“Yeah,” she said. “I know. And I’m still trying to figure my life out, so . . .”
So. Fuck.
“So then, this can’t happen again,” he said, knowing the words coming out of his mouth were the right call, but hating them all the same.
Chapter 11
“Slider, would you be willing to help me buy a car?” Cora asked after the boys left for school on Wednesday morning. She’d recovered from her illness, started to set up her routine as the Evanses’ nanny, and accomplished all the legwork she could online and by phone about getting a car, volunteering at the animal shelter, and applying for spring enrollment at the community college. Now all she needed was the wheels.
He turned from the bowl of cereal he was pouring for himself, which in and of itself was an interesting development. Because making pancakes was some sort of big family tradition, he often ate a few with the boys on Sunday mornings. But when was the last time she’d seen him eat breakfast during the week? “Uh, what did you have in mind?”
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’ve never bought my own car before, and you know a lot about them. So I was hoping you might have time to come along, ask all the right questions, and help me negotiate a good deal.”
Leaning against the counter, he crossed his arms. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about this. And I have an alternate idea.” As he spoke, she tried not to notice how crossing his arms made the muscles of his biceps pop out, or just how sexy his old worn jeans were hanging on his lean hips. But after she’d clutched at those muscles and felt those hips between her legs, it was incredibly difficult not to notice such things.
Or want them again . . .
“Which is?”
“Well, a lot of people who employ nannies apparently provide vehicles. So I was thinking maybe you could have my truck to use.”
She frowned. “What about you?”
He ducked his chin, his gaze dropping to the floor between them. And then he gave a little shrug. “I have my bike.”
It was only because he wasn’t looking at her that she didn’t rein in the surprise that must’ve hit her expression. Because Slider had never once ridden his motorcycle the whole time she’d known him. Not even in the procession at the funeral of the prospect who’d died a few months back during an attack on the clubhouse. Hell, he didn’t even wear his Ravens’ cutoff jacket like all the other brothers did. And Cora had heard more than a little commentary around the clubhouse that Slider hadn’t ridden or participated much in club business in years. It was like when Kim died, she’d somehow taken all the other parts of Slider’s life with her. All except the boys.
“Your bike,” she managed.
Another little shrug. “Yeah. I mean, I’m sure it needs a tune-up, but I’ve been thinking . . .”
She held her breath and prayed for him to finish that thought, because she really wanted to know what was going on in this man’s head. But he offered no more.
“Anyway, you could have the truck and then you wouldn’t need to put out money on a car.” He lifted that pale gaze to her again.
For a moment, Cora wasn’t sure what to say. On the one hand, she really wanted him to get back into riding again. Because it was something for him. And it was something that would pull him back into the club he’d once loved. And Slider couldn’t go on forever isolating himself from everything about which he used to care.
On the other hand . . . “That’s really generous, Slider. And I’m definitely tempted. The thing is, as much as I’d love to save the money, I’m also eager to do this for myself. To feel like I’ve achieved a major life event. Not that buying a car is that major, I guess, it’s just—”
“No, I get it. And it is. It’s something to be proud of. So, sure, yeah, count me in. I’d be happy to help.”
Cora could’ve squealed, but instead she just grinned like an idiot.
He arched a brow. “And when did you want to do this?”
“Today?” she squeaked, knowing he had the day and night off. “Or, you know, not today . . .”
He stared at her, and finally shook his head. “You’re as bad as Ben. Both of you make it impossible to say no.”
A fleeting wisecrack jumped to the tip of her tongue about how he’d been able to say no to more sex, but she was too excited about possibly buying a car today to give it voice. Besides, she’d agreed to the no more sex rule, too, hadn’t she? “Is that a yes to today?”
Four hours later, they were browsing their second car lot. Slider had talked her out of one car for being expensive to repair and convinced her that another wasn’t a good value given its mileage.