Page 17 of Whispers and Wildfire
He smirked at me. “A good woman.”
I wadded up a piece of paper and tossed it at him.
He just grinned and walked out the door.
A good woman. That was even less likely than me quittingracing for good. I was pretty sure I was cursed when it came to women.
Dramatic? Maybe. But true. My track record spoke for itself.
Besides, he was wrong. I didn’t need a woman in my life.
So why was I suddenly picturing Melanie Andolini? She was like a song I couldn’t get out of my head, the lyrics running through my mind in an endless loop.
If I did need a good woman in my life, it wasnother. I was a pretty easygoing guy. Usually got along with everyone. But Melanie? Not so much. Our relationship had had more ups and downs than a roller coaster. Granted, we’d been young. I’d mellowed out since my teens, so maybe she had too.
Actually, I doubted it. Mellow wasn’t in her vocabulary.
It didn’t matter, anyway. We’d run into each other. So what? Tilikum was a small town, and her family still lived here. It had to happen occasionally.
Although it was odd that it had been so long. Her familydidlive in Tilikum, and itwasa small town. Why had it been so long since I’d seen her? Where had she been? What was going on in her life?
I shook my head to clear it. None of my business. I didn’t need to know.
What I needed was a temporary employee. That was my current problem, not my high school ex-girlfriend.
I figured I’d call my sister, Annika. She worked for me before our brother Josiah stole her away. Maybe she had time to help me out for a few months.
And maybe she knew why Melanie was in town. They’d been friends back in the day. Did they keep in touch?
I groaned. How was Mel still so frustrating? She wasn’t even around. But there she was, invading every freaking thought in my head.
I pulled out my phone and called Annika.
“Hey, Luke.”
“Hi. Listen, I’m in a bind at the garage. Andrea went on maternity leave, and the gal I hired to fill in flaked out on me.”
“That’s frustrating.”
“Yeah. I know you’re busy already, but could you find a way to come in for a few hours a day? Just temporarily.”
“I would love to help, but I can’t. I’m sorry, I just don’t have time.”
“Come on, it’s not like you have kids and a job and everything.” My voice was tinged with humor. “You can’t be that busy.”
She laughed. “Nope, not at all. Speaking of, hang on.” Her voice got quieter, as if she’d moved the phone away. “Will, stop right there. Don’t come in the house yet.”
“Is he okay?”
“He’s covered in mud.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, as if that were an everyday occurrence. “I need to go hose him down.”
“Fair enough. Before you go, do you know anyone who’s looking for a part-time gig? Ideally someone who might actually show up to work?”
“Not off the top of my head, but if I think of anyone, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks.”
“I have to go take care of my little mud monster. Oh good, the girls are covered too.”
