I boosted her into the truck, careful to keep my hands at her waist over fabric, not touching skin or her ass. Laura climbed into the other side and settled her in the middle seat, fastening the seat belt and then going around to sit on the passenger side. I went back to tighten the winch and put the Honda into neutral. When I got into the driver’s seat of the truck and started up the engine, Meghan’s head lolled to the side, resting against Laura.
I pulled out onto the road, watching the towed car to make sure everything was holding. I was glad Boomer’s wasn’t too far away, since towing the car made me nervous. I thought I’d made the right connections and tightened the chains, but since I didn’t do this often, I wasn’t positive.
The tight quarters in the cab didn’t make it any easier. The redhead next to me was breathing loudly, and her leg was pressed against mine. I could feel the heat of her skin through my jeans. Her hand was flopped palm-up on her thigh, fingers twitching in her sleep.
“Does she do this often? Get smashed?” I kept my eyes on the road and tried to keep the judgment out of my voice.
“No.” Laura shook her head. “She had a rough week. Actually a rough year. Her dad died almost two years ago, and last fall, her mom got re-married, to one of their best friends. Meghan likes him, but you know ... it’s still difficult. This week would have been her dad’s birthday, and we had a school break, so she went home. She got back this afternoon. I think that’s why she wanted to just forget everything tonight.”
I nodded. If there was one thing I understood, it was grief and wanting to escape from it, any way I could. My preferred method had been hard work and avoidance, but I remembered my fair share of drunken nights, too.
We turned onto Central Street. A few blocks in, I slowed and eased the truck into Boomer’s parking lot. I pulled the keys from the ignition and opened the door. “Stay here until I get the car unhitched. I’ll get you set up in the loaner in a minute.”
It didn’t take me long to disconnect the chains and push the small blue car into a spot alongside the chain link fence. I retrieved the keys and locked it up, hesitating a minute before I went back to my truck.
Laura had opened her door and was watching me. I pointed to the small office on the side of the garage.
“So listen. I don’t want to offend you, but I need to say this. Boomer’s a trusting guy. Everyone in town knows where he keeps his keys and how to get into the office, but we don’t talk about it to outsiders. I think you’re okay, which is why I’m taking a chance on letting you use the car. But don’t tell anyone about this. You might think it’s funny and all, but one of your frat boy friends gets drunk and decides it’d be funny to come down here and take advantage of Boomer by trashing his office or stealing his cars ... that’s not cool.”
Laura frowned. “I won’t say anything. I get it. Believe me, I’m just grateful for what you’re doing.”
I nodded and went back to the office door, reaching high to find the key along the top of the molding. The door opened easily, and I stepped into the cluttered office. Dropping the keys to the Honda onto the desk, I found a small piece of paper and wrote, “Honda. Needs new serpentine. Laura—”
I leaned out the door, calling through the dark. “Hey, I’m sorry, what was your last name again? And your phone number? I want to leave Boomer all the information.”
“Swanson.” She rattled off the number and I noted it, tucking the paper beneath the keys. The set that belonged to an ancient Chevette were hanging on a nearby hook, and I grabbed them before locking the door behind me again.
“Okay, let’s get you on your way.” I stood in the open driver’s side door. “Why don’t you shove her a little more my way, and I’ll just carry her to the car?”
“You sure?” Laura’s eyebrow rose.
“Yep, it’ll be easier all around. Here.” I handed her the Chevette keys. “Go open it up, and I’ll bring her over.”
I slid my left hand beneath Meghan’s knees and at the same time wrapped my right arm around her back and tugged her toward me. She moaned as I lifted her off the seat, settling her against my chest.
Wide green eyes, clouded with confusion, stared up at me. She struggled to free her arm where it was pinned between her side and my stomach. When she could move it, she reached up and touched my face.
I couldn’t jerk back, even though the feel of her fingers on my jaw, coupled with the tantalizing view of cleavage I was getting from this vantage point, sent unsettling feelings down my body.