"After hours," was his explanation as he crossed his thick arms across his chest. "It's almost double what it would've been had your car broken down a few hours ago."
"You're deliberately taking advantage of me," she accused, stepping closer. Fire ignited in her blood. "You know I have no where else to go!" Caleb had a backbone of steel and he wasn't backing down. He stepped closer until they were almost toe-to-toe.
Glaring down at her, he said in a gravelly voice, "Then maybe next time, princess, you won't put yourself in a situation where I can take advantage of you."
It sounded like a threat and a warning. But Maddie's body reacted to the words in a way she didn't understand. She softened towards him as tingles shot down her spine, extending to the tips of her fingers and toes. He was so close that his scent wrapped around her. Her lips parted as she breathed in the woodsy, musky smell that sent awareness pulsing through her body.
Caleb gave her a look of disgust and stepped away. Her breath whooshed out of her. Embarrassed, she prayed that he hadn't noticed the desire in her eyes.
Maddie drew in a calming breath. Looking at the empty, dark road in front of her, unable to meet Caleb's cold eyes, she clarified, "So, even if you find nothing wrong with the filters or plugs or whatever else, it's still going to be $550."
"Yes."
He turned from her and Maddie watched as he lowered down a large red bracket to fit against the tires of her car. It was attached to the truck, so once he securely pinned another bracket to cradle both of her front wheels, he climbed back in the driver's seat and activated the lift mechanism.
It grated on her that it had taken only a minute. It would prove to be the most expensive minute of her life. No, scratch that. The most expensive minute of her life was when she'd stupidly funneled diesel into her car. Maddie didn't know where she would get the money to pay for her costly mistake. She could ask her brother or mom, but her pride wouldn't let her. She was a grown woman. She couldn't always run to her family whenever she had a problem. No, she would figure this one out on her own.
"Let's go," Caleb told her, once he checked to make sure her car was secure. He climbed into the driver's seat of the truck and she took slow steps around the cab, debating her options. She worked on campus part-time, but it went towards her tuition. She didn't think she could commit to another job, especially with her work load for grad school, but she could try to make time. Maybe she could pick up a few freelance bookkeeping jobs like she'd done in college.
Then she remembered. Caleb said something about invoices when he'd been talking to Brian.
Maddie hurried towards the door and yanked it open. Caleb shot her a brooding glare, even as she smiled at him. After buckling in, she ran over the words in her mind, trying to figure out the best way to offer her services. She wouldn't have much time to convince him. The garage was only a little ways up the street. A mile, if that.
She watched his hands flex on the wheel as he turned onto the road. It was now or never …
"Look, I have an idea."
Silence. At least he didn't turn on the radio again. Maddie took that as a good sign.
"I think I have a solution to both of our problems."
"Oh? And what problem would that be, princess?"
Maddie wouldn't let his sarcasm cut her. She pushed on. "I heard you say something about getting the invoices sorted and I just so happen to have bookkeeping experience. I was thinking-"
"No."
"You won't even hear what I have to say?"
"It's not gonna happen. Don't waste your breath."
Frustration made her hands shake and she twisted in her seat, ignoring how the belt tangled. "I could help you. I'm quick, but I don't make mistakes. I used to do bookkeeping in college. I'm good and I can help you get organized. I have references, if that's what you're worried about."
"Your references are the least of my worries," Caleb growled. "I run a business, not a charity."
"I'm not looking for hand-outs!" she argued. "I'm willing to do honest work in exchange for labor."
Caleb refused to say anything more. A tense moment later, Maddie saw the lights of the garage. She'd run out of time. But this was one of her final options, the last of which was taking out more loan money. As though she didn't owe enough already. Her interest rates were already through the roof.
Caleb was scowling as he pulled the tow truck into his lot. Maddie fumbled with her hair tie as he parked next to the open garage. When he opened his door, she shot out of the truck. Maybe she had pride where her family was concerned, but she obviously had none around strangers. Did Caleb really count as a stranger? She didn't know.