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He sent a quick text, causing her phone to chime. She glanced at her screen and read: This is Carter Donovan.
“I hope your presentation goes well,” he said.
“Thank you.” She gathered up her laptop bag and purse before climbing from the SUV.
“You’re welcome. I’ll be in touch.”
As the SUV motored away from the curb, Darcy hurried into the building. Time to change gears and focus on her presentation.
***
Whistling along with a Brad Paisley song, Carter parked at the back of the lot behind Barton Automotive. He unloaded a large box from his trunk, then started across the lot toward the building. The sound of meows caught his attention, and he spun as Smoky—a large gray tabby and the shop’s unofficial mascot and greeter—trotted toward him.
“Hey, buddy,” Carter called as the cat approached. Smoky walked in circles while rubbing against Carter’s shins.
Carter set the box on the ground, and when the cat lifted his head, Carter rubbed his chin. Smoky purred his approval. “How are you this fine Monday?”
“Look who decided to finally show up at work today,” Gage teased from the open bay door.
Carter snickered while he continued to pet the cat. He was so thankful that Shauna and Gage had gotten together. Not only had Shauna gained a thoughtful and supportive husband, but Carter had gotten an older brother. He enjoyed his easy banter with Gage. “I had nothing else to do today, so I figured I’d see if you needed any help,” he joked.
“Fred said you rescued a damsel in distress and convinced her to have her car towed here.” Gage pushed his hand through his thick, curly dark hair as he walked toward Carter and Smoky. He pointed toward Darcy’s royal-blue Lexus parked near the shop.
Carter stood up to his full height. “All true.”
Gage gave a low whistle. “Nice car.” Then he grinned. “Fred mentioned the damsel was pretty too.”
“Yes, she was.” Carter couldn’t deny it. Darcy was pretty—really pretty—with long blonde hair falling past her slight shoulders and the greenest eyes he’d ever seen. They reminded him of the bright-green grass in Flowering Grove Park, where his mother and grandmother used to take him and Shauna to play on swings every Sunday afternoon. And then there was Darcy’s lovely smile, which lit up her beautiful face.
She’d looked embarrassed when she explained that she had purchased the car from her mom, and she seemed sheepish when she mentioned her parents’ vacation home at Coral Cove. He wondered what her parents did for a living that enabled them to afford a beach home—not to mention her father’s Porsche Cayenne and brand-new Corvette Stingray.
Carter also noticed that she wasn’t wearing any jewelry on her left hand, which meant she wasn’t married and possibly was single.
He shook himself. What was his problem? Considering his financial situation, the last thing he needed right now was a relationship. Besides, Darcy was clearly out of Carter’s league. With her looks, her corporate job, and her money, what could a mechanic with grease-stained nails and no 401(k) really offer outside a few dates? He could never be good enough for her.
“Car wouldn’t start, huh?” His brother-in-law’s question yanked him from his thoughts of Darcy. The cat tapped Gage’s shin with his paw to gain his attention, and Gage kneeled to take a turn rubbing Smoky’s chin.
“I was on my way to my truck when I heard the clicking. I tried to jump it for her but didn’t have any luck. I figured I’d test the battery first and then go from there.”
“Sounds good.”
“I picked up shop towels, disposable gloves, soap, brake parts cleaner, and carburetor cleaner.” Carter lifted the box and started toward the open bay doors. “I guess I’d better get to work before my boss starts yelling at me.”
Gage walked beside him with Smoky at his heels, the cat still meowing as if sharing a list of jobs they had to complete today. “Hang on. How’d your appointment go?”
“Fine.”
“So your kidney levels are still good?”
“Yup. They’re perfect.” Carter tried to shove down the familiar regret and frustration that gripped him when he thought about the years he had struggled with kidney disease.
Gage patted Carter’s shoulder and nearly knocked him off-balance. At six feet four, his brother-in-law was two inches taller than Carter and looked as if he’d spent every spare minute at the gym. “That’s awesome, brother. What a blessing.”
It was now. When he went on dialysis three years ago, he had despised the burden he’d been on his family. The kidney disease wasn’t hereditary, and while doctors insisted it could have been environmental, the reason his kidneys had failed remained a mystery. His illness and medical bills forced him to leave his apartment and full-time job and move in with Shauna and Gage. But he didn’t want a handout from them or anyone else. He paid them a fair price for rent, including his portion of utilities, and he also chipped in for food. Shauna suggested they ask their church to hold a fundraiser for Carter, but he insisted there were other people in their community who needed help more than he did.
He’d finally undergone a transplant two years ago. Shauna insisted on donating her kidney as a paired donor for Carter so he wouldn’t have to wait on the transplant list. He had been against Shauna’s donating, worrying the risk was too great—but since she was his nurturing older sister, she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
And now, two years later, Carter cherished his good health but longed to climb out of his debt and move to a place of his own. If only he could pay off his consolidation loan early so he wouldn’t be so reliant on Shauna and Gage. He could never repay their generosity though. That reality gnawed away at his insides.
