A Most Shocking Revelation Read Free

tried to ignore hisflirtations, for the past few weeks he’d begun to splinter her resistance. Entering his private world, if only for one night, could play havoc with her defenses, the way his close proximity at the moment was playing havoc with her heartbeat.
    â€œWhat’s wrong with your car?” he asked, intruding into Valerie’s thoughts.
    The car was too old, and she was too broke to buy another one. “Transmission leak. I tried to see if I could repair it, but I wasn’t successful.”
    â€œYou tried to fix it?”
    Valerie glanced at him long enough to notice he looked as shocked as he’d sounded. “Yes, I tried to fix it, heavy emphasis on tried. I know how to change a tire and the oil and replace a battery. I can do a few other minor repairs, too. But without the car on a rack, it was too hard to tell what was happening with it.”
    â€œYou’re pretty amazing.”
    That brought her gaze back to him. “Why? Because I’m a woman and I know a thing or two about mechanics?”
    â€œYeah. I’m just kind of surprised.”
    He definitely would be surprised if he knew everything about her. “The more you know, the more money you can save in the long run.”
    â€œWho has your car now?” he asked.
    â€œRhodes Garage downtown.”
    â€œBill Rhodes is good, and honest.”
    And expensive, especially when it came to major repairs, or so Valerie had heard. Her funds were already limited, and she had to rely solely on her salary now instead of her savings. But the bills she’d incurred for her grandmother’s hospital stay had been all but paid off, the only real positive accomplishment in recent months.
    â€œAre you warm enough, Val?” Gavin asked.
    Oh, she was warm all right. Hot, as a matter of fact, for several reasons, the least of which was her inability to ignore his charisma. She also didn’t care for anyone shortening her name. Only one person had been allowed to do so, and now her belovedgrandmother was gone. “As I’ve said before, it’s Valerie, not Val. And I’m fine.”
    â€œYou don’t sound fine.”
    She sent another glance at Gavin and cursed all the things that made him too attractive to overlook. But ignore him she would. Or at least she would try. “Okay, I’m as fine as someone who’s being held captive can be.”
    â€œI’m not holding you captive. I’m giving you a helping hand. You should appreciate it. When I told Harvey Joe I wasn’t arresting you, he wasn’t happy about it.”
    Another positive, both the lack of arrest and ticking Harvey Joe off. She shifted as close to the door as the seat belt allowed. “And exactly how did you get around not arresting me, since he probably had a legitimate complaint?”
    He took his hand from his thigh long enough to scrub a palm over his shadowed jaw. “I told him that I’d tell his wife he was trying a little slap and tickle out on their renter and that I’d encourage you to file attempted sexual assault charges.”
    Valerie had to admit she appreciated his assistance. “What happened tonight, that wasn’t like me. I’m not a violent person.”
    His laugh was low and compelling. “I tend to believe that. I don’t consider a string mop as a hardened criminal’s weapon of choice.”
    Valerie couldn’t stop her own laugh. A small one, but still a laugh. “I guess not. I just happened to have it in my hand when he grabbed me. I lost my temper.”
    â€œHarvey Joe had no right to touch you. You had to defend yourself.”
    â€œYou don’t know the half of it.” And he didn’t. About Harvey Joe’s penchant for lewd remarks or her reasons for being in Royal. Better things stayed that way for now, if not indefinitely.
    â€œWe’re here,” Gavin announced as they took a left turn into a lengthy drive lined with white