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‘Sorry. Did I break it?’ Emmy’s feet went still.
Monroe’s reply wasn’t annoyed, just amused. ‘Nah. It’s tougher than that, but just remember what I said.’
‘Treat the car with respect and it’ll respect you back.’ Emmy said the words as if reciting holy scripture.
‘You got it. You want to finish it?’
‘Can I?’
Jessie frowned at the adoring tone of her niece’s voice. Did every single female within a ten-mile radius have to fall at his feet?
‘Go for it.’ She heard Emmy’s childish grunt before Monroe’s deep voice continued. ‘That’s it, kid. You’re a great mechanic. Why don’t you haul out? I’ll be right behind you.’
Jessie stepped back as Emmy crawled out from under the car.
‘Oh, Aunt Jessie, Aunt Jessie.’ Emmy leapt in the air. Her face, which was smudged with what could only be axle grease, glowed with excitement. ‘I did a lube job. It was way cool. Uncle Roe showed me, he let me do it all by myself.’
‘That’s wonderful, Emmy.’ Jessie tried to sound enthusiastic but couldn’t help wincing at the huge oil stain all over her niece’s favourite Barbie T-shirt. ‘We better go get you washed up before lunch.’
‘Do I have to go?’ Emmy’s chin hit her chest. ‘Uncle Roe said I could have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with him today.’
Jessie was just wondering how to deal with that request when the man himself slid out from under the car and got to his feet. Her heart thudded in her chest at the sight of him, tall and lean in ragged denim and faded cotton. She could feel her face getting hot at the long look he gave her and wanted to scream.
‘Hi, Red.’ There was that stupid nickname again. The heat in her face increased.
‘Hello, Monroe.’
Jessie was grateful when Emmy tugged on his jeans, distracting him.
‘Jessie says I’ve got to
go now, but I want to have lunch with you.’
He kneeled down, gave the little girl a serious look as she rested her hands on his shoulders. ‘Don’t sweat it. We can do that another time.’
Jessie saw Emmy had left grubby fingerprints all over him, but Monroe didn’t seem to notice as he held onto the little girl and stood up. The shadow of emotion crossed his face. For a moment he seemed lost in thought, but then his eyes focused on Jessie and he gave her a slow smile that made her feel unpleasantly warm.
‘We’ll go clean up,’ he said. ‘You want to come up and grab a drink?’
The statement sounded casual, but they both knew it was an olive branch.
Jessie wanted to stay mad at him; the memory of the kiss they’d shared still loomed large between them. But having seen the tender, thoughtful way he handled Emmy and the beaming grin on her niece’s face as she clung to his neck, she just couldn’t do it.
‘That would be nice, thanks.’
As he turned to heft the little girl up the stairs to his apartment, Jessie wondered at this new, nurturing side of him she never would have expected. She followed them up the steps, trying to stop her eyes from straying to the very nice male butt displayed in front of her in worn denim.
Entering the apartment, Monroe let Emmy scramble down out of his arms. ‘You know where the soap is, kid.’
‘Yes, Uncle Roe.’ She shot him an impish grin and scampered off to the bathroom.
Monroe felt an answering squeeze on his heart. He didn’t have any experience with kids, but Linc’s daughter had really gotten to him in the last few days.
He wasn’t supposed to be making any attachments. He was just passing through. But when the little girl had hugged him round the neck a few minutes ago and settled so easily into his arms, the trust and adoration in her eyes had made his heart hurt in a way that couldn’t be good
Of course, the sight of Emmy’s auntie, looking gorgeous and irritated, hadn’t exactly made the emotional punch any easier to deal with.
Jessie had been avoiding him for the last week or so, ever since that incendiary kiss of theirs in town, and he’d been more than happy to let her.
