Page 5 of Daddy's Pride
He glances around the hall. The place is a fixer-upper, to say the least, but I’m slowly taming it room by room. Maybe I should have started with the hall, as it’s the first—and often the only—space guests see, but after fixing up the assault course outside, I made my kitchen and the bedroom my priorities. Now I’m working on the lounge. From his nervous smile, something tells me this guy isn’t looking at the faded decor or peeling wallpaper.
“Don’t worry. I keep the axe in the cellar.”
“You have a cellar?”
I fold my arms. “Yes. It’s soundproofed to keep the screams in.”
He gapes and laughs nervously. “You’re joking.”
“Am I?”
His expression flickers between amusement and worry.
“Yes, I’m joking.” I hold my hand out. “Miles.”
He grins and shakes. “Harris.”
He’s around five foot nine, so average height, but short compared to me. He has to tilt his head to look at my face.
“Your eyes?—”
I frown. “What about them?”
“They’re beautiful. I’ve never seen eyes so blue.”
How do I react to that? Certainly not by telling him he has pretty eyes too or that he’s good-looking. I clear my throat. “How can I help?”
He waves his phone. “If I ring for a tow, could I stay here while I wait?”
“Of course. Coffee?”
“Yes, thanks.”
“How do you take it?”
“With milk and two sugars, please.”
He’s polite, and he has a sweet tooth. I go into the kitchen, leaving him in the hall. I don’t attempt to make out his muffled words as I brew coffee. Luckily, I bought fresh milk this morning, and I keep sugar for when my parents visit. I take my coffee black and bitter.
He walks into the kitchen with his phone hugged to his chest, his lips pinched.
“Is something wrong?” I ask.
“I guess bad luck doesn’t come in threes after all.”
“Oh?”
“My breakdown cover lapsed. They’re happy to sell me more and pick me up tonight, but only if I pay over the odds.”
“Ouch.”
He winces. “Yeah. Is there a local garage I could call?”
“Not that would pick you up out here this late in the evening.”
“Oh.” He rolls his shoulders back. “It’s okay. If you could give me a number, I’ll sleep in the car tonight and call someone in the morning.”
I gesture to one of the chairs at the kitchen table and carry the coffee over to join him. “I’m not going to let you sleep in your car.”