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She laughed and felt some of the knots in her shoulders release. “I actually work in the communications department at one of the big banks.”
“Really?” He looked intrigued.
“I handle public relations—employee communications, media relations, that sort of thing—for East Coast Banking and Trust.” Darcy shook her head. “It’s really not that impressive.”
“Sounds like it to me.” He opened his mouth to say something but then stopped as a tow truck steered into the parking lot. “Fred’s already here.”
Darcy adjusted the strap of her laptop bag on her shoulder, grateful they would be on the road heading toward her office soon.
Chapter2
After Carter moved his SUV, he helped the tow truck driver load Darcy’s Lexus. She pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of the portly, middle-aged man with the bushy gray beard as he pulled her car onto the flatbed.
Then she sent the photo to her best friend, along with a text: How’s your Monday going so far?
As if on cue, her phone rang with a call from Haven. “What in the world happened? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. The Lexus isn’t.” Darcy frowned. “Aren’t you working today?”
“I have a few minutes before my next meeting. Guidance counselors do get breaks every once in a while. Do you need a ride?” Her best friend sounded concerned. “Tell me where you are, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Darcy moved over to the Suburban. “I’m fine, but thank you.” She explained how Carter had approached her and not only offered to have her car towed to his shop to fix it but also insisted on giving her a ride to her office. She moved to the back of his SUV and read his license plate to Haven, then asked her to write it down since she had accepted a ride from a stranger.
“Carter, huh?” She could hear Haven’s grin through the phone. “How old is he?”
Darcy glanced at him while he helped Fred secure the car with chains. When his eyes met hers, his lips lifted. And that man had one gorgeous smile. “Late twenties, maybe?”
“Cute?”
Extremely! But if Darcy admitted just how handsome he was, Haven would nag Darcy incessantly about trying to date this stranger. “He’s all right.”
“Single?”
“How should I know?”
“Is he wearing a ring?”
“My dad never wears his when he works on cars.”
Haven expelled an impatient breath. “Then you’ll just have to ask him.”
Darcy lowered her voice. She’d pass out from embarrassment if Carter overheard their conversation. “I really don’t have time to talk about this—”
“And if he’s unattached, get his number. Girl, we’re both twenty-seven, and we should be enjoying life. Maybe Carter will be your new boyfriend.”
Darcy rolled her eyes and swallowed a groan, recalling the disastrous blind dates her best friend had set up for her. Haven was determined to get Darcy to date again. She knew Haven meant well, but Darcy just wasn’t ready to move on and probably never would be.
“You need to start living again,” Haven insisted. “Stop blaming yourself for what happened to Jace. It wasn’t your fault.” She paused. “So is Carter nice?”
Darcy’s cheeks warmed as Carter started toward her. “I have to go.”
“I want details. Call me later.”
She hung up and put her phone in her purse. “Ready to go?” Darcy asked him.
“Yup,” he said, and she was once again drawn into those dark eyes. He opened the passenger-side door for her as the tow truck exited the lot with her car sitting on the flatbed.
She set her purse and bag on the floor. Then she wondered how she was going to climb into the tall SUV without falling and embarrassing herself.
