”
“Right.” Another drop of liquid chocolate fell onto his shoulder.
Elizabeth cringed. At this rate she’d end up buying Matthew a drawer full of new shirts.
As soon as they all sat down, Elizabeth wiped Liza’s face and hands and licked the cone so it wouldn’t drip for at least a few minutes.
“Exactly what are you looking for in a vehicle?” Matthew asked between bites.
“Something that’s safe. D.C. drivers are crazy. The beltway seems more like a bumper car race every day.” She gave him her budget, and he nodded.
“Let me put out some feelers and see what I can find for you.” He scraped the bottom of his bowl.
“Thank you for the offer, but I really can’t let you do that.” He was such a sweet man, but she wasn’t sure what she wanted. She’d know when she saw it.
“You won’t mind if I ask a few friends to keep an eye out will you?” He wiped his lips with a napkin and then handed one to Liza.
Her baby girl mimicked his movements. She could be so precious one minute and a holy terror the next. Elizabeth was pleased that her angelic child was sitting at the table. She wasn’t looking forward to the sugar crash, and hoped they’d make it home first. “We need to go. Someone needs an N.A.P.” Thankfully Liza hadn’t caught on to that particular spelling.
After collecting all the trash they’d made, including a mountain of chocolate-covered napkins, the three of them headed for the door.
“Thank you so much for coming out today.” She grasped Liza’s hand and headed toward the car.
He took the child’s other hand. “It was my pleasure. It’s not often I get to spend a few hours with two beautiful girls and eat ice cream.”
When they reached the car, Liza opened the back door by herself. “Bye, Mr. Matthew.” She threw her tiny arms around his thigh. His expression was comical, as though he didn’t know what to do with the small person attached to him.
Elizabeth reached down. “Time to go, Liza.” Reluctantly the little girl let loose of his leg and climbed into the backseat.
When Elizabeth stood after buckling her daughter in, she realized Matthew had been appreciating the view of her backside. Part of her wanted to be upset while the other part was thankful that a man still found her physically appealing. She had missed that in the last several years of her relationship with Robert.
“Thank you again for coming out today and for telling that creepy salesman off.” She wasn’t sure why she did it, but she went up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “And thanks for taking us out for ice cream. I haven’t done that in years.”
“I know you have to return this car in a few days. Are you sure you don’t mind if I ask my mechanic about a dependable family car?”
She would be thrilled to death if she never had to walk on another car lot again. “That would be wonderful. You have my number if you find something.” She would also be scouring the Internet tonight after both children were in bed.
“I’ll be talking to you soon.” He stepped away and put his hands in his pockets. “Drive safely.”
She had a smile on her face as she exited the parking lot. She was looking forward to talking to Matthew again.
Two days later, her phone rang while she was on her way home from work. She pressed the button on the steering wheel to answer the call and wasn’t that a delight? Her old car didn’t have hands-free mode but since the rental was practically new, it had all the newest amenities, including caller ID.
“Hello, Matthew.” She smiled from the inside out.
“Lizzie, I think I’ve found a good vehicle for you. You sound like you’re on your way home. Is there any chance you can meet me at my mechanic’s shop?”
She checked the time. Liza was still at day care and they were open for another hour. Austin had gone home with a friend to practice baseball since his Little League team wasn’t doing well. “I have about thirty minutes I can spare.”
The address he gave her wasn’t far and thanks to the in-dash GPS system routing her around traffic, she made it there in five minutes. Too bad she had to give up all those luxuries within days.
She pulled in next to Matthew’s convertible with the top down. He’d obviously been enjoying the early May sunshine. Smiling as she got out of the car, she looked around and spotted him talking with a man in blue overalls.
Matthew put his hand at the small of her back as soon as she approached. “Lizzie, this is my mechanic friend, George. I think we’ve found a car for you.” Thank goodness her body knew to extend her hand because her brain had fogged over from the second he’d touched her. Familiar heat rushed through her veins, warming her heart to the man beside her.
They walked into one of the cleanest garages she’d ever seen. One of those crossover vehicles was up on a lift and they strolled right under it.
“This Chevy Equinox has an excellent safety record. I wanted to show you underneath so you can see for yourself that there isn’t any rust from salted winter roads.” They all stepped to the side and George hit a lever. “Whoever owned this took really good care of it.” Together they walked the exterior, and he pointed out a few door dings and offered the name of a friend who did body work if she wanted to get them repaired.
“My cars live in parking lots, whether I’m at work or the store. It’ll have a dozen more by the end of the year…if I buy it.” She was impressed so far, but he hadn’t mentioned a price. “What year is this?”
George opened the driver’s door for her. “Get in and turn it on. As you can see, it only has twenty thousand miles on it.”
She did as ordered. The dash lit up like a cockpit. “It has a navigation system,” she announced before she could hold in her excitement.
“And that’s a backup camera as well.” George got into the passenger seat as Matthew crawled into the back seat.
“I’m a big guy and there is plenty of room back here.” He turned and checked out the rear space. “You could carry a month’s worth of groceries in the back.”
Elizabeth loved this car. The black and tan leather was beautiful and would be easier to clean than upholstery. “What year is this again?” She was sure he’d never answered the last time she asked.
“It’s two years old, but don’t worry. I can make you a really good deal on it.” George hurried to say the last sentence.
She hadn’t researched this model or that year. They were out of her price range, especially since every time she turned around she discovered more bills Robert had left for her to pay and the insurance money was almost gone. “It would have to be, for me to afford this car.” But she really liked it.
“Take it for a drive, Lizzie.” Matthew smiled at her through the rear-view mirror.
Fifteen minutes later, she was the owner of an Equinox…at an unbelievable price. Matthew had stood back and let her do everything, including negotiate the price. He’d come through for her. No man had done that in a long, long time. She was no fragile flower that needed constant tending nor special care, but truly appreciated it when someone recognized her for who and what she was. He understood her. He got her. She really liked that.